Recently, I heard a comment “I would never drink from one cup during the Lord’s Supper.” This comment comes from the old debate with “one cup” brothers in Christ. The person was not willing to participate in the Lord’s Supper with someone if he had to drink after them. After the comment was made, I stated that I would drink from the cup as long as I needed too. Personally, I am far from having the mindset of some of our “one cup” people. But if I was in a situation where I had to drink from one cup to maintain the bond of fellowship, I would happily. I know I do not have to according to the word of God. But unity is so important to me. It really disturbs me to see people within the church causing breaks in fellowship over progressive or restrictive doctrine. Maybe I am not the mover or shaker that I need to be, but I would never do anything to break the bonds of fellowship.
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Matthew is originally from Nova Scotia, Canada. He has a beautiful wife named Charity and a precious baby named Gabrielle. He has graduated from the Brown Trail School of Preaching, Heritage Christian University with his Bachelors of Arts in Biblical Studies, Lipscomb University with his Master’s of Arts in Biblical Studies and his Master’s of Divinity at Freed-Hardeman University. He is presently working towards his Doctorate of Ministry at Harding Graduate School of Religion. His articles have appeared in the World Evangelist, the Highway to Holiness, The West Virginia Christian, The Christian Echo, The Firm Foundation, Church Growth, and the Gospel Advocate. He enjoys hockey, golf, boxing, and chess. In his spare time he enjoys reading numerous genres of books. Also, he is working on climbing all of the 14ers in Colorado. Matthew is the Pulpit Minister for the Castle Rock church of Christ.
The Orthodox church I attended also drank from one cup.
Never Say Never
You are right, there might come a time where there must be separation, but I believe that those who have caused the separation have already left the faith.
Though I REALLY, REALLY prefer my own individual cup to drink from, if I was to say that I would never drink from one cup or parcipate in communion where only one cup was being share then, in more ways then one, I would share in communion with Jesus during the passover meal. Pretty scary!
A wonderful thought: To drink from the (same)cup our Lord drank from. Another wonderful thought: Each Sunday I drink with my Lord and my brethren in communion.
I have only been in one place where there was one cup. It was passed along with a cloth to wipe the rim before passing it on. I was in the back of the room, and could not bring myself to drink from it. I may have been a hypocrite, but I thought of Jesus and “drank in my mind” along with the other people. When I was in Vienna, real wine was served. I was not aware of it, so as was my custom I drank all of it – then drew in a sharp breath. The rest of the 6 weeks I was there, I took a sip, then put the cup inside another already used so no one would drink after me. I want to be in fellowship with others partaking of the Lord’s supper, so I have thought about my experience in Prague quite a bit. Probably now I would go ahead and participate and not worry about germs.
I don’t think I’d be bothered by one cup at all …. as long as I was first in line.
I am one of those “one cuppers” you speak of and I personally am not offended by the tennor or the candid discussion you are having. The reason we observe the Lord’s supper with one loaf and cup is because it imitates the example Jesus gave the night He was betrayed (1 Corinthians 11:23). What happened is what we are to immitate. The way it happened has spiritual significance. It is a joint participation of each disciple in the body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16). We “the many” are “one body” simbolized by the “all” partaking of “one” loaf (1 Corinthians 10:17). What a beautiful picture of fellowship. Then He took the cup, containing fruit of the vine, gave thanks, drank, “…gave it to them, and they all drank from it” (Mark 14:23). Communion is a congregational act portraying a congregations unity in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:17). It is observed by each communicant examining themselves as they “eat of that bread and drink of that cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). What a beautiful God given picture of unity and fellowship. Too bad all some can think of is…germs.