No, it is not right, and their statement is cause for concern for several reasons. First of all, it is evident that someone has failed to properly teach these young people the truth on the Communion service. Either family, local church leaders, or preachers may have assumed that young people just naturally “inherit” what we believe the Bible to teach. This indicates that is not the case. Secondly, it is alarming that such ideas can be advanced and promoted without being contradicted and shown for what they are at the time. And thirdly, it should be a wake up call for all of us that the only way we will continue to successfully oppose such things as individual cups, Sunday school classes, women teachers and things of this nature is through eternal vigilance and continued teaching. These unscriptural practices are still a threat to the church and those who do not realize it, will discover it all too soon. It is wrong to use more than one cup both before or after thanks is given for the following reasons: (1) Jesus took one cup Mt. 26:27; Mark 14:23 “Then he took the cup…” Some translations say “He took a cup.” (2) He gave thanks for one cup “Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks…” Mark 14:23. (3) He then “gave it to them” that is he gave it to the disciples Mark 14:23; Matthew 26:27. What he took, and that for which he gave thanks, he then handed or gave to the disciples. He did not divide or pour the fruit of the vine into two or more cups. Neither can we and follow His example. (4) He commanded the disciples to “drink from it, all of you” Mt. 26:27. The disciples understood what he meant and Mark records “they all drank from it” verse 23. Some translations say “they all drank out of it.” They did not pour the fruit of the vine into two or more cups; they drank from the cup Jesus took and gave to them. Nor can we, and be scriptural. It is just as unscriptural to use more than one cup after thanks is given as it would be to use more than one cup before thanks is given. Jesus refers to the cup containing fruit of the vine as the “new testament in my blood” Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25. Thayer says of this phrase on page 15 of his lexicon “This cup containing wine, an emblem of blood, is rendered by the shedding of my blood, an emblem of the new testament.” The cup containing wine is an emblem of the new testament. Cups containing wine represent nothing, They are a violation of the pattern. A congregation that drinks out of individual cups violates the pattern. The pattern delivered by Paul to Corinth was “He took the cup.” The congregation was admonished to “drink this cup.” Note they were not told to “drink these cups.”
Brethren it is time to arise and teach the truth on these issues. We cannot suppose that our children or young people understand or believe the truth unless we teach and continually emphasize what the Bible teaches. All around us we see gradual but ever presistent movement on the part of some away from the plain teaching of the Scriptures on such issues. as the communion, women teachers, women studies, some of which are nothing but an attempt place women in leadership roles that are forbidden by the Bible, and a general eroding of Bible based preaching. It is past time to awake out of sleep.
Published in the OPA May, 2002
