When Acts 2:42; 20:7; and 1 Corinthians 11:20; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2 are compared and put together, it appears that we act under the influence of apostolic teaching and precedent when we meet every Lord’s day for the break of break. But this is still further demonstrated by a fourth argument drawn from the argument that assembling on the first day of the week, unless for the breaking of bread is prohibited and there is NO day we need to assemble!!
No truth can be believed unless it is taught in the New Testament. On the first day of the week, unless we assemble for the breaking of bread, the command, example, and incidence of record cannot be understood. Christians have no authority, nor are under any obligation, to meet on the Lord’s Day, from anything which the apostles said or practiced, unless it is to show forth the Lord’s death, and to attend to those means of edification and comfort connected with it. Under the Old Testament covenant the followers of God met on any day the high Sabbath came, sometimes back to back days. What would be the reason for specifying the day of assembly unless it was for the reason of glorifying our Master resurrection, the key to His credibility? The way we glorify Him is to observe what He claimed was His glory. “I have glorified Thee on the earth, I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.” John 17:4 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve Me, let him follow Me: and where I Am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor. Now is my soul troubled: and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name.” John 12:24-28
If it be not the duty and privilege of every Christian congregation to assemble on the first day of every week to show forth the Lord’s death, it will be difficult, if not impossible, from either Scripture or reason, to show that it is their duty or privilege to meet monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or indeed at all, for this purpose. For from what promises can any person show that it is a duty or privilege to assemble monthly, which will not prove that it is NOT obligatory to meet weekly? We challenge investigation here, and affirm that no man can produce a single reason to show it should or could be a duty or a privilege to meet monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually, which will not prove that it is our duty and privilege to assemble every first day for this purpose??
Spiritual health, as well as corporal health, is dependent on food. It is requisite for corporal health, that the food not only be good in its nature and sufficient in its quantity, but that it be received at proper intervals, and these regular and fixed. Is it otherwise with moral health? He who does not eat at normal intervals is seen to gorge on what food lies before him when and if he does get to eat. This is neither pretty nor appropriate for the remembrance of King. What structure is in your home for the eating of food? Is this not when the family gets together? If it gets together with no regularity, how would one know just when the regular time would be?? Is there no analogy between the bread that perishes, and the bread of life? Is there no likeness between natural and moral life-between natural and moral health? If there be any, does it not follow, that if the primitive disciples only enjoyed good moral health when they assembled weekly to show forth the Lord’s death, they cannot enjoy good health who only meet quarterly or semi-annually for this purpose? Is it not true that if you do not eat, you die?? Who is the man or institution who knows how often the soul must feed but the originator of the soul? Which man among us originated the soul? If He who “created all things,” Colossians 1:16, determined the need to feed the soul spiritual food every week, where is the wisdom in challenging the wisdom of Him who created the soul?? Can we afford to depend on the word of man or the Creator?? Our spiritual life depends on eating, the Creator of our soul determined the soul ought to feed on spiritual food weekly, and appointed the day of the week the appointment was to be kept. And it is not co-incidental it was and is to be the first day of the week for it was on that day He arose from the dead and, by example, inaugurated the day we call Sunday for His church to assemble!! Did not the Passover have a specified day, Pentecost, the feast of Tabernacles, circumcision of male infants??
