As we consider the topic of weekly communion our first
desire ought to be to hear what Scripture says. Reformed pastor Douglas Wilson in his book Mother Kirk gives good perspective on
this:
[L]et’s
pretend for a moment that we have no traditions on frequency of communion to
maintain (a big pretend!) and that advocates of every position share the same
biblical burden of proof. We know
that we are to observe the Lord’s Supper, but how often?—daily, weekly,
monthly, quarterly, or annually?
When we come to this question, we should note initially that virtually
no biblical case can be made for our most common practices—monthly and
quarterly. While perhaps this is
par for the course, it should at least excite some comment.
Wilson notes that annual communion could be defended on the
basis of its being founded in the context of the Passover feast that was an
annual feast. However, “apostolic
practice shows that they drank from that cup of blessing far more frequently
than this.” Daily communion could
also find some support in that Acts 2.46 mentions how the early believers
“broke bread daily.” This daily practice
seemed to quickly stabilize into a weekly observance. Acts 20.7 speaks of the disciples being gathered on the
“first day of the week” and breaking bread together. First Corinthians 11.20-21 strongly implies that when the believers
came together they participated in the Lord’s Supper. Pastor Wilson concludes:
It
is therefore fair to say that weekly communion, while not mandatory in any
absolute sense, is biblically normative.
We have as much evidence for weekly communion on the Lord’s Day, for
example, as we have for meeting on the Lord’s Day to do anything else. We have more evidence for weekly
communion than we have for weekly sermons, or weekly singing. But why choose? Why not do it all?
I want to emphasize what Wilson said: weekly communion is not mandatory. It does, however, have biblical precedent and this should
count for something!
So this day, as we partake together, let us remember that we
stand in a long line of continuity with the church through the ages as we come
to the Table of the Lord. Let us
rejoice together in Christ’s good gift of this sacrament to us!
