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A Glance... ..at
Assemblies Gathered Unto the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ as Members of the One Body of Christ.
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These believers acknowledge that Christ is the Head of the Church and has given gifts unto His Assembly, such as prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and that "unto every one of us is grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ...for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:7-12). So these assemblies do not have a "one man" or an "any man", or a humanly ordained ministry, but a ministry of gifts which Christ has given to His Church.
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These companies of believers have no church organization, headquarters, presiding bishops, appointed elders, or ordained clergy. Yet there is no independency. They function together, "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3). They believe that each assembly is a local representation of the whole Church and recognize its actions in the name of the Lord and according to God's Word as authoritative and binding everywhere (Matt. 18:18).
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If you enter the modest meeting place of Christians meeting together thus on a Lord's day morning, you will see them gathered around a table upon which is a loaf of bread and a container of wine. This is the only prominent feature, for there is no presiding clergyman, elder, or human being in charge. If you ask what the program is, the reply will be that there is none. If you inquire as to who will dispense the bread and wine, you will be told that any brother in good standing in the assembly may do so. Should you ask if anyone will preach, the answer may be that they have not come together to hear a sermon, but to bring praise and worship to the Lord and to remember Him in His death. In this meeting the believers function as "an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 2:5). A brother may minister the Word of God after the observance of the Lord's supper.
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What then is the purpose of this service? It is an honest effort to fulfill the request of the Savior on the night of His betrayal, "This do in remembrance of me" and to carry out the instructions given by revelation to the apostle Paul as to observing the Lord's supper (Luke 22:14-20; I Cor. 11:23-29). The endeavor is to follow the example of the early Christians who "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and prayers" and "upon the first day of the week...came together to break bread" (Acts 2:42; 20:7). In reception to the privilege of partaking in the Lord's supper, the practice is not an "open" or a "closed" communion, but a "guarded" table of the Lord in responsibility to the holy character of Him whose death is commemorated.
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These Christians own and practice the spiritual presidency of the Holy Spirit. Believing that the Spirit of God divides "to every man severally as he will" (I Cor. 12:11), any brother not under discipline may name a hymn to be sung by all, lead in prayer, read Scripture and give thanks for the bread and cup in participation of the Lord's supper. In obedience to the divine injunction, "Let your women keep silence in the churches," sisters do not lead the congregation in any audible part. They also cover their heads in recognition of God's order as to headship (I Cor. 11:3-13; 14:34).
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