Some Questions for Thought and Discussion 2
Practices Taught
or
Endorsed
by
Jesus
– Conclusions
We have examined fasting, foot washing, Sabbath Day, and the
Lord’s Prayer, and consider these are to be observed not in literal detail; but
the spiritual principles they represent should certainly become ours too. None
of these should be observed in a legalistic sense, i.e. with a feeling that one
has achieved some meritorious position in the sight of God by doing them. Where
they are of spiritual benefit, they should be carried out, but the literal
carrying out is not in itself a basic Christian requirement. Jesus gave his
commandments to people at a certain time in history. To the Jews who kept the
commandments but forgot the spirit he said:
“Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and
have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and
faith; these you ought to have done,
without neglecting the others.” (Matthew
23:23)
By
his death the observances of the Old Covenant were abolished as
requirements. Jesus’ commandments in
this verse apply to us today, not in the observance of the Mosaic Law but in
observing justice, mercy and faith.
Baptism, however, and remembering Jesus in bread and wine are to
be observed (as practices) because he specifically asked us to do so. They are
distinguishing features of the Christian
Way.
Some Questions for Thought and Discussion
(1) Fasting used to be a regular
practice. Have any of us fasted, except
when too ill to eat?
(2) When Jesus said, “and then they
will fast in that day” (Mark 2:20), when did he mean?
(3) What kinds of things can we do
which show humility in service in our modern situation?
(4) Do we allow God to be squeezed
out of our lives by our not having set days, set fasts, set prayers?
(5) Do we in fact use set prayers by
saying much the same thing each time in our impromptu prayers, but perhaps in a
less well thought out manner?
(6) Is it a good idea to write out
our prayer beforehand?
(7) Should we make a practice of
writing out prayer lists, so that we can more carefully remember the items we
wish to bring to God in prayer?
(8) In Matthew 6:7 the Lord’s Prayer
is given after Jesus has criticised long prayers: “Do not heap up empty phrases
as the Gentiles do; for they think that
they will be heard for their many words”.
How can we deliberately aim at
variety and freshness in our prayers, public and private?
(9) What did Jesus mean when he said, “If you then, who are evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
(Luke 11:13)?
(10) Do we put more emphasis on the actual Breaking of Bread than
the New Testament intends?
(11) Would it matter if we used white wine rather than red, since
white does not so readily look symbolic?
Would it matter if we used Ribena (which is red blackcurrant juice), the
right colour for blood but not wine and not alcoholic?
(12) Does the order matter? In Luke 22:17-20 the order is: prayer,
cup, prayer, bread, cup. We usually do: prayer, bread, prayer, cup. 1
Corinthians 11 gives: prayer, bread, cup. (Or does “likewise” mean that he said
a prayer before the cup?) 1 Corinthians 10:16 lists cup, then bread.
(13) Does there need to be a president at the Breaking of Bread?
If so, does this need to be a brother, or can a sister do it?
(14) Who should say the prayer of thanks before the bread or the
wine? In the New Testament, it was Jesus. Amongst us, the president usually
calls on one of the congregation to pray.
(15) Can you make any positive suggestions for improvement in how
we organise the Breaking of Bread, in accordance with New Testament principles?
(16) Do we remember Jesus enough in the other ways he put forward:
hearing his words and doing them (Matthew 7:24)?
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