A Glance

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A movement of the Spirit of God during the past 150 years has formed groups of Christians throughout the world who meet solely in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ as the divine gathering center (Matt. 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. ).

They have sought to return to New Testament principles and practices. Believing that “the church of the living God,” which the Spirit of God has formed, is composed of “one body” of all born again, Spirit indwelt believers in Christ, they meet together locally simply as members of that “one body” (Rom. 12:5; so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. 1 Cor. 12:12-13; For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. Eph. 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; ).

The Spirit of God is owned as the rightful president and leader in the Assembly and the Bible as the all-sufficient, divinely inspired guidebook and authority.

The Bible teaches these believers that all true Christians are a royal and holy priesthood, so there is liberty of the Holy Spirit to use whomsoever He will as His mouthpiece in prayer and praise (1 Peter 2:5,9; ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (9) But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: of your calling; 1 Cor. 12:11 but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will. of your calling; ).

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 the gift of Christ…for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:7-12 But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (8) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men. (9) (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? (10) He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) (11) And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: ). 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.

These companies of believers have no church organization, headquarters, presiding bishops, appointed elders or ordained clergy. Yet there is not independency. They function together, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ). 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 Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ).

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” (1 Peter 2:5 ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ). A brother may minister the Word of God after the observance of the Lord’s supper.

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 the revelation to the apostle Paul as to the observing the Lord’s supper (Luke 22:14-20; And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the apostles with him. (15) And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (16) for I say unto you, I shall not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (17) And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: (18) for I say unto you, I shall not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (19) And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (20) And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you. 1 Cor. 11:23-29 For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; (24) and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come. (27) Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. (28) But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body.). 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…come together to break bread” (Acts 2:42; And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight. ). 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.

These Christians own and practice the spiritual presidency of the Holy Spirit. Believeing that the Spirit of God divides “to every man severally as he will” (1 Cor. 12:11 but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.), any brother not under any 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 (1Co 11:3-13 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (4) Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. (5) But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven. (6) For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled. (7) For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. (8) For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man: (9) for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man: (10) for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. (11) Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord. (12) For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God. (13) Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled? 1 Cor. 14:34 let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. ).

At the meeting for the remembrance of the Lord in His death and worship, an offering is received from those who participate as known Christians. As the sacrifice of praise and the sacrifice of giving of our substance are associated together in Heb 13:15-16 Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name. (16) But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. , the only collection of the assembly for its expenses, giving to servants of the Lord and His work and the needy, is, generally speaking, taken at this service. This is also in accordance with instructions as to collection for the saints upon the first day of the week as given in 1Co 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. (2) Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.

A service for children, commonly called “Sunday School,” is held each Lord’s day morning in most assemblies. Bible classes are conducted for various ages and adults usually join in this hour in a Bible class of their own. On Lord’s day evening a meeting for the proclamation of the Gospel for the unsaved is held by those gifted to preach the glad tidings of salvation in Christ. Or an “open meeting” for ministry of the Word of God may be the order of service.

During the week, a mid-week service is usually convened for prayer and study of the Bible. Each brother has a similar freedom for participation as was evident in the Lord’s day morning service. Meetings for youth and special meetings for women may be held periodically.

As for names, these believers prefer the simple title of “Christians,” “saints,” “brethren” etc., which apply to all children of God. Refusing denominational names, they desire to be know simply as “Christians gathered unto the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” James 2:7 speaks of “that worthy name by which ye are called.”

A welcome is extended to anyone interested in hearing the Gospel of God’s saving grace and ministry of the Word of God to attend meetings of these assemblies. The answer of the Lord Jesus Christ to perplexed and questioning souls was-“COME AND SEE” (John 1:39).

--R.K. Campbell