What are the rules for preparing and serving the Lord’s Supper?
Question:
I have some questions about the Holy Communion;
- Who is supposed to prepare the Lord's Supper?
- Must the one who prepares the Lord's Supper abstain from sexual activity with his wife?
- Can a sister who is having her menstrual period eat and drink the Lord's Supper?
- Some say, "plates for bread must be white, gold, black, silver, or glass." Is it true?
- Others here believe that people should not see when you are setting bread and wine on the table. Is it true?
- Can sisters assist in the distribution to Christians?
Answer:
"And He answered and said to them, 'Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? ... You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teach as doctrines the precepts of men" (Matthew 15: 3, 7-9).
The Pharisees had altered God's religion by adding rules to "clarify" what they thought God meant in His laws. However, these additions violated God's laws and made following God harder. People struggle to accept that what God said is perfect and that nothing we do can improve it.
The Jews were not the only ones breaking God's laws by adding additional man-made laws.
"If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!' (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) --in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence" (Colossians 2:20-23).
God gave no rules for preparing the Lord's Supper. Adding rules violates the warning: "Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar" (Proverbs 30:6).
The laws of uncleanness ended with the Old Law (see "Uncleanness"). Even in these man-made rules, they are applying the Old Law partially and inconsistently. If women cannot eat the Lord's Supper while menstruating, then men cannot eat the day after ejaculating semen. When people bind portions of the Old Law on Christians, they become guilty for not keeping the entire Old Law. "You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4).
God gave no rules about what vessels to use to serve the Lord's Supper.
God said nothing about whether someone sees the Lord's Supper being set.
Women are forbidden to lead a congregation in worship (I Corinthians 14:34; I Timothy 2:12). Serving the Lord's Supper is not a leadership role. (See "Can women help in serving the Lord's Supper?")
When dealing with issues such as these, always ask for the passage that shows the requirement. If there are none, then no rules can be made.
