THE OUTWARD ORDER OF THE ASSEMBLY (2)
[p. 182] THE OUTWARD ORDER OF THE ASSEMBLY (2)
JT Yesterday we were considering the outward order and inward power of the assembly. Almost the whole of the time we were occupied with the outward order and I thought it would be well this morning to follow up the outward and public side. This afternoon, if the Lord will, we can proceed to the inner side. We saw yesterday that the Lord divided up a multitude of five thousand into sections, each of one hundred or of fifty, and I suggested that the brethren should commence to act according to this principle and, during large gatherings, divide themselves only for the breaking of bread, all being together in one large room for the readings and addresses.
Ques What should we do at small local meetings? I know, for example, an isolated sister. Can I break bread with her when I am on a visit?
JT You could not possibly describe an isolated sister as an assembly. We were taught yesterday that the Lord sent Peter and John to make the necessary preparations, and they certainly would not have considered an isolated sister as sufficient for an assembly.
Ques What does Matthew 18:20 refer to in saying, “For where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them”?
JT In Matthew 18 the assembly is entrusted with the administration of the interests of Christ down here during His absence. “Tell it to the assembly” says the Lord, ‘not to Me’. The verse which has been referred to is to show what two or three can do in the days of the failure and breakdown [p. 183] of the assembly. In Luke 8:26 - 56 the material is indicated of which an assembly should consist. The man, who had earlier been possessed of demons, is sitting, clothed and sensible at the feet of Jesus. The woman had not had demons, but an internal malady; she had been healed and wanted to remain hidden. She fell down before the Lord and declared before all the people what had taken place in her. The Lord regards her now as belonging to the family, for He calls her “Daughter”. Last of all we have the daughter of Jairus, who died and whom the Lord raised up again. These are three of such persons who can form an assembly; the man clothed and sensible sitting at Jesus’ feet; the woman, healed of her infirmity, become transparent, for she told all the people the whole truth; and the twelve-year-old child whom the Lord had brought from death to life. This does not mean that these are only three persons, but they represent features which should be seen in a local assembly. At least two persons must be together in a place in order to break bread. An isolated sister and a visiting brother hardly form the requisite material for the assembly. The first epistle to the Corinthians is addressed to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, and one sister cannot be that.
Ques Can several brethren travelling by ship to Australia, who are several Lord’s days on the way, break bread on the ship?
JT We cannot make a ship which is constantly in motion into a place. It says in 1 Corinthians 1:2, “with all that in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. The apostle Paul commits the Lord’s supper only to the assembly come together into one place. The assembly in a place such as Corinth is composed only of the brethren who reside there. Visiting brethren do not pass for local.
[p. 184] Ques Why then did the Lord break bread with the two disciples at Emmaus? (Luke 24:30).
JT That was not the Lord’s supper or the breaking of bread, but only a meal.
Rem If some reside there who are already breaking bread, that is all right. It says here “the assembly of God which is in Corinth”.
JT The word ‘in’ means that those people really belong to the place, not that they are there on a visit but that they are characterised by actually dwelling there. In Revelation 2 and 3 we have the same idea, “the assembly in Pergamos”, “in Philadelphia”, and so on. That shows that the component parts of the assembly should only be sought among the local brethren. Visiting brothers should not therefore put much value upon the fact that they are considered important. The important thing is that the constituent features of the assembly are to be found in those who are actually dwelling in the place. It says in 2 Corinthians 6:11, “Our mouth is opened to you, Corinthians”, that is, to persons who were marked by dwelling in Corinth. The same applies also to “the assembly of Thessalonians” (1 Thessalonians 1:1). God regards us as local where we live.
Ques Can we look on two brothers and two sisters living in a place as an assembly, if one brother has been ill for years?
JT The question is always whether assembly material is present. It is a matter of what the brethren there really are. Are they boards for the tabernacle? It is very important to see that God receives us into the assembly in the same place where we had formerly lived in our sins. God works in us, gives us forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit, and sets us upon our feet in the same place where we have dishonoured Him, so that we may glorify Him there. In this way we are boards standing upright on two silver bases (Exodus 26:15). Such [p. 185] boards are then fitted together as an assembly in a locality, and the first epistle to the Corinthians is addressed to the assembly of God in Corinth, not to the brethren who are there. In the reading of that epistle we must hold to this firmly, for everything hinges on this truth. We find there everything that is becoming for the assembly of God in a place, but from chapter 11, verse 17 onwards, the assembly itself is also described. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 - 16, it is a matter of the suitable outward appearance of men and women, but from verse 17 onwards we have the coming together of the assembly. “When ye come together in assembly”. That is a new thought which is further treated of in what follows. While the apostle had been with them he had given them instructions about it. He writes in verse 2, “Now I praise you, that in all things ye are mindful of me; and that as I have directed you, ye keep the directions”. They kept the directions which Paul had given them. Now he writes further instructions and at the close of chapter 11 he says, “But the other things, whenever I come, I will set in order”. We see from that how important the outward order of the assembly is. It is also important for us that every instruction given by the apostle be carefully paid attention to and obeyed. There may be local assemblies which have no care meeting.
Ques What do you understand by a care meeting?
JT It is a meeting which takes care of the interests of God. If we get up in the morning, we consider for our bodies and our apparel, or a woman is occupied with her housekeeping. It says in the scripture that God makes “the barren woman to keep house, as a joyful mother of sons” (Psalm 113:9). If we would keep our local meetings in better order we should have more sons, more additions.
Ques Can we not exercise care in the [p. 186] readings?
JT In every local company we should come together once a month and see if we are really answering to the light of first Corinthians. We should then see many things for the first time and could weigh them over prayerfully before the Lord. The Lord gives wisdom. We also have opportunity then for prayer. The word ‘care’ or ‘take care’ is in 1 Timothy 3:5, “how shall he take care of the assembly of God?”. When the Lord sent Peter and John, these two were to take care of the preparations. The upper room furnished was in good order at the arranged time.
Ques If there are only a few brethren in fellowship in a place, would you also recommend a care meeting?
JT Yes, the principle is always right and sound, to be concerned for God’s assembly.
Ques Could sisters break bread in a place where there are no brothers in fellowship?
JT Sisters alone do not form an assembly. We would have to admit, if we rightly understood the scripture, that it is not right for brothers to break bread without sisters. It says, “Let your women be silent in the assemblies” (1 Corinthians 14:34). It does not say, When your women are present in the assemblies, but this passage supposes that women are always present at the meetings.
Ques How does a reception take place according to Scripture?
JT A reception always takes place on the ground of confidence and witness of two or three brothers who accurately know the person concerned. Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles (Acts 9:27). Barnabas was one witness that Saul was converted, and the other witness was Saul himself. The apostles had the full confidence of the assembly in Jerusalem when they commended Saul; then he was received by the assembly. It is therefore important [p. 187] that at a reception the saints should hear statements from witnesses who have their unreserved confidence. The witnesses when visiting the one who wishes to be received should be careful that the person concerned is washing his robes. “Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have right to the tree of life, and that they should go in by the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14). The saints can only walk with those of whom testimony is given that they are washing their robes. Such have then a right to be in fellowship, and we admit that right in walking with them.
Rem I once heard of a sister who knew something about a person who wished to be received, telling a brother about it and the reception was prevented.
JT Quite right. Therefore we announce to the saints that the person is such as we can walk with in the truth, and will break bread with us next Lord’s day for the first time. That gives the sisters time to express themselves. It is the duty of a sister if she knows anything evil about the person concerned to bring it to light immediately. Paul came to know of the critical conditions at Corinth from the house of the sister Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11).
Ques Does the washing of the robes set forth inward preparation?
JT It is a continuous washing, it means walking in constant self-judgment.
Ques In a place where only one family resides, is it right to break bread with them on the occasion of a visit?
JT It is a question of whether the individual members of the family are moving in the light of the assembly. If they are doing that, then you can break bread there. Only the surrounding meetings can decide that. Romans prepares the material for the assembly, the boards for the tabernacle. We must [p. 188] first have the materials. In 1 Corinthians we have the setting up of the tabernacle, the assembly of God in Corinth. Romans 16 is occupied with the materials. If the family in question consisted of ten members, it becomes a question if all ten persons are boards. If so, one would have no difficulty in breaking bread there. A board can stand for itself on its two silver bases, that is, on “the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24) and a board can also stand for itself in the testimony. Such a one is not leaning on his father or mother or on his brother, but stands on his own feet.
Ques Does that come to light at the end of Romans 7, “So then I myself with the mind serve God’s law”?
JT Yes, that is the new mind of a board. The family is not then in the assembly as father, mother, brother and sister, but all are boards for the tabernacle. Seen outwardly, we are men and women in the meeting but inwardly we are boards. If wives want to ask something of their own husbands, they are not to do so in the assembly, but at home. We do not come together as in the flesh, but as believers.
Ques In a meeting where the only brother cannot read, is it right that a sister should read the Scriptures aloud?
JT It says, “Let your women be silent in the assemblies”, so it is not right.
Rem But the sisters sing the hymns audibly with us.
JT We must always read Scripture in its setting. The silence in 1 Corinthians 14:34 obviously relates only to speaking and praying aloud, but not to singing, “for it is not permitted to them to speak; but to be in subjection”. They were not to push themselves forward by speaking or praying aloud. During the singing the sisters have no occasion to bring themselves forward, for we all sing together.
It says here, “It is a shame for a woman to speak in assembly”, and nothing is said as to singing. One person speaks alone while the others listen, and the same applies also to praying. It is shameful for a sister to speak or to pray, and in this way to be the mouthpiece of the assembly. It is quite different with singing, for all who are present are singing. For the same reason the sisters can also say “Amen” after a prayer.
Ques What should then an assembly do if the only brother cannot read?
JT That is an exceptional case, but we should not transgress the Scripture on that account. If a sister is to read anything aloud it is at a private meeting, but never at a gathering in the light of God’s assembly. If the Lord has gathered the material, there will then be no such difficulties, there will be a brother there who can read.
Ques Whom should a sister ask, who has no husband?
JT Such a sister is at a disadvantage. She is wholly cast upon the Lord and He will not forsake her. In 1 Corinthians 11:3, the man (that is, the male) is the head of the woman (that is, female). It does not mean there husband and wife, but male and female. Thus if a sister has not “her own husband” she can easily find a brother who as head will gladly instruct her. Everything is very plain if only we are simple. If a sister for example has an unconverted husband she can certainly not ask him. We are children of wisdom and it is contrary to wisdom to ask an unconverted person anything relating to the assembly. If a sister is to ask her own husband at home, it is presumed that he is converted and in fellowship. The apostle says, “I speak as to intelligent persons” (1 Corinthians 10:15), and we surely have enough intelligence to know what to do in such a case.
Paul writes to the Corinthians, “But in prescribing to you on this which I now enter on, I do not praise, namely, that ye come together, not for the better, but for the worse”. So we have here brethren coming together, but it would have been better for them not to come, for they only come together for the worse. There were parties and divisions among the Corinthians. In an outward way we may come together in assembly and yet be already divided in our hearts. The apostle Paul writes to them in the most definite way, “When ye come therefore together into one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper”, the Lord in that way through His servant pronouncing their coming together invalid. How serious when the Lord has to write to an assembly, ‘You are not eating My Supper. I declare your assembly invalid’. There were divisions among the Corinthians, they were choosing special friends for themselves.
Ques Did that not make the approved manifest among them?
JT That is right, but the apostle does not pursue that thought further. He admits that there were approved ones among them, but he is not occupied with them any further. The Corinthians professed to come together as an assembly to eat the Lord’s supper, but the apostle declares their whole coming together to be null and void, because there were divisions among them. That shows how we can come together in our own strength and bring the Lord something that we think good, although the Lord has long since pronounced our coming together to be invalid. If we have not the Lord any longer with us, it may perhaps happen with us as with Mary and Joseph. They supposed Him “to be in the company that journeyed together” (Luke 2:44), but after a long search they did not find Him there. Perhaps we also think the Lord is with us when the actual state of the meeting where we are might well [p. 191] convince us of the contrary. There really was a shameful state among the Corinthians, for each one took his own supper before others and one was hungry and another drunken. That shows how far astray christians can go in assembly matters. Perhaps even we are coming together with feelings of hatred against one another, and the Lord seeing that withdraws His presence from us. The apostle says that what he had delivered to them he had received from the Lord.
Ques What is then to be done if the Lord has pronounced the meeting invalid?
JT Sober self-judgment is urgently necessary. For this reason the first epistle was written to them in order that they might deeply judge themselves on account of these things. When I said the Lord declared the meeting to be invalid I meant that He openly gave expression to His strong disapproval of them. The Lord did not come to them, for He only comes where there is love and not bitterness. Where bitterness exists, sober self-judgment is needful.