Please explain more about the connection between breaking bread and fellowship in the local assembly? Breaking bread is not an isolated act of an individual. In Acts 20:7, the disciples gathered together to break bread. The Lord and His disciples broke bread together (Mt.26:26-29). The instructions in 1 Corinthians 11 were written to the Corinthian assembly and not to an individual. In Acts 2:42 we have "fellowship" with those with whom we are in agreement (Amos 3:3) in the apostles’ doctrine, and we break bread with those with whom we are in fellowship. The breaking of bread thus is the outward sign that denotes fellowship in the local assembly. In 1 Corinthians 5 we see a sinning Christian put out from participation in the local assembly. He lost that fellowship together.

What is the primary requirement to be able to Scripturally break bread? The primary requirement is to be a divinely-placed member of the body of Christ: to be saved (Acts 2:47) — to be one who has taken Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior and Lord (Rom.10:9-10).

Is it important where I break bread as long as it is with other Christians? Yes, we believe it is very important for the reasons given in the following tics. One should break bread:

Why is breaking bread where Christians seek to maintain the truth of the Church so important? Because the Church is God’s central plan for this dispensation (Eph.3:3-11). People are saved to be part of His Church. Christ loves the Church and gave Himself for it. He in the future will present it to Himself (Eph.5:25-27). The Church is His bride and wife for eternity (Eph.5:22-32; Rev.19:7-9; 21:9), the "fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Eph.1:23). He has called us unto the fellowship of His Son (1 Cor.1:9).

What is the "pure heart" in the verse you quoted from 2 Timothy? Pureheartedness is the moral condition of those practicing righteousness, faith, love, peace in their personal and assembly lives. Their intent is to be clean and pure. Such own the Lordship of Christ. They "call on the Lord," recognizing His authority over their lives.

Are purehearted Christians perfect? No. All have a measure of failure. If serious failure is continued in, then even the intent of pureheartedness is lacking, and discipline, even to excommunication — putting the sinning one out of the fellowship of the local assembly — is required (1 Cor.5:13). Many other verses explain less severe forms of discipline.

What are some of the privileges of breaking bread? It is a privilege to:

What are some of the responsibilities I have when I take this step and begin to break bread? All privileges incur responsibilities. In this case, there are responsibilities to your brethren and to the Lord. Some of them are:

You've named some responsibilities: what are the requirements for one really saved to break bread? To be morally pure, sound in doctrine (the major teachings of Scripture), be free from unscriptural associations, and wanting to please the Lord by breaking bread.

Why are associations important? Because there is such a deep association with those with whom we break bread! If a Christian is associating, for example, with a religious group or denomination that teaches or practices error, all who break bread with that Christian become associated with the errors he or she is associated with, in God’s sight. We see in 1 Corinthians 10:18-21 that we are in deep association with the position taken (the altar) by those who break bread with us. See also Leviticus 21:16-24 and Joshua 7. We need reasonable assurance that those with whom we break bread are not associated with unscriptural things.

What do you mean by the term denomination? The dictionary defines it as a "religious sect" — a division of people into groups adhering to particular religious ideas. A sect is an opinion. Denominationalism began in principle in 1 Corinthians 1:11-13 with believers trying to justify their exclusive choice of a favorite person instead of recognizing that all were important. Today, for example, the Baptist denomination puts extra emphasis on baptism; the Lutheran denomination puts extra emphasis on the teachings of Martin Luther; the Church of Christ denomination claims they alone are the true Church of Christ. Denominationalism simply is not Scriptural!

Aren’t there some wonderful Christians in those and other denominations? Absolutely, although some denominations or branches, or cults, may have few true Christians. Also, many in the denominations are commendably walking up to the level of their understanding of the Word of God. However, if God has shown us more light in connection with His Church through study of His Word, we are responsible to act on that light whether others will or not (Lk.12:48). But we must not be overly critical of our dear brethren elsewhere. It is difficult to give up a Christian position one has been brought up in, specially when people are being saved and helped in the Word.

What are some of the unscriptural practices of the denominations? It is not possible to speak in sweeping terms because there are thousands of different denominations, branches of denominations and independent "groups." Let’s dismiss the groups we believe teach fundamental error, such as Christian Science, Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witness. We will confine our comments to groups or mainline denominations that usually teach salvation only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of their errors are shown in the following tics. Not all apply to every group.

Why isn't gathering with the local assembly with which you meet, just another denomination, even though it may be more Scriptural in some of its doctrines and practices? When one seeks to teach and practice what the Lord set up through His apostles, that is not making a sect or denomination in God’s sight. Those who create divisions contrary to the doctrine learned from the apostles, were wrong (Rom.16:17). If obeying the Lord’s directions for assembly-gathering and practice causes a division among Christians because others won’t also do so, that is not the fault of those going on in the Scriptural pathway. They cannot be charged with creating a division. Furthermore, the local assemblies with which we express fellowship refuse any divisive name or title not common to all believers. We are simply Christians, brethren in Christ. We simply gather to Christ’s all-sufficient name and desire all other Christians to also gather in like manner to that wonderful name, on true Scriptural ground (1 Cor.1:10).

Are you claiming to be a continuation of the original Church of New Testament times? No. The truth of New Testament church-gathering was lost for 1400 years after the early Church joined with the world at the time of Constantine. Luther, Calvin and others were used of the Lord to rediscover the truth of salvation by grace at the end of the dark ages, but the only new thing in church-gathering was the Protestant "state" denominations as opposed to the Roman Catholic denomination. A few went into dissent, out of which came the Baptist denomination, etc. The truth and practice of Scriptural Church-gathering was rediscovered less than 200 years ago in a world-wide movement that shook Christianity. We at best are only a weak continuation of that movement of the 19th. century.

What was that movement called? Historians speak of it as the brethren movement because those Christians (who came out of many denominations) constantly referred to each other and to other believers as their brethren — their brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a term used over 100 times in the New Testament of fellow-members of the body of Christ. Others called it the Plymouth Brethren movement since a large publishing house and also a large local assembly was in Plymouth, England. The assemblies gathered to the Lord’s name refuse such a denominational expression.

What is the status of that movement today? It continues as a world-wide movement. The local assembly with which we express fellowship is in fellowship with many assemblies, all in fellowship together, around the world. In this way, as God intended at the beginning, they still seek to display what the true Church should be on earth, and actually is in God’s sight (although outwardly divided). These assemblies hold the same truths, practices and discipline with minor practical variations acceptable in the variety which is the body of Christ. However, the so-called "brethren movement" does not have the impact it once did because Satan has been successful in dividing the movement into three main sections (each with some branches). One section denies in practice the unity of assemblies by insisting on independency of local assemblies; one seeks to closely adhere to Scripture in practice and doctrine; and the other is legal, extreme and often mystical in doctrine and practice. We cannot have fellowship in the breaking of bread with those we believe have left the apostolic fellowship (Acts 2:42), but we love all Christians for whom Christ died.

Why do you break bread where you do? We have seen the principles for breaking bread and assembly fellowship. I am convinced that the assembly where I express fellowship is meeting on Scriptural ground and is attempting to practice Scriptural principles for assembly-gathering. I recognize there is no perfection: not in me or in others, but I am convinced it is where the Lord would want me to be. I simply could not be associated with groups that deny in doctrine and practice what I believe to be God’s appointed assembly-pathway.

Do you recommend that others, including myself, seek fellowship in the breaking of bread with those local assemblies with which you express fellowship? Yes, because I believe you would be pleasing the Lord in doing so. However, if you decided simply on my recommendation, you would be sinning! The Bible says that whatever is not of faith [i.e., that you personally believe it is what God would have you do] is sin (Rom.14:23). You are personally responsible to "prove all things, hold fast the right" (1 Thes.5:21) by searching the Scriptures whether those things told you by other Christians are so (Acts 17:11).

RPD