Questions

Cecil B. Douthitt, P. O. Box 67, Brownwood, Texas

Breaking Bread, Weddings And Instrumental Music

Dear Brother Douthitt: I would like for the following questions to be answered in the Gospel Guardian:

1. I would like an explanation on Acts 20:11. Did Paul eat the Lord's Supper? Or did he eat a meal to satisfy his hunger? Did he eat on Sunday morning, or Monday morning?
2. Is it right and expedient to bring a piano into the place of worship, and play music during a wedding? Is it proper for brethren, who have rehearsed the wedding ceremony, to play the piano and sing spiritual songs in the house of worship? I think such conduct is out of order, however I am asking for your help.

Answer

1. If you will begin at Acts 20:4 and read through the 11th verse, you will see that disciples from several places met in Troas to break bread on the first day of the week (Sunday); that is, to observe the Lord's Supper. Since they met on that day "to break bread," the only scriptural conclusion is that they broke it on that day. After this, Paul preached to them. This meeting continued all night "even till break of day" on Monday morning. Sometime after midnight Paul's discourse was interrupted by the fall of the young man from the third story window. After this, and before beginning his talk again, Paul ate to satisfy his hunger. This eating after midnight (Monday morning) was not the Lord's Supper. That had already been observed the day before, (the first day of the week). Many disciples ate the Lord's Supper of verse 7; only Paul is said to have eaten or broken the bread of verse 11.
2. Wedding performances are not exercises of worship. If they were services of worship, such songs as "I Love You Truly," "The Indian Love Call" and "Here Comes the Bride" could not be sung, for they are not "spiritual songs" and therefore are forbidden in worship by God's law of exclusion; there could be no lighting of candles as a part of the performances; there could be no instrumental music. All these things may be done in weddings; they are excluded only from the worship of God. Also, there is nothing sacred about the place of worship. However, I think it always is unwise and inexpedient to bring a piano into a house built especially for a place of worship, even for wedding exercises. The principle of 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 is violated in almost every case where this is done; that is, some who do not understand the sinfulness of instrumental music in worship may take it as an endorsement of such music by the church, and thereby be "emboldened" to favor it in the worship.

Divorced For Adultery

1. A man that has raised a family (five children), married for twenty years, went astray being called an adulterer, and was divorced by his wife. Can this man truly be forgiven of this sin?
2. If so, and his wife forgives him, can she take him back without her being called an adulteress?

Answer

1. 1. This man truly can be forgiven, if he complies with God's law of pardon. A man from whom the church at Corinth was told to withdraw themselves because he was guilty of adultery (1 Corinthians 5), later complied with God's terms of forgiveness, and he was forgiven (2 Corinthians 2:6-11).
2. I know of no New Testament passage or principle that forbids his wife's taking him back as her husband after he repents, if she wants to do so.