For over 150 years assemblies seeking to follow the simplicity of the New Testament have conducted the Lord’s Supper as an open meeting. This means it was not prearranged, but was open for all the brothers to take part audibly, leading the assembly in worship and praise. I remember my first exposure to such a meeting in Tucson, Arizona after I was saved. I had been raised in a formal church where the minister conducted the whole service and the congregation did nothing. In the assembly I saw different men stand, give out hymns, read the Scripture and pray. The meeting was marked by spontaneity and fervor. I saw men weep; I was moved as we worshiped.
Today the winds of change are blowing. Some advocate hiring a man to lead the fellowship—of course, with the aid of other elders. He may be called a “pastor-elder” or some other name but his role is similar to the pastor in many churches. Often too there is the feeling that more planning is needed for the Breaking of Bread. Appoint one man to choose a theme, arrange the song service and prayers. One elder told me, “I don’t think it matters how you do it. Just do it every Sunday.” If that is true we have no guidelines for worship. The Church of Christ, the Christian Church, the Episcopalians and others have communion each Sunday. Are all equally scriptural?
Why did those early brethren choose to have an open meeting? First of all, they rejected emphatically the clergy-laity practice of the churches around them. “One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren” (Mt. 23:8, nkjv). While some of them were educated men, they rejected the concept of ordination and of a clergy. This meant any group of Christians could gather in the Lord’s Name and remember Him—without a clergyman officiating. Had not Peter taught that all believers are priests, “a holy priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:5)? This was revolutionary and radical and was abhorred by the clergy. Their position was under attack by this dangerous teaching.
An open meeting proclaims the priesthood of every believer and rejects the concept of a clergy. It also encourages spiritual exercise of heart through the week. If one realizes the service is all planned, he may come with little spiritual exercise of heart. It is easy to be a spectator as the professionals conduct the service. At an assembly in Japan I was told that every brother prepares his heart during the week and comes exercised to take part. And they did. One after another, the men were on their feet, praising and worshiping God. It was a rich service. We grow spiritually by participation. And unlike a formal, structured service, each meeting can be new, fresh and exciting as God’s people unite their hearts in spiritual worship.
An open meeting also follows the instruction of Paul to the church in Corinth. There is to be openness for various believers to participate (1 Cor. 14:26, 31). But there is to be order, not confusion. One is to speak at a time so all can benefit. This negates the practice of some churches today where all pray out loud at once and there is a scene of noisy confusion. “Let all things be done for edification” (1 Cor. 14:26).
These are some of the reasons why assemblies worldwide have had meetings which are open to participation. Some cite as a reason for changing that their meetings are slow and dull, with few participating. If that is so, shame on us for our lack of spiritual preparation to meet with our Lord. The problem is not the open meeting, it is the carnality of God’s people. If our meetings are dead and slow, we should be on our faces, crying out to God for a revival of love toward Him. The worship meeting is a good barometer of the spiritual health of an assembly.
“But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (Jn. 4:23).