I recently began teaching a Sunday morning class on the Epistles of John. As I have promised to a few people, I plan to put my notes from the class on here. Last week as I was studying and researching some information for the class I came across these words written by Justin Martyr.
Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-167) was born about the time the Apostle John died. In his youth he saw a lot of the persecution that Christians suffered at the hands of the Roman Empire. He became a Christian and wrote a defense of Christianity that was addressed to the Emperor. He wrote the following words that I thought were a great example of not only how the first century church worshipped but how we today could do some things.
"On Sunday a meeting is held of all who live in the cities and villages and a section is read from the memoirs of the Apostles and the writings of the Prophets as long as time permits. When the reading is finished, the president in a discourse gives the admonition and exhortation to imitate these noble things. After this we all arise and offer a common prayer. At the close of the prayer as we have before described, bread and wine and thanks for them according to his ability and the congregation answers Amen. Then the consecrated elements are distributed to each one and partaken of and are carried by the deacons to the houses of the absent. The wealthy and the willing then give contributions according to their freewill; and this collection is deposited to supply the orphans, widows, prisoners, strangers and all who are in want."
Notice that communion wasn't taken just to the shut-ins but to "the houses of the absent." I wonder what the response would be from those were absent if deacons did this today?
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