The assembly not only has the right to decide who should or should not break bread, but has the responsibility to exercise that right according to Scriptural principles.

In the very first mention of the Church in Matthew 16, the Lord says to Peter, thou art Peter (Petros, which means a stone) and upon this Rock (Petra, Peter’s confession, v.16) I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (vv-18, l9).

Peter, whose name means a stone, (piece of a rock) was to become a living stone in the new spiritual building – the church, which the Lord was to build upon Himself. To Peter was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. A key symbolizes the authority to rule, using the “key of knowledge” (Luke 11:52), to administer Scriptural principles to bind or loose, as the the case may be.

Now as the “living stone” is a term not peculiar to Peter (for every believer is a living stone in the building of the Church, as we read in 1 Peter 2:5), just so the keys are not peculiar to him. Every living stone in the Church is a Peter and addressed as such through him. Therefore, the assembly of living stones has been placed in responsibility to exercise authority in the affairs of the Lord in His assembly in the kingdom of heaven here on earth.

The binding and loosing spoken of is the action of the assembly on a case calling for excluding one or including one in its fellowship. This action, when righteously taken, is recognized by heaven, being either bound or loosed there, the case may be. The 2 or 3 gathered unto the Lord’s Name, with the Lord in the midst, according to His promise as given in Matthew 18:20, constitutes an assembly, representative of the whole church, and is authorized to so act.  In verses 17 and 18, for instance, when the brother dealt with refuses all approaches for restoration, the assembly is called upon to refuse him. It is then we also read the Lord speaking to the nucleus of the assembly to be formed. “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

An illustration of this principle in action is seen in 1 Corinthians 5. The church at Corinth needed instruction as to how to deal with the man living in sin. Divine instruction was given through the apostle Paul.  It was written to the assembly: “IN the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Cor. 5:4,5). This instruction, I repeat, was given to the assembly; not to one man, nor to a group of men, nor to the elders to take the action. Here the assembly put away the man living in sin from amongst them. This action excluded him from the Lord’s supper, and from all their fellowship. This action was bound in heaven, for it was a righteous act.

In 2 Corinthians, after a period of time, the man showed signs of genuine repentance with much sorrow. Here again instruction was needed from the Lord through the apostle. The assembly is called upon to forgive the man and receive him back into the fellowship. Here again, it was the assembly that received upon a review of the man’s restored condition. 

I believe these two portions illustrate the assembly responsibility to exclude or include into fellowship as the case was seen to be.

Scripture says nothing as to the elders of the assembly receiving or putting away. Elders, however, have an important place to fill in assembly action. Elders and bishops refer to the same thing. Elders are men of maturity in the Christian life, not novices; bishops, which means overseers, suggest the work of oversight taken up by older and spiritual men in the affairs of the assembly. The qualifications for such are given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. The JND translation clarifies the first verse, namely: “If a man aspires to oversight, he aspires to a good work.” It is not an office he has been appointed to, but a work laid on his heart by the Holy Spirit. Acts 20:25 gives light as to this, as Paul speaks to the elders of Ephesus: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.”

Furthermore, though not appointed by the assembly, elders are to be recognized as they do the work of oversight. And as Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:12 and 13. “Know them” (or, recognize them) which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” Also in Hebrews 13:7, 17 and 24, They are referred to as “guides” (marginal reading), to be remembered, obeyed and saluted.

Now a word as to the practical working of the guides in matters of reception to fellowship, in order to maintain Godly order for the good of the assembly, and for the one who expresses a desire to break bread.

Let us say a person expresses his desire to remember the Lord to someone in the meeting. I believe that the Scriptural procedure would be that his desire would be made known to one of the older brethren recognized as an overseer, or guide, in the assembly. This brother would lovingly speak to the one desiring fellowship to seek to ascertain that he is saved, ’seeking to please the Lord and not in any unscriptural association. This overseer may consult with another brother or two, and, if all is clear, the assembly should be informed of the exercise. This will enable the assembly to be knowledgeable as to the proposed reception, and give anyone the opportunity to voice to the guides any Scriptural objection he may have to the reception. This is vitally important in order to preserve the unity of the assembly, which Satan is always on the alert to break down. If the guides discern all is clear, the one desiring fellowship should be informed that his name will be announced at the close of the meeting for breaking of bread, to be received into fellowship the following Lord’s day. This will give time for the various ones in the assembly to express their joy and encourage the one taking the step of faith in response to the Lord’s desire. This will require more time, of course, in larger assemblies than in smaller ones. But the main point is that the assembly takes the action. Situations may vary as to the ones requesting fellowship, for instance: some may be quite unknown, others well known; some may be young but showing true devotion; but the Lord will give wisdom and grace in each case as it is sought for from Him.

Breaking of bread is not a single or isolated act_ It is an act of faith on the part of the one being received. As well as being a response to the Lord’s request to remember Him in His death. it is also an expression of his membership in the body of Christ, and involves a commitment to the fellowship which God has called him into, namely, “the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). This should be put before the one coming to break bread. This would happily result in what Paul writes of in Romans 15:7: “Wherefore, receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

These few thoughts present principles to guide the assembly so that Godly order may be enacted for the Glory of the Lord, for the testimony of the assembly, and for the blessing of the one being received. Should there be questions, as I am sure there will and should be because of the brief treatment of the subject, please ask them and I will seek, as enabled of the Lord, to be of further help. God will not leave us in the darkness of uncertainty if we have a sincere desire to not only know His will, but to carry it out in practice.