4) We would be associating the Lord's table with the order without biblical basis existing in the churches.

A fourth reason why those gathered to the name of the Lord should be careful about having fellowship with the churches in denominational Christianity is that, by attending their services, we will associate the Lord's table with the order existing in them, for which there is no biblical basis. The apostle Paul speaks of this principle in 1 Corinthians 10:14-22. He demonstrates that, whether in Christianity, Judaism or paganism, there is an identification. In each case, participation in a given religious order is the expression of one's fellowship with what exists there.

With respect to Christianity, Paul said: “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a communion of the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16). The act of breaking the bread (participating in the Lord's supper) is the ex-pression of our fellowship with those with whom we break bread. The same principle holds with regard to Israel. He said: “Look at Israel according to the flesh; are not those who eat the sacrifices partakers of the altar?” (1 Cor. 10:18). Anyone who participated in the sacrifices made at the altar of Judaism would be identified with everything that altar represented. Paul also showed that the same principle holds for idolatry and paganism. He said: “But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. And I do not want you to be partakers with demons.” (1 Cor. 10:20). In this case those who participated in the “cup of demons” would be in fellowship with the demons behind the idols.

The point raised by Paul here is very clear: our act of participating in any religious fellowship -- Jewish, pagan or Christian -- identifies us with everything that happens there. The principle applies to the tables of men existing in the order of denominational churches. If we participate with them, and they teach bad doctrine, we will be in fellowship with that bad doctrine. If they are engaged in practices of worship that are incorrect according to the Scriptures, and we participate with them, we will also be in fellowship with those practices. I know this is terribly unpopular, but the fact remains that when we associate ourselves with any order without biblical basis in denominational Christianity -- whether we agree with its practices or not -- we will nonetheless be identified with them. And what is more important, if we break bread at the Lord's table, our act of having fellowship with an order without biblical foundation in Christendom causes us to be associating that with the Lord's table. Surely this cannot be pleasing to the Lord.