Communion/Lord's Supper

SnowyMacie

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2011
17,007
6,087
North Texas
✟118,149.00
Country
United States
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
In Relationship
What does this meal mean to you? Furthermore, what is Communion symbolic of? There is no right or wrong answer, I am just curious as to what other people's viewpoint on this is because I've only really been exposed to the Church of Christ view on the Lord's Supper.

BTW: The Question is how often does your church take time to share it together? My church does it every week.

EDIT: Poll coming soon.
 

SplendidTree

Legend
Aug 8, 2009
28,371
1,901
✟53,000.00
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
Private
We do communion at the church I attend once a month. It is on the first Sunday of each month.

For me, it is pretty powerful and I end up in tears every time as I ask the Lord's forgiveness for things right before we eat and drink. That moment of silence and reflection is just huge.

To me, the biggest thing is the blood He shed for us. What He went through for all of us.
 
Upvote 0

Inkachu

Bursting with fruit flavor!
Jan 31, 2008
35,357
4,217
Somewhere between Rivendell and Rohan
✟62,966.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Jesus said to do it in remembrance of Him. To me, it reminds me of His sacrifice, death, salvation, the New Covenant, and His promise not to observe that last meal again until we're all together with Him in Heaven.
 
Upvote 0
M

Marycita

Guest
I find it difficult to speak up and say what communion is without talking about baptism as well, so please forgive me :sorry:

Baptism is such a beautiful symbol - of our old person being dead...being immersed in Christ's death - a symbol of our old man's burial, discard. When we come out of that water, it's a symbol of rising to new life. The old man put off and the new man put on. Ready to be a house of the Holy Spirit. It's symbolic of us being IN Christ.


That being said..communion is a symbol of taking in something. It's celebrating what is possible because of our being in Christ. It's symbolic that we surrender to HIM IN US. We are not our own, we have been bought with a price. It's a covenant of that exchange.

Every time I take it, I make sure my soul knows what it means, and to sum it up, it's "My life for His. My body for His. My blood for His. My name for His. My glory for His."

It's not something to toy with - it's a covenant.. it's binding as marriage vows..may we not take it lightly ever...
 
Upvote 0

crishmael

nothing but the rain
Aug 29, 2008
10,459
1,437
Tejas
✟32,195.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Democrat
What does this meal mean to you? Furthermore, what is Communion symbolic of? There is no right or wrong answer, I am just curious as to what other people's viewpoint on this is because I've only really been exposed to the Church of Christ view on the Lord's Supper.

BTW: The Question is how often does your church take time to share it together? My church does it every week.

EDIT: Poll coming soon.

I believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. I don't get into specifics of how it is what it is because I believe it is a mystery of faith, and because of this, I believe it is more than a memorial or symbolic re-enactment. To me, it is a profoundly spiritual experience and if I had my way it would be celebrated every Sunday. Which it actually is at two of my church's services.
 
Upvote 0

JesusFreak2008

Living Life To Its Fullest Each Day, Praising God
May 1, 2008
1,058
121
35
Mentor on the Lake, Ohio
Visit site
✟9,377.00
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Democrat
For me, communion is a very powerful thing. I am Lutheran, and my church takes it every Sunday. I have been unable to go for the last 3 weeks, so I will be very solemn and the communion will more than likely be more significant to me, when I return next Sunday. I am flesh, and in the flesh, I sin. I go against gods word, and do things that the flesh would do. I am baptized, but I believe baptism is a one time thing, that you can only do it again if you change churches. Baptism "puts to sleep" your old body, and washes your sins away, and makes you a new. Communion does the same in the sense, that you are taking and eating his body, and doing so in remembrance of him, and also that it is washing away the sins that you had. Confessing that you have sinned, and that you are sorry, and making you a new. So for me, it is a powerful event. It reminds me of His sacrifice, death, salvation, the New Covenant, and His promise not to observe that last meal again until we're all together with Him in Heaven.
 
Upvote 0

Rhamiel

Member of the Round Table
Nov 11, 2006
41,182
9,432
ohio
✟241,111.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Single
I believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. I don't get into specifics of how it is what it is because I believe it is a mystery of faith, and because of this, I believe it is more than a memorial or symbolic re-enactment. To me, it is a profoundly spiritual experience and if I had my way it would be celebrated every Sunday. Which it actually is at two of my church's services.
I have heard a lot of differant ideas from the Methodist (are you UMC?)

my parish has Communion at every Mass and Mass every day except monday
if a parish has more then one priest it is not uncommon to have Mass every day
 
Upvote 0

crishmael

nothing but the rain
Aug 29, 2008
10,459
1,437
Tejas
✟32,195.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Democrat
Rhamiel said:
I have heard a lot of differant ideas from the Methodist (are you UMC?)

my parish has Communion at every Mass and Mass every day except monday
if a parish has more then one priest it is not uncommon to have Mass every day

I am UMC but I joined recently so I don't know the full spectrum of what you might see in the denomination.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Rhamiel

Member of the Round Table
Nov 11, 2006
41,182
9,432
ohio
✟241,111.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Single
I am UMC but I joined recently so I don't know the full spectrum of what you might see in the denomination.
My mom is UMC and I did a lot of stuff differant methodist churches when I was in high school, seen a lot of differances between differant churches, urban vs. rural
liberal vs.conservative
really runs the gamut
 
Upvote 0
T

trentlogain2

Guest
The Eucharist literally is the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
you and everyone else excuse me for asking this but...what would you feel like if you were to accidently drop the wafer or spill some of the wine or juice?

it's just something i've wanted to ask people who believe they are literally partaking of the flesh and blood of Christ.
 
Upvote 0

Rhamiel

Member of the Round Table
Nov 11, 2006
41,182
9,432
ohio
✟241,111.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Single
you and everyone else excuse me for asking this but...what would you feel like if you were to accidently drop the wafer or spill some of the wine or juice?

it's just something i've wanted to ask people who believe they are literally partaking of the flesh and blood of Christ.
there is a sense of shock, like oh no
then you just clean it up
The Lord knows it was not done on purpose
in Catholic Churchs we have a sink that just a basen and a pipe that goes into the ground, looks like a normal sink but insted of linking to the sewer system
this is how we clean the cup and the plate that holds the wafers anyways, for any particles that might be on in, it is seen as a more dignified way of cleaning it
I have also seen it happen when the person who droped the host just picked it back up and ate it
 
Upvote 0

crishmael

nothing but the rain
Aug 29, 2008
10,459
1,437
Tejas
✟32,195.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Democrat
trentlogain2 said:
you and everyone else excuse me for asking this but...what would you feel like if you were to accidently drop the wafer or spill some of the wine or juice?

it's just something i've wanted to ask people who believe they are literally partaking of the flesh and blood of Christ.

When I was inquiring into Orthodoxy the priest told me would have to consume it and he had drank it off the floor before.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Incariol

Newbie
Apr 22, 2011
5,710
251
✟7,523.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Democrat
you and everyone else excuse me for asking this but...what would you feel like if you were to accidently drop the wafer or spill some of the wine or juice?

Horrified. That is why the priest communes the people with the alter boys/subdeacons holding a cloth under the chalice, so if any spills he can quickly pick it up and consume it. There is also a small rug if they miss even more. If it all falls, they get down on their knees to consume it.

it's just something i've wanted to ask people who believe they are literally partaking of the flesh and blood of Christ.

Sure.
 
Upvote 0

crishmael

nothing but the rain
Aug 29, 2008
10,459
1,437
Tejas
✟32,195.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Democrat
Rhamiel said:
for all you history buffs out there, can anyone tell me when the first Christian church started teaching that the Eucharist was not the Body and Blood of our Lord?
I am not really sure on the date

I think I recall St. Ignatius of Antioch mentioning some that denied it, which would have been in the 2nd century, but he might have been referring to Gnostics.

My memory is fuzzy this morning.

Edit: I recall the reformer Zwingli held that it was a symbolic remembrance and it fried Luther's beans and caused a permanent rift between them. So perhaps the 1500s? I'll stop guessing now.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Rhamiel
Upvote 0

Rhamiel

Member of the Round Table
Nov 11, 2006
41,182
9,432
ohio
✟241,111.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Single
I think I recall St. Ignatius of Antioch mentioning some that denied it, which would have been in the 2nd century, but he might have been referring to Gnostics.

My memory is fuzzy this morning.

Edit: I recall the reformer Zwingli held that it was a symbolic remembrance and it fried Luther's beans and caused a permanent rift between them. So perhaps the 1500s? I'll stop guessing now.

the only churches who i have heard say it before Zwingli were sects that could hardly be called christian
I was just wondering if anyone else had other information
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Scottish Knight

Veteran
Feb 17, 2010
1,602
221
Scotland
✟10,580.00
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Married
Tertullian (2nd century) held a symbolic view

There was also the controversy between Radbertus (agued for a complete transformation of the bread and wine but only for believers) and Ratramnus who had a very similar view to Calvin's - that there was no physical change in the bread although they became Christ's body and blood in a spiritual way. This was in the early 9th century. Both views were held as being valid although Radbertus' view came to dominate in the west.

Interesting to note that there was no ex opere operato belief in Radbertus' view here

The controversy broke out again in the 11th century between Berenger of Tours (on Ratramus's side) and Lafranc of Canterbury (who went further than Radbertus and said that even unbelievers received physically Christ)

It wasn't until 1059 that Berenger's view was condemned by the papal church. which makes you wonder, if his view was so against Church history, why was this view held to be a valid theory until this time?

Even in classical reformed theology found in the westminster confession the bread and wine is called the body and blood of Christ becuase of it's sacramental union with the thing signified.

A purely symbolic view of communion is hard to come across in the early church writings. And there was the belief that the symbols should, in some sense, be called the Christ's flesh and blood. But the church fathers didn't go into detail regarding it as a joyful mystery.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0