Protestants: What do you believe happens when you take communion?

~Anastasia~ · Jan 8, 2014

SwordFall said:
Protestants: What do you believe happens when you take communion?
Carb loading

Willie T · Jan 8, 2014

barryatlake said:
Willie T, And what did Jesus say to the doubting Thomas ?

I'm fairly sure he told Thomas to touch his wounds, and see for himself.

SwordFall · Jan 8, 2014

Kylissa said:

Hey, you all deny the Real Presence, I'm just putting it in perspective.

ebia · Jan 8, 2014

Willie T said:
I'm fairly sure he told Thomas to touch his wounds, and see for himself.

I'm guessing he's referring to the next bit.

Willie T · Jan 8, 2014

SwordFall said:
Hey, you all deny the Real Presence, I'm just putting it in perspective.

Hey, Jack. I believe Jesus is spiritually with us in Communion; I just can't accept that someone thinks they can make themselves on a plane with Jesus, on that cross, taking on (even "becoming") the sins of the world, after leading a 33 year-long sinless life to be worthy to make such a sacrifice.

~Anastasia~ · Jan 8, 2014

SwordFall said:
Hey, you all deny the Real Presence, I'm just putting it in perspective.

I've tried to ask questions to understand what you believe.

Your answer ---- well, I'm not trying to pick a fight, but I find the idea offensive.

Let's just say perhaps you've misunderstood what I believe to be the Protestant position.

Eta: for clarification, since someone commented to me outside the thread - yes, I acknowledge there are different Protestant positions. Perhaps I didn't state clearly enough but that's why I said "what I believe to be the Protestant position" ... And the word used would not have been "Protestant" at all except that that's what the thread title asked and that's what the other poster I was replying to here was saying. I felt it was disrespectful (likely to ALL Protestants despite their particular position) to say that Protestants regarded communion as "carb loading". Peace ...

SwordFall · Jan 8, 2014

Willie T said:
Hey, Jack. I believe Jesus is spiritually with us in Communion; I just can't accept that someone thinks they can make themselves on a plane with Jesus, on that cross, taking on (even "becoming") the sins of the world, after leading a 33 year-long sinless life to be worthy to make such a sacrifice.

But that's really just taking one thing and calling it something else. If one believes Jesus is always with us, then of course one can say he's there at Communion.
But that doesn't suffice for the context of what Communion is in contrast to the Real Presence.

ebia · Jan 8, 2014

Willie T said:
Hey, Jack. I believe Jesus is spiritually with us in Communion; I just can't accept that someone thinks they can make themselves on a plane with Jesus, on that cross, taking on (even "becoming") the sins of the world, after leading a 33 year-long sinless life to be worthy to make such a sacrifice.

Participating in the original event usually means something more on the level of the disciples who were there at the original "last supper", denied him, were beside him at Calvary, etc. not becoming Jesus himself. Just as at least some strains of Jewish thought consider Passover as participation in the original exodus, so the Eucharist is participation in the original new-exodus. But not as God.

Willie T · Jan 8, 2014

ebia said:
Participating in the original event usually means something more on the level of the disciples who were there at the original "last supper", denied him, were beside him at Calvary, etc. not becoming Jesus himself.

Yes, I think most people envision the scene and feel the emotions (much like Mel Gibson helped us see in The Passion of Christ).

But I also believe most of what we were asked to remember is the presently living and breathing "body" of Christ... the church. And with that, I do not mean an organization, but His people, worldwide, throughout 43,000 different denominations I don't particularly understand nor embrace.

ebia · Jan 8, 2014

Willie T said:
Yes, I think most people envision the scene and feel the emotions (much like Mel Gibson helped us see in The Passion of Christ).

That's not what Jews nor the Chrisitans we are talking about usually mean by it. But rather that the Passover for Jews and the Eucharist for Christians is something where past (exodus), present and future (messianic banquet) are telescoped together in time.

Jadis40 · Jan 8, 2014

Creech said:
I am also a United Methodist and I think this answer is very simple and to the point.

I'm a United Methodist too, and I believe in the Real Presence.

Rick Otto · Jan 9, 2014

SwordFall said:
But that's really just taking one thing and calling it something else. If one believes Jesus is always with us, then of course one can say he's there at Communion.
But that doesn't suffice for the context of what Communion is in contrast to the Real Presence.

It is true, but doesn't suffice only because of specificity.
Communion specifies a metaphor that reveals our relationship to Christ.

Albion · Jan 9, 2014

Jadis40 said:
I'm a United Methodist too, and I believe in the Real Presence.

Of course. A majority of Protestants do.

Alas, that's just a fact and so it doesn't make for a real snappy retort.

FireDragon76 · Jan 9, 2014

It's not a metaphor or a symbol, though the sacramental elements can still be spoken of as bread and wine.

Rev Randy · Jan 15, 2014

OrthodoxyUSA said:
Christ was in the grave during the Jewish Passover (seder) meal.

God be gracious to me a sinner.

Indeed. The lamb has to be killed before the Seder meal. The approaching Passover was what the rush was about.

Rev Randy · Jan 15, 2014

Bob Carabbio said:
"Do you believe it is merely symbolic, or does it actually change into the Body and Blood?"

It's "Symbolic" Jesus said to do it "IN REMEMBERANCE" - not because of some supposed "Sacramental" magic.

And the "Lord's Body" is the other Christians that you're partaking WITH.

Transubstantiation" is an "Orthodox", and "Catholic" belief.

Wrong. It is not an Orthodox belief. B
BTW, the rest is wrong as well.

Rev Randy · Jan 15, 2014

Albion said:
No, there was a third major reformation at that time, one that is often called the Radical Reformation. Both Lutherans and Calvinists took pains to disavow those folks. However, there are churches today which are the descendants of that movement.

However, I think it is fair to say that those who take the Memorialist view of the Sacrament can be, and usually are, every bit as reverent about the ordinance as Christians of other traditions.

I agree. While the phrase, "Only a memorial' is often used, I can't help but notice the reverence and the lack of that phrase used during Baptist and Pentecostal communions. There also seems to be an effect on the people during the Communion.

LittleLambofJesus · Jan 15, 2014

Protestants: What do you believe happens when you take communion?

George95 said:
Do you believe it is merely symbolic, or does it actually change into the Body and Blood?

Anyone is free to take part in this discussion of course, I just put that in the title as I've never really knew the stance of the different churches.

It's all a mystery to me

http://www.christianforums.com/t7179509-2/
Consubstantiation vs Transubstantiation

Originally Posted by Melethiel

Technically defined, transubstantiation teaches that the "substance" of the elements changes completely to the Body and Blood, while the "accidents" (appearance) remains that of bread and wine.

Consubstantiation teaches that the "substance" of both bread and the Body exist next to each other.
There is no denomination that I am aware of, however, that holds to Consubstantiation.

Originally Posted by BigNorsk

The Lutheran View is probably best called the sacramental union.

We believe that Christ's body and blood are really present, not just spiritually present since scripture calls them the body and blood.

We also believe that the bread and wine are still present because scripture still refers to them after the institution.

We use terms like "in" "under" and "with" to describe the sacramental union but it is not to try to be precise, it is to stick with the type of union that scripture describes.

We do not know that for instance Christ's body is united with the bread making them one which would be consubstantiation. We know the body is present we know the bread is present, we don't know in what type of union they are.

You see we do believe in consubstantiation, Christ is an example, fully God and fully man united in one person. We could also say Jesus is consubstantial with the Father since they are one.

See the problem? We are not told that the union of the bread and body are like the union of God and man in Christ. To say the bread and body are consubstantial goes beyond scripture.

Much of the usage of consubstantiation came from the Roman insistance of have a single Latin word to debate and describe the union. Of all available Latin words, consubstantial was probably the best and so it was pretty much always used by Rome to describe what Lutherans believed and even used by some Lutherans, which does continue to this day, but the word is really too precise, going beyond what is taught by scripture.

Hope that explains it.

Marv

Originally Posted by BigNorsk

It doesn't really matter what moment things happen. We aren't told that, what we are told is "this is my body" and "this is my blood" at that point there is not reason to call Jesus a liar but simply to have faith. Who cares at what moment it occurs.

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Marv

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For me it matters because we treat simple bread and wine differently from the body and blood of Christ. Reading your post, I see you reference what we call the words of consecration, "this is my body", "this is my blood". Our priests, acting in persona christi, pronounce these words to mark the moment of transformation. This transformation is instantaneous and permanent. Viewing the Real Presence in this way, it is impossible to insert a symbolic meaning into the act. Christ is substantially and eternally present. It is not a matter of the strength of faith or sinlessness of the priest or the faith or sinlessness of the communicant. The promise of Christ to be present within his new Covenant is kept through the grace of God, not the efforts of man. Please take what I have said as merely a humble exposition on Catholic belief, not as any criticism or call to debate. In actuality, the Lutheran and Catholic beliefs on this matter are closer enough to have a cordial discussion filled mostly with agreement.

God's Grace be ever with you.

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Inkachu · Jan 15, 2014

George95 said:
Do you believe it is merely symbolic, or does it actually change into the Body and Blood?

Anyone is free to take part in this discussion of course, I just put that in the title as I've never really knew the stance of the different churches.

Jesus said to do it to remember Him. That's what "happens" when I take communion; I remember Jesus' sacrifice. I also ponder on the fact that during the Last Supper, He said "this is my blood of the New Covenant".. that phrase never fails to thrill me to the very core of my soul!

LittleLambofJesus · Jan 15, 2014

Originally Posted by George95
Do you believe it is merely symbolic, or does it actually change into the Body and Blood?

Anyone is free to take part in this discussion of course, I just put that in the title as I've never really knew the stance of the different churches.

Inkachu said:
Jesus said to do it to remember Him. That's what "happens" when I take communion; I remember Jesus' sacrifice.
I also ponder on the fact that during the Last Supper, He said "this is my blood of the New Covenant".. that phrase never fails to thrill me to the very core of my soul!

How do you do your communion? Just curious.

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Protestants: What do you believe happens when you take communion?

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