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A conversation about unity.

ARBITER01

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Since "church" doesn't mean "building" I do not understand why you persist with the contrast between body and building. It is inaccurate and misleading.

It's more accurate than you are able to realize I guess.

We are added to the body of Christ by The Holy Spirit, so it does not matter what church/building/denomination you adhere to if you are truly one of His. Christianity is spiritual not material.

Spiritual maturity though, does play a significant role in our choices, so at this point, I wouldn't really see myself entertaining much time with any Catholic/traditionalist type churches in my city, since I wouldn't find their routines or worship very interesting or edifying for myself.

Church services for me are only there for some fellowship and the sprinkling of the blood during the service, and the connection with GOD, otherwise I'm not interested in the social aspects.
 
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Xeno.of.athens

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Is a matter of unity and fellowship as Is called for in scripture. Other than the way your cracker is made the look is still the same and the remembrance of our Jesus sacrifice for our sins is the same. Sometimes we loose ourselves in our individual theologies and forget about loving our fellow Christian. Christ did not die in the cross for only members of a particular church but for all of us. When you take communion your thoughts and prayers should remain cemented in Jesus not in if my theology matches the others.

And also, why would you want to deny communion to fellow Christian?
You are right to affirm that Christ died for all (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], §605), and that love of neighbour is a commandment inseparable from fidelity to Christ (cf. CCC §1825). Yet Holy Communion is not merely a symbolic act of fellowship or remembrance. According to Catholic teaching, the Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Christ, substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine (cf. Council of Trent, Session XIII, canon 1; CCC §1374). To receive it worthily, one must be in full communion with the Church, professing her faith and sacramental discipline (cf. Redemptionis Sacramentum, §81; CCC §1385).

The Church does not deny Communion out of exclusion or pride, but out of reverence for the sacrament and concern for the spiritual well-being of the recipient. Saint Paul warns that “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor 11:27, cf. CCC §1385). Thus, the Church requires that those who receive the Eucharist share the Catholic understanding of its nature and be properly disposed. This is not a rejection of other Christians, but a safeguard of the sacrament’s integrity and a call to deeper unity in truth.

True ecumenism seeks unity not by minimising theological differences, but by pursuing full communion in faith, sacraments, and ecclesial life (cf. Unitatis Redintegratio, §2–4). You are called to love your fellow Christian, yes—but also to uphold the sacred mysteries with fidelity. To do otherwise would be to compromise both charity and truth.
 
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concretecamper

I stand with Candice.
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Correct, but this confirms that having a divine beginning does not guarantee a glorious end. (in reference to an individual church)
Not all who claim to be Churches are really part of The Church.
 
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