Are Protestants dead?

[dreadnought]

I started this thread as a spin off thread from another thread i have going. As i was discussing the Lords supper, I was told by Catholics that Protestants dont actually partake of the real Lords supper. If this is true then doesnt that mean that protestants are dead, according to John 6:53?

John 6:53 New King James Version (NKJV)
53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.

I don't see how it's helpful for one religious group to attack another.

 

[W2L]

I don't see how it's helpful for one religious group to attack another.

Im not attacking, im just trying to discuss theology.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Fair enough, but other catholics were saying that Protestants dont partake of the real Lords supper. Right?

I don't believe the Protestants partake of the real Eucharist. But then, Protestants mostly don't believe in the Eucharist. They believe they are only commemorating Our Lord's sacrifice. Catholics believe they are only commemorating Our Lord's sacrifice.

No disagreement exists between either side.

 

[mark kennedy]

I started this thread as a spin off thread from another thread i have going. As i was discussing the Lords supper, I was told by Catholics that Protestants dont actually partake of the real Lords supper. If this is true then doesnt that mean that protestants are dead, according to John 6:53?

John 6:53 New King James Version (NKJV)
53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.

If you are 'in Christ', you are the body of Christ since the church is the body of Christ. Jesus is talking about faith, have you read the context of the passage?

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. (John 6:61-64)
​

'Yet there are some of you who do not believe', did you catch that? Jesus said he was the bread of life, that doesn't mean he thought himself a loaf of bread. The communion of the Lord's Supper is very much an important time of fellowship with God and other believers, I would never try to diminish that. What God cares about isn't so much what rites and rituals we perform, that doesn't mean they are not important. To be in the faith is to be in Christ, to abandon the faith is to abandon Christ. What's more, those who stayed, stayed because of Christ:

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)
​

Grace and peace,
Mark

​

 

[W2L]

I don't believe the Protestants partake of the real Eucharist. But then, Protestants mostly don't believe in the Eucharist. They believe they are only commemorating Our Lord's sacrifice. Catholics believe they are only commemorating Our Lord's sacrifice.

No disagreement exists between either side.

So the Lord has a catholic supper and a protestant one? Thats what you seem to be saying.

 

[W2L]

If you are 'in Christ', you are the body of Christ since the church is the body of Christ. Jesus is talking about faith, have you read the context of the passage?

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. (John 6:61-64)
​

'Yet there are some of you who do not believe', did you catch that? Jesus said he was the bread of life, that doesn't mean he thought himself a loaf of bread. The communion of the Lord's Supper is very much an important time of fellowship with God and other believers, I would never try to diminish that. What God cares about isn't so much what rites and rituals we perform, that doesn't mean they are not important. To be in the faith is to be in Christ, to abandon the faith is to abandon Christ. What's more, those who stayed, stayed because of Christ:

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)
​

Grace and peace,
Mark

​

Nice post, thanks.

 

[thecolorsblend]

So the Lord has a catholic supper and a protestant one? Thats what you seem to be saying.

Nonsense, I simply said that both sides recognize that Protestants don't receive the Eucharist.

 

[W2L]

Nonsense, I simply said that both sides recognize that Protestants don't receive the Eucharist.

Why dont they?

 

[AvilaSurfer]

I don't see how it's helpful for one religious group to attack another.

LOL. Then you must be new to GT.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Why dont they?

Well, for one thing they don't seem to believe in the doctrine or want to have much of anything to do with it. So that's one obvious impediment.

 

[mark kennedy]

Nonsense, I simply said that both sides recognize that Protestants don't receive the Eucharist.

We don't huh?

Eucharist a Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper by consecrating bread and wine. (Eucharist)
​

You don't receive the body of Christ, believers are the body of Christ.

 

[Shempster]

The terms "eat my flesh and drink my blood" was a metaphor for something spiritual. It seemed as though Jesus was suggesting cannibalism. He wasn't.
Many assume he meant it was referring to the act of eating the bread and drinking the wine, re-enacting the last supper. Well, it surpasses even that.
The act of eating and drinking was to be an act of REMEMBRANCE.

Many if not most of the words of Jesus were metaphorical that only some would really understand.

 

[thecolorsblend]

We don't huh?

Eucharist a Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper by consecrating bread and wine. (Eucharist)

That is so cute.

 

[mark kennedy]

That is so cute.

I'm glad you like it, I'm actually being serious here. We don't receive the Eucharist? Ok, why not, we have the ceremony the same as Catholics. Are we not allowed to remember the death of Christ with thanksgiving without the approval of Rome?

 

[W2L]

Well, for one thing they don't seem to believe in the doctrine or want to have much of anything to do with it. So that's one obvious impediment.

Any other reasons?

 

[thecolorsblend]

The terms "eat my flesh and drink my blood" was a metaphor for something spiritual.

What do you base that on?

It seemed as though Jesus was suggesting cannibalism. He wasn't.

The people who abandoned Him in St. John 6 sure took him literally. And oddly enough, Our Lord didn't stop them and correct their thinking. He let them leave.

Many assume he meant it was referring to the act of eating the bread and drinking the wine,

In fairness, in St. Luke 22 when Our Lord holds up bread and says "This is my body", it kind of gave the impression that the bread is His body. You know?

Many if not most of the words of Jesus were metaphorical that only some would really understand.

Agreed. A small number. A very small number. Like, a really minuscule number. Because at least 75% of the Christian world today believes in Real Presence.

It used to be something like 100% but Protestantism.

But anyway, you're right, a very tiny number of people.

 

[W2L]

The terms "eat my flesh and drink my blood" was a metaphor for something spiritual. It seemed as though Jesus was suggesting cannibalism. He wasn't.
Many assume he meant it was referring to the act of eating the bread and drinking the wine, re-enacting the last supper. Well, it surpasses even that.
The act of eating and drinking was to be an act of REMEMBRANCE.

Many if not most of the words of Jesus were metaphorical that only some would really understand.

Yes like the bread of life and living waters.

 

[mark kennedy]

Well, for one thing they don't seem to believe in the doctrine or want to have much of anything to do with it. So that's one obvious impediment.

What doctrine? Jesus said, 'do this in remembrance of me'. We do, not all of us but it's still commonly practiced among Protestants. I'm just trying to figure out, what do you mean?

 

[thecolorsblend]

I'm glad you like it, I'm actually being serious here. We don't receive the Eucharist? Ok, why not, we have the ceremony the same as Catholics. Are we not allowed to remember the death of Christ with thanksgiving without the approval of Rome?

You're welcome to remember it. Indeed, remembering it is an objectively good thing to do. By all means, remember it in your "Lord's Supper".

But your grape juice and crackers? That's not the Eucharist, friend.

 

[dreadnought]

Im not attacking, im just trying to discuss theology.

Well, reading your original post very carefully, it would sound like certain Catholics are attacking Protestants. Why do certain Catholics and Protestants like to attack each other?