Protestant Communion

[Jake Huether]

A lady on the Baptist board mentioned that her congregation only has "closed" communion, meaning only the Baptists at her congregation can recieve it. Her explenation was that "There is a danger in taking communion unworthily."

My question is: If it is merely symbolic (i.e. just a piece if bread), then what's the danger.

Furthermore, another poster brought up the totally true fact that EVEN members within the congregation might be recieving communion "unworthily". So then, what, to Baptists is "unworthy".

Another thing I caught was that several of them held communion at different intervals (?). Like one lady said they have it every 5th Sunday. Some have it quarterly. Others bi-weekly.

Who determines how often communion is taken? And on what basis?

The Catholic Church recieves communion, necessarily, every Sunday (as was done by the Apostles). In fact, St. Paul makes mention of their weekly "breaking of bread". And the early Church likewise is documented to have held Holy Communion weekly. So, how do Protestants, who are so adiment about literal Scripture interpritations, justify this bi-weekly, or quarterly stuff?

Help me out? I'm confussed.

[hyperdulia again]

why call it communion? what are they communing with? a cracker?

[Dave]

As for Protestants celebrating Communion less often than every week, I guess it's because they think familiarity breeds contempt. I wish I had an explanation why they're scared of receiving Communion unworthily when they think it's just symbolic, but I don't.

[marielapin]

I know of one Baptist Church that has the "Lords Supper" twice a YEAR.

[Anna]

The Catholic Church recieves communion, necessarily, every Sunday (as was done by the Apostles).  In fact, St. Paul makes mention of their weekly "breaking of bread".  And the early Church likewise is documented to have held Holy Communion weekly.  So, how do Protestants, who are so adiment about literal Scripture interpritations, justify this bi-weekly, or quarterly stuff?

Help me out?  I'm confussed. 

The Catholic Church offers Holy Communion to the faithful daily, just to clarify. The faithful are required to receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion at least once per year.

Pax Christi. <><

[Jake Huether]

For Catholics it's such a central theme. I mean, Scripturally "The Last Supper" was HUGE! It was the pre-Climax to the Crucifixion! In fact, in context to the Passover, it WAS indeed the Climax, as it INCLUDED the Crucifixion. Yet they only celebrate it twice yearly? I just don't get it. It's hinted at in John 6. It's mentioned in all four Gospels. It is talked about in Pauls letter to the Corinthians.

The Lord Himself said, Luke 22: "15 ...I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."

And Paul says, 1 Cor. 11:20 "When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat,..."

Why would Paul pay so close attention to something that was only occuring 2 times a year? In fact, if it was only happening 2 times a year, would there even have been mention of the people getting sick and dying?

It is more than obviouse that it was happening WEEKLY. "When you come together"! This indicates they didn't have a specific "special" meeting time for the Lord's Supper. Rather, on the contrary, EVERY meeting time not only included, but was specifically FOR the Lord's Supper! In other words, the whole purpose for them meeting was to celebrate the Lord's Supper! Scripture reading and hymn singing was SECONDARY.

So if one was to take the Bible literally, as Protestants claim to do, then they should be having communion weekly and reading Scripture and Worshiping 2 times a year. The communion was the whole point of their meetings, as Paul so clearly points out!

[Jake Huether]

You're right Anna. Actually, I had originally included that in my post, but thought I would stick to the basics (that is, the Catholic Church requires we recieve it weekly). Thanks for pointing that out though.

[hyperdulia again]

They don't recieve communion. They eat bread and drink grape juice it doesn't matter if they do it every day.

[Jake Huether]

Oh, to clarify further - I'm not that clear at times -

I don't mean to say that Scripture reading and worship are unimportant. These are very important, and a staple in the life of a Christian. However, I'm limiting my scope to the "meeting" times of the Church.

Paul is saying, when they come to meet together they are supposed to be celebrating the Lord's Supper. That's the purpose of their meeting. Outside of their meeting time, worship and Scirpture reading were of the utmost importance, and a key to their evangilization.

[Jake Huether]

True True, Hyper.

I'm stating it as they refer to it, so as not to confuse anyone further than I've already done.

[Paladin D]

You know what's pretty amazing? Jack Chick claims the "IHS" on the supposed "death cookie" are the inititals of the eygptian trinity or something.

Anyway I know this isn't true. But what's pretty funny is how I went into a store that was "mainly" Protestant and they were selling communion bowls that had the inititals "IHS" on them.

I guess Protestants are evil too.

Btw, this store was selling some nice rosaries!!! And through-out the entire store, I only found ONE tiny little brochure thing, that was Anti-Catholic.

It was one of the most Catholic-friendly Protestant stores I've seen so far.

[hyperdulia again]

Isis is Au-set in the Ancient Egyptian language, so that disproves it right there.

[Anna]

You're right Anna.  Actually, I had originally included that in my post, but thought I would stick to the basics (that is, the Catholic Church requires we recieve it weekly).

Um, geesh, I hate to be a stickler, but the Catholic Church does not require us to receive Holy Communion weekly.

The faithful (as I stated above) are required to receive Holy Communion at least once per year.

Weekly attendance at Mass is required under penalty of sin, but reception of Holy Communion is not.

Pax Christi. <><

[Jake Huether]

Right again. Sheesh. But what I really meant... LOL... Is that everytime we "meet" on Sunday, the purpose of the "meeting" is the Eucharist, that is, Communion. We aren't required to "recieve" it weekley (which for no other reason is due to the fact that we must be in a state of grace, i.e. worthy to recieve it). But it is offered weekly. And in fact, as you pointed out, it is offered daily. But we are required to be present at Mass weekly, which is that very meeting whose sole purpose is to offer Communion, as those first Apostles did observe.

[Anna]

Yes, the Church serves Her faithful.

The Church is required to offer Holy Communion to the Faithful, and we are required to attend the Mass (where Communion is offered) every Sunday and Holy Day of obligation, yet we're only required to receive that most amesome Gift once a year.

The Church never imposes higher standards on the faithful than she sets for Herself.

Doncha just love being Catholic????

Pax Christi. <><

[Good Friday]

May the unity and joy of Christ be with all of us.

I wanted to point out that the Church does not teach that Non-Catholic Christians are simply receiving a cracker. Although it is not the Eucharist, it is something more than just receiving a cracker. In the Second Vatican Council's Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio, #22, the following is stated:

The Ecclesial Communities separated from us lack that fullness of unity with us which should flow from Baptism, and we believe that especially because of the lack of the sacrament of Orders they have not preserved the genuine and total reality of the Eucharistic mystery. Nevertheless, when they commemorate the Lord's death and resurrection in the Holy Supper, they profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and they await his coming in glory. Emphasis mine.

The above statement is also reaffirmed in Ecclesia de Eucharistia, by Pope John Paul II, in #30. Just thought I'd post that.

Edited July 24, 2003 by Good Friday

[Anna]

Nathan,

So good to see you posting! (I was missing you. )

I'd like to mention something from Jake's opening post. (Don't worry, Jake, I won't pick on you!)

"A lady on the Baptist board mentioned that her congregation only has 'closed' communion, meaning only the Baptists at her congregation can recieve it. Her explanation was that 'There is a danger in taking communion unworthily.'"

Where is this found in Scripture?

Corinthians Chapter 11:23-29 says "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread. And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do you, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death until he returns. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."

Wow. What a can of worms we open up when we attempt to interpret Scripture for ourselves. The Baptists are missing a very important point.

If "taking communion" is merely symbolic, (as the they seem to claim) then how could taking something symbolically bring about damnation?

Only Jesus Christ can judge the saved and the damned, the living and the dead.

So, is this Bread and Cup the Body and Blood of the Lord, or isn't it?

If It is, then we can understand Its power, and the need to examine oneself and confess prior to receiving Him.

But if It was only a symbolic guesture of unity, what difference it make, taking it worthily or unworthily?

Scripture points out, This is more than symbolic. It's the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Living God, with the power to save or beaver dam.

[jasJis]

Jake,

I don't want to pick on you either. I think Kathlikos or Monk would verify this. you posted:

But we are required to be present at Mass weekly, which is that very meeting whose sole purpose is to offer Communion, as those first Apostles did observe.

I think 'sole purpose' is too strong. 'Most important' purpose seems to be more correct. The Liturgy of the Word is extremely important, which is why if you come late to Mass, after the Gospel reading, it is not considered meeting the requirements of attending Mass.

[benedict_x]

Didja guys know that "IHS" means iota, eta, sigma?

Its the first three letters of the Greek spelling of Jesus.

Just thought I might contribute sumthin.

[Good Friday]

May the joy of Christ be with you, Anna. I'm glad to see you posting more too.

Just wanted to let you know that I wasn't responding so much to the original post as to some of the replies in which it was stated that Non-Catholic Christians receive only a cracker or only bread and wine, and that's all it means for them. What I was pointing out was that, while they are not receiving the Eucharist, the communion they are receiving isn't just bread and wine to them -- it's a symbolic commemoration of Jesus' death and resurrection. While it is not as important to them as it is to Catholics because they don't believe the same thing about it, they still treat their communion with a great deal of reverence.

Of course that doesn't mean they're right, but I was just clarifying what they believe about their communion. I think we can be much more productive when we accurately state what they believe, and since they don't believe that it's just a snack, I thought I would correct it. But yeah, I agree with pretty much everything you said, and I agree that private interpretation can lead to grave errors such as these.