Just Bread and Wine?

Most of the Christian Church recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. In a prior post, baptism was covered as a means by which God gives us faith and salvation as well as other gifts, Baptism Saves! . Holy Communion is the sacrament in which we also receive the promise of the forgiveness of our sins.

There are many phrases that we use to describe Holy Communion: The Lord’s Supper, The Last Supper, the Eucharist, and the Holy (or Devine) Meal.

What is “Is”?

In Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and 1 Corinthians 11, we see close to the similar words from Christ. In all four passages, Christ states that the bread is his body. Likewise, Christ states that the wine is his blood.

The key question is what does “is” mean? Does “is” mean a literal “is” or not? If the bread and wine is Christ’s body and blood, then we are actually eating his body and blood. If not, then the bread and wine are merely symbols of Christ’s body and blood. How we understand what “is” is determines how we approach Holy Communion. If we view “is” as literal, then the focus is on Christ since we believe that Christ is present in the bread and the wine. If we view “is” as symbolic, we then focus on “do this in remembrance of me”, which places the focus on us.

In 1 Corinthians 11:27, St. Paul wrote that if one eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. If the bread and wine are just bread and wine, then how can one sin in taking it in an unworthy manner? In verse 29, St. Paul stated that if one eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.  St. Paul viewed the bread and wine as being more than just bread and wine, but the body and blood of Christ. Finally, St. Paul stated that some in the Corinth Church have died (fallen asleep) for taking the bread and wine in an unworthy manner. If the bread and wine are just bread and wine, then these verses make no sense.

Unlike the Roman Church, we cannot state the bread and wine actually change to Christ’s body and blood. We can say only what Christ says and that the bread and wine

Where Do You Place the Focus?

For many American “Evangelical” churches, they may have an “alter” at the front of the sanctuary with the phrase “Do This in Remembrance of Me”. When Holy Communion is served, they will most likely call it “The Lord’s Supper” since they don’t view Holy Communion as a sacrament but an “ordinance”. The problem is that they place the focus on the individual and not on Christ. A “Do This” view says that it’s want we do that matters to Christ in the we make Christ “pleased” with us in following this command.

If the focus was placed on Christ, the key words are “This is my Body…” and “This is my Blood…” then “Do this” is Christ’s command for us to 

If a church no longer as an alter, as part of their worship space, what does that say about how they view Holy Communion?  In an ironic sense, the term “alter call” has nothing to do with Holy Communion; it is about a theology that places the will of the individual over the sovereignty of God (“decision theology”). A true alter call is when the pastor invites the people of God to take the gift of God found in the bread and wine.

How Often You Take Holy Communion Matters

While we are not told how often to take Holy Communion, we do see how seriously the early Church took Holy Communion. In Acts 2:42, the believers were devoted to breaking of bread as long with teaching, fellowship and prayer. In Acts 20:7, the Church gathered on the first day of the week to break bread. Holy Communion is tied with worship and teaching/preaching of the Word.

Unlike baptism is a one time event in the life of the Christian, Holy Communion is an on going means by which Christ come to us in the bread and wine. In Holy Communion, we continue to find the forgiveness of sins. Since we continue to sin and we are still sinful, we still need forgiveness and to hear the forgiveness of our sins in Christ.

Taking Jesus’ Words Seriously

How we treat the words of Christ, and want he says about Holy Communion, shows how we view the forgiveness of sins and salvation. Like baptism, if we reduce Christ’s words to symbolism,

Comments

[Lito]

Mucho excelente! I am interested to hear about your journey too.

One of the very first thing that got me thinking and untangling my credo-baptistic charimaticism was the subject of communion. I am normally a pulpit supply preacher nowadays and a few years ago prior to becoming Lutheran I would go into these communion services held by pentecostals and I found no meaning and power there. Why? Because we were getting through the motion of getting it over with soon. It was something we do not a gift we receive.

Lito

[Steve]

Lito:

If one treats Holy Communion as only a memorial meal, then what does one do with the verses that state that Holy Communion is more? Do they avoid/ignore the verses, explain them away?

Thanks.

[Chris Sagsveen]

Great post.

[sr]

I love your site! I am not Lutheran...I can only refer to myself as Christian...to be honest, I really do not think that Martin Luther would appreciate people being called by his name and not His name!

Holy Communion is such a beautiful thing - and though your judgments may be true about people just going through the motions in Evangelical churches ...lets be honest and open to the fact that this is also true in all denominations. I know "Lutherans" who are only Christian on Sunday, along with many other Christians in different denominations. It is not if you believe that the blood and the wine literally is the Body of Christ that separates you from Him, but rather if He has chosen you.
We continue to put man in control...we are not. We think way too highly of ourselves.

Though I am one of those that do not necessarily follow your thoughts of Holy Communion...this I agree, it is not taken "Holy" enough. It is no longer reverend. But I also feel this is a true statement pertaining to Christ. We are not in awe of Him...we are in awe of ourselves.