Sunday, October 4, 2009

Consuming Christ

I received communion today. I don't know if nonbelievers could receive and consume the host, but the UMC is pretty open about the eucharist so I hope they don't take offense. According to UMC literature, the unbaptised can be served communion, but how about the baptised backslider? Other denominations, especially the Catholic Church, consider it a grave trespass.

It's been a long time since I've joined the Eucharistic celebration, and I didn't plan on joining this sunday too. But my son, who'll turn three this month, wanted to join the other kids kneeling in front to take the eucharist. Since my wife doesn't want to partake the holy sacrament from a protestant church (she's a staunch papist :p), I ended up going with my son.

Most UMC churches celebrate the eucharist on the first sunday of the month, and this month is extra special: it's World Communion Sunday. I've never heard of it before but it seems to be a good idea. I'm all for ecumenism. Just as long as they don't all bow down to the pope. :)

Posted by Qohelet at 10/04/2009 02:41:00 PM
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10 comments:

  1. I wasn't aware tuntil reading your post that any other church performed the eucharist other than the Catholic Church.

    So the UMC believes too that the biscuit transforms into the actual, literal, body of christ?
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  2. Testing if I can leave a comment.

    Lorena
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  3. Testing if I can leave a comment.

    Lorena
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  4. The Eucharist (a.k.a. The Lord's Supper or Holy Communion) is an almost universal sacrament among Christians. They differ in what the Eucharist means or symbolizes (transubstantiation, consubstantiation, sacramental unity, real presence). The UMC does not believe that the wafer transforms into the Body of Christ (which is the Roman Catholic view of transubstantiation). Here's what they say about the matter:

    "Jesus Christ, who "is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being" (Hebrews 1:3), is truly present in Holy Communion. Through Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, God meets us at the Table. God, who has given the sacraments to the church, acts in and through Holy Communion. Christ is present through the community gathered in Jesus' name (Matthew 18:20), through the Word proclaimed and enacted, and through the elements of bread and wine shared (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The divine presence is a living reality and can be experienced by participants; it is not a remembrance of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion only."

    While the bread and wine do not transform into Christ's body and blood, he is still present in these foodstuff. It is a mystery and the UMC wants to leave it at that.
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  5. Hi Lorena, you can post comments now. :)
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  6. I am extremely curious to know why you still go to church. Do you have a previous post on that topic you could direct me to?
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  7. I like church services, from the ritualistic Catholic Mass to the informal fellowship meetings of Unitarians. It's like being an anthropologist who observes a tribal ritual, you don't have to believe in spirits to be fascinated by their symbols and mysteries.

    I also like studying the bible, and church gives me the opportunity to read the bible with other people. Yes, most bible study in church is devotional but sometimes the conversation can turn academic.

    Lastly, I am not strictly opposed to giving my son a religious education. It's better for my son to experience church and understand why people give it importance, than to grow up with no idea about it at all.
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  8. Qohelet,

    Thanks for the explanation. It sounds like the UMC couldn't really figure out the whys and wherefores, but they wanna do it anyway! lol.

    By the way, I think you have very sensible reasons for attending church.
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  9. I have difficulty understanding your reasons to attend church, but I do not judge you for it.

    As I said before, maybe we should all have stayed, to somehow help the deeply religious find some enlightenment. A well placed question here and there can go a long way in helping an overly religious person see the light.

    Lorena
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  10. I'm glad you could enjoy your experience. Communion seems to be a critical point for churches to make a stand on whether their doctrine is divisive or inclusive. Or at least their practice, I suppose they could believe in a divisive theology and "leave it up to God" as far as who partakes in communion. I bet your 3 year old was impressed.

    "A well placed question here and there can go a long way in helping an overly religious person see the light."

    Lorena, I wish I could do that. As an evangelical I always felt it my role to do so, but now I feel as though I have lost my leverage, not being "one of them."
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