I want communion!!!! (Jesus Christ, ritual, blood, churches, scriptures)

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by sojourner

What does that have to do with what I believe about the Eucharist? The hang-up here appears to be yours, not mine. I am able to see Christ as present in the Eucharist, in all times and places. You are not.

I don't dispute that at all.

And who is the Church? The people ... all of us.

You'll have to forgive me if I have a different definition.

Now you're picking the fly **** out of the pepper. I believe Christ is LITERALLY present in the Eucharist. Now what do we do?

Dance.

[Dunemeister]

Originally Posted by Scott1

You'll have to forgive me if I have a different definition.

Different even from St. Paul's. St. Paul defined the church as those who hold to a particular profession:

Originally Posted by The Apostle Paul

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” ’ (that is, to bring Christ down) ‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

So why is the Roman Catholic church less generous than God? Why do they put Christians to shame by denying them communion when those Christians call upon one and the same God? If I am made righteous by my faith in Jesus, why am I excluded from communion with others who are likewise made righteous and therefore included in God's family? This is a classic case of forsaking the commandment of God for the sake of tradition.

This saying of Paul is difficult for all parties to this dispute to swallow. We are Christians because of a common fidelity to Jesus and belief in his resurrection. It's on THAT BASIS ALONE that we ought to be permitted communion. To deny communion to a person with this faith is to grieve the Holy Spirit of God and to put a roadblock in the way of Christian unity. That hinders our witness because it wrecks our credibility. And in the end, it makes a mockery of our mission to unite the world under Christ.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

Different even from St. Paul's. St. Paul defined the church as those who hold to a particular profession:

Okey dokey.

And in the end, it makes a mockery of our mission to unite the world under Christ.

Everyone should just come home to the one true Church.

[Scott1]

Have you folks read this before: The Gift of Authority

The Document published here is the work of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC). It is a joint statement of the Commission. The authorities who appointed the Commission have allowed the statement to be published so that it may be widely discussed. It is not an authoritative declaration by the Roman Catholic Church or by the Anglican Communion, who will evaluate the document in order to take a position on it in due time.

[sojourner]

Everyone should just come home to the one true Church.

Everyone is home in the one true Church. haven't you heard that, "In my Father's house are many rooms?"

[Muffled]

Originally Posted by sojourner

Everyone is home in the one true Church. haven't you heard that, "In my Father's house are many rooms?"

Just as long as we don't have to double up and share a room with a Catholic. Why would I ever want to go "home" to a church that has so many silly godless rules and thinks my beliefs aren't worthy to be accepted. (In fact I have had protestant churches that were rule bound call me a heretic)

I have taken what passes for communion in a Roman Catholic church (wafer only). Maybe no-one wanted to make a fuss because my lack of kneeling and crossing myself should have been a tip-off that I wasn't Catholic. As for why I would go there, I was sent by God for whatever his purposes and communion is something I would participate in as I understood it. I freaked out a Catholic one day when I told her that I had taken communion twice that day. I must have used up two months of a protestants quota on that day but only two days of a Catholic's quota.

[rheff78]

Originally Posted by Muffled

Just as long as we don't have to double up and share a room with a Catholic. Why would I ever want to go "home" to a church that has so many silly godless rules and thinks my beliefs aren't worthy to be accepted. (In fact I have had protestant churches that were rule bound call me a heretic)

I have taken what passes for communion in a Roman Catholic church (wafer only). Maybe no-one wanted to make a fuss because my lack of kneeling and crossing myself should have been a tip-off that I wasn't Catholic. As for why I would go there, I was sent by God for whatever his purposes and communion is something I would participate in as I understood it. I freaked out a Catholic one day when I told her that I had taken communion twice that day. I must have used up two months of a protestants quota on that day but only two days of a Catholic's quota.

that just shows your ignorance of what the Catholic Church believes and teaches. If you REALLY want to know, just ask. Godless rules huh? Not a bery Christian attitude. At least Sojourner acknowldeges the Church, you have no idea do you?

[sojourner]

Originally Posted by rheff78

that just shows your ignorance of what the Catholic Church believes and teaches. If you REALLY want to know, just ask. Godless rules huh? Not a bery Christian attitude. At least Sojourner acknowldeges the Church, you have no idea do you?

I know that sometimes it sounds as though I don't like Catholics, or the RCC. In fact, I have great respect for the RCC, and I have many dear friends who are Catholic. I do have some problems with that branch of the Church -- such as the openness of the Table, and the ordination of women. I don't think I would go so far as to call doctrine or practice "Godless rules," even if I do have a problem with them. I know that we're all limited human beings -- even the Pope -- and that we all operate within the parameters of our understanding. The Catholic faith is a beautiful, ancient, and honorable thing. I am proud to call Catholics "brother" and "sister," even if I disagree in some areas of doctrine, practice and polity.