The body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, is given to us though the holy sacrament of communion. The Lutheran confessions practice two sacraments, baptism and Holy Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Sacrament of the Altar (198, Luther’s Small Catechism). “A sacrament is a sacred act instituted by God, in which God Himself has joined His Word of promise to a visible element, and by which He offers, gives, and seals the forgiveness of sins earned by Christ” (197, Luther’s Small Catechism). According to Lutheran teaching, the sacraments are acts performed by Christ and related to a divine promise. Having faith in God and Lutheran beliefs is necessary for receiving the sacrament. Martin Luther wrote an explanation of these sacraments in The Small Catechism. Along with baptism and Holy Communion, he explains The Ten Commandments, The Apostles’ Creed, and The Lord’s Prayer (Worship Facts). Luther’s Small Catechism speaks of what Holy Communion is, where it is written, what the benefits are, how it can do great things, and who worthily receives this sacrament (28-29, Luther’s Small Catechism). Partaking in Holy Communion is important in the Lutheran religion in order to show faith and receive Christ’s own body and blood.
Holy Communion is the practice of eating the bread and drinking the wine at the altar, which represents the body and blood of Jesus Christ (227, Luther’s Small Catechism). The true body of Christ is provided to Lutherans though bread that was broken by His own hands and given to His disciples during the last supper. He also provided the disciples with wine that symbolized His true blood, which was shed for all sinners on the cross. Just like the disciples, Christians who follow God’s word a...
... middle of paper ...
...
"Confirmation and First Communion in the Lutheran Church." (2009): 6.
http://www.lutheranlogomaniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2009confirmation.pdf. Web. 6 Mar. 2011.
The Bible (New International Version, ©2011)
"Difference - Lutheran and Catholic Communion." Catholic Net Abbey. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.
.
Luther’s Small Catechism
"Means of Grace? | The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod." The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - .
Web. 7 Mar. 2011. .
"On distribution of Holy Communion - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America." Home - Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America. Web. 7 Mar. 2011. .
"Worship Facts." Home. Web. 7 Mar. 2011. .
Various people are devoted to numerous pursuits in their lives. A man in particular known as Thomas Jefferson was devoted to religion. Sworn on the Altar of God is a biography written by Edwin S. Gaustad that goes in depth about Jefferson’s unwavering religious beliefs throughout his life. The book exemplifies how Thomas Jefferson interacts with religious, political, and personal issues. The book follows a timeline from when he was first born into an Anglican family to when he broadened his horizons as a young adult to the impacts he made before, during, and after his Presidency to the aftermath of his death. Edwin S. Gaustad effectively argues that Thomas Jefferson used his religious beliefs to have a positive impact on the world around him.
The Altarpiece of Saint Peter Art is a window to the past and there is no place other than the many museums of the world where this is more strongly felt. More specifically, it is also seen through Martin de Soria's work, The Altarpiece of Saint Peter, which was completed around 1480. According to the panel near the altarpiece in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the piece is an enormous work of tempera on panel with parchment ground; it is a typical Spanish altarpiece of the medieval period and is comprised of a complex arrangement of twenty-six paintings. This piece was chosen as a representative of the medieval period because its emphasis is placed entirely on religion, the style with which it was painted and decorated
In the Lutheran Hymnal, are principles of Lutheran Theology according to the Missouri Synod. There are ceremonies for Baptism, Confirmation as well as Divine services. The Divine Service is from Lutheran tradition and is the same service that Lutherans practice today. There are also prayers, chants, psalms with music, and Luther's Small Catechism. There are hymns which span the entire year including: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Passion Week, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost. There are also hymns for other times of service and year: Trinity, Morning, Evening, Beginning of Service, Close of Service, Holy Baptism, and The Lord's Supper. This was all based on the practices that Martin Luther created during the Reformation.
On the issue of communion, Luther, Zwingli and the Roman Catholics greatly differed on their views. The Roman Catholics had the most extreme view, then the Lutherans and then the followers of Zwingli. The Roman Catholics believed that when taking communion, there was an actual conversion of the bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood. This was known as transubstantiation. Since the blood and wine turned into Christ’s body and blood this meant that Christ was being sacrificed over and over again. Luther and Zwingli strongly disagree with transubstantiation and continual sacrifice, yet they still differ in much smaller areas. Luther believed that even though the bread and the blood did not turn into Christ’s physical body; Christ’s body was mystically in the bread and the wine. During many debates against Zwingli, Luther would back up this point with a verse from Matthew 26:26 which says, "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."" So, even though Luther did not believe in the practice of transubstantiation, he still believed that Christ's body (in some mystical way) was in the bread and the wine. Zwingli, one of Luther’s rivals, believed that the bread neither transformed nor had Christ's mystical being in it, but instead, communion was just a reminder and representation of Christ’s sacrifice. This is shown by looking ...
One of the most controversial topics in Christianity is sacraments. Scholars define the word “sacrament” many ways. A common definition is that a sacrament is an outward, visible sign of an inward, spiritual reality. It would be inaccurate to say that a sacrament is just a sign. It should be viewed as an encounter or something that brings something else about. In other words, a sacrament is something that points beyond itself and has meaning in a spiritual sense. Sacraments compile a range of imagery which all have deeper meanings than meet the eye. It is not just a ritual enactment of something else going on; it has objective order.
Hence, Calvin asserts that these varying views distort true piety. One such view is consubstantiation. In this view, usually Lutheran perspective, Calvin finds that they make the corruptible elements, as they are material things, yet underneath the elements, the elements hold the body of Christ. Or, in Calvin 's words, these people "cannot bear to conceive any other partaking of flesh and blood except that which consists in either local conjunction and contact or some gross form of enclosing" (4.XVII.16). Thus, the concern deals a misinformed idea that the resurrected Christ somehow masks himself within the bread and wine. In other words, the resurrected Christ comes down to make the sacrament salvific in some sense. But, Calvin already established that the Lord 's Supper is a sacrament meant to strengthen faith. Furthermore, those with this view locate the grace of God within the elements. Since Calvin sees the whole spectrum of a Christian 's salvation solely in the hands of the Triune God 's action, this emphasis in the material as a means of salvation distorts the reality of faith. Faith is exercised in the recognition, and living in God 's benevolence and promises to humanity. Lastly, Calvin 's concern aims at misconstruing the Gospel that states Christ sits at the right hand of
Analysis of a Major Sacramental Prayer - Option 1: Blessing and Invocation of God over Baptismal Water (Rite of Baptism for One Child)
...express their beliefs as well as listen to the words of the Lord. As Jesus said at his last meal with his disciples before his execution, “Do this in memory of me”. This quote is reflected in the mass in the stage of ‘being fed’ when an adherent receives both the body and blood of Christ, called Transubstantiation. In this way, Christian adherents are able to unit in a diverse environment following the ways that our Lord has taught us. Therefore through this, Christian adherents are able to express their faith.
The atonement of Christ on the cross for us is central, and one could even say pivotal to the Gospel as we know it, communion represents the atonement and is something we do to remember our saviour on the cross, there are many theories of the atonement, but we must not get side tracked by theories, but continue to read Scripture for the answers.
...le, the scripture passage Luke 24:30-32 in the bible explores the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is recognised after “he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them” This is important to Christian followers, as it is the foundation of Christian beliefs. This has also impacted the way Christians practise traditional rituals and ceremonies, such as the Eucharist and Baptism. Also the scripture reference provides adherents with the knowledge of Jesus’ resurrection and how he will be “with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28), even after his death and resurrection. Thus, the ritual of Eucharist and Baptism supports adherents in seeking where Christ is in their everyday lives. Hence, the rituals and ceremonies, such as the Eucharist and Baptism are significant to Christianity, through it shaping it as a living and dynamic tradition
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church recognizes two sacraments only. They are the Sacrament of Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. “Sacraments, ordained of Christ, are not only badges or tokens of Christian men’s profession, but rather they are certain signs of grace and God’s good will toward us, by . . . invisibly in us, and . . . quicken, but also . . . confirm, our faith in, Him.” Baptism is not only a flag of declaration and stamp of separation by which Christians
First off Catholics believe that they are receiving the very Body and Blood of Christ Himself. At the Last Supper Jesus said, "This is my body which is given for you" and offering His disciples the cup of wine said, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." In the Gospel of John they read: "Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day, for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink (St. Louis Parish para 1).” When receiving communion and the person ahead of you is receiving Communion you offer a simple bow of reverence with your head and then step forward. You receive Holy Communion either in your hands or directly on the tongue. If you receive in the hands you should take care that they are clean (as a sign of reverence) and place one hand over the other and raise them up high, forming a throne with our hands to receive Jesus. As the priest places the host in our hands and says "The Body of Christ" you should respond loudly and clearly "Amen (St. Louis Parish para 5)." Also, one major point in Catholic Communion is with non-Catholics. Non-Catholics are not permitted to receive Holy Communion. The very action of receiving Communion says that the church believes it is the Body and Blood of Christ and that we share in the whole life of the Catholic Church. Inviting non-Catholics to Communion can be an obstacle to one day reaching full communion by blurring the differences in belief among Christian denominations.
The Pagan Servitude of the Church – Composed in 1520, this work by Luther is one of his most important contributions to Christian history and theology. In the Pagan Servitude of the Church, Luther addresses critical issues that surround the seven sacraments that the Roman Catholic Church practices, but for this session, only the sacrament of the Eucharist is covered. Luther does not start gently, as he immediately contradicts the norm by advocating for the administration of both elements of the Lord’s Supper to the laity. His argument brings to light opposing comments from other theologians and leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, but Luther overcomes them all with a simple redirection to Scripture. He uses a combination of his interpretation of Scripture from the Gospels and Paul’s epistles along with logic and common sense to declare that the laity should have the right and privilege to partake in both the bread and the wine elements.
“And while they were at supper, Jesus took bread and blessed and broke and gave it to His disciples and said, "Take you and eat, this is my Body." And taking the chalice He gave thanks and gave it to them saying, "Drink you all of this. For this is my Blood of the New Testament which shall be shed for many unto remission of
Introduction In the Christian faith there are many beliefs and acts for the baptized Catholic to follow, such acts consist of the sacraments, for which there are seven. Many people believe that of all the Sacraments, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the most complex and difficult to understand. Those who approach the Sacrament, are able to obtain pardon from God for the offenses committed against him, this enables them to be reconciled with the Church, which they wounded by their sins. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that it is called the Sacrament of Reconciliation because it “imparts to the sinner the life of God who reconciles.”