Communion at a Protestant church

[JonNC]

They cannot give what they do not have so they justly call it bread and wine. Or, for some reason grape juice.

I don’t know who the “they” are, but as a lifelong Lutheran and recently continuing Anglican, I’ve never heard the consecrated body and blood of Christ spoken of as bread and in any way different than a Catholic might
All of my life, when I have received the sacrament, I have received the true and substantial body and blood of Christ, Catholic protestations to the contrary notwithstanding.
Now, as a Catholic, you are right to statesnd believe we do not have a valid sacrament. We simply disagree

 

[Edmundus1581]

First off your bread and cup of grape juice is insulting.

I hope you were satisfied with the OP’s response above - no offence was intended.

In the variety of Protestant denominations there are some who do literally use unfermented grape juice - and do so (I assume) reverently and, in their own minds, scripturally. They say that the elements are only a symbol. The OP may well have encountered these, or be attending one.

 

[susanbherald]

Again, I’m not talking about Lutherans or Anglicans, I’m talking about that non denominational Protestant church and other Protestant church who do believe that it is just bread and grape juice. I’m sorry for the confusion.

 

[Elkcreek]

It is not the Eucharist. Nothing there. It’s OK to go to a protestant service. If there not anti -Catholic.

 

[phil19034]

yes, that’s what I meant. Most of Russia is empty. While 74% of Russians live in the urban areas, the population density of the whole country is only 22 people per square mile (the USA is 86 people per sq mile). And 77% of the people live in the European part of Russian. Rural Asian Russia is pretty sparse. So if you are a Catholic in remote parts Siberia - good luck getting to Mass

 

[poche]

It is not ok to “take communion” in a Protestant church. They are not in communion with us.

 

[Padres1969]

How is it insulting? Many Protestant denominations, and non-denominations, believe it to be exactly that in a simple re-enactment/memorial of the last supper

 

[rfournier103]

The word “communion” is a joining of the words ‘common’ and ‘union.’

If you are not in common union with whatever faith community you are visiting, you must abstain from their ‘communion.’ By participating in ANY Protestant communion service, you are tacitly proclaiming that you believe what they believe and are in union with them. We, as Catholics, are most assuredly not in union with any Protestant sect.

MOST Protestants deny:
~Christ’s Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament;
~the authority of the Bishop of Rome and the Church to interpret Scripture;
~Apostolic Succession;
~the sacraments of valid Holy Orders; and Reconciliation;
~intercessory prayer of the saints.

Protestant communion is not a sacrament. It’s an IMITATION of a sacrament. A Catholic who is versed in the teachings of the Catholic Church must not partake at a Protestant service.

 

[Hope1960]

So don’t worry. Stay faithful to what the CC teaches. No one will judge you or be insulted for not taking communion.

Just this past Saturday I visited a non denom church and passed on communion. I was at the end of the row and just gave the church volunteer the tray, smiled and said “thank you.” She didn’t seem offended at all.

 

[JonNC]

How is it insulting? Many Protestant denominations, and non-denominations, believe it to be exactly that in a simple re-enactment/memorial of the last supper

It is insulting because the OP used the broad, general term “Protestant”, instead of being specific. If you’re going to say Protestants teach this or do that, you’re going to be wrong, at least about some of them.
For that Lutheran, it isn’t bread and grape juice, it is the body and blood of Christ. It is along the same lines as someone calling Catholics “cracker worshippers “.
It is insulting.

 

[susanbherald]

I am sorry. I made a mistake. I have specified before what I meant, please read that. I did not know what to call them, because they only called themselves “Protestant”, nothing else. Again, read my previous words.

 

[JonNC]

I am sorry. I made a mistake. I have specified before what I meant, please read that. I did not know what to call them, because they only called themselves “Protestant”, nothing else. Again, read my previous words.

Find those church buildings. How many say “Protestant “ on the front sign?
To be sure, many will use the generic term Protestant, particularly when speaking to Catholics. But if you ask them what denomination or even what church they attend, they will tell you.

 

[tafan2]

It makes no difference. You cannot receive their “communion”. Doing so is saying you are in communion with their faith, which would imply you are not in communion with the Catholic faith.

How old are you? Is this an adult confirmation preparation?

 

[susanbherald]

Find those church buildings. How many say “Protestant “ on the front sign?
To be sure, many will use the generic term Protestant, particularly when speaking to Catholics. But if you ask them what denomination or even what church they attend, they will tell you.

They say they are a Protestant church. The name of the church is just (town name) church, and that is what is written on their door. I walked by it just to make sure, and it even had a little sheet it the door that said simply that they were a “Protestant church”. Nothing more. They have no denomination.
When I asked specifically what denomination, they said they were no denominational. They still call themselves ____ Church, a Protestant Church

 

[JonNC]

They say they are a Protestant church. The name of the church is just (town name) church, and that is what is written on their door. I walked by it just to make sure, and it even had a little sheet it the door that said simply that they were a “Protestant church”. Nothing more. They have no denomination.
When I asked specifically what denomination, they said they were no denominational. They still call themselves ____ Church, a Protestant Church

Well, I’m not there, so I take your word for it. That is highly unusual since I’m not even aware of a communion named “The Protestant Church “.
Now, a non-denominational church might say that, I guess. Even that is odd, however.

 

[lilypadrees]

They don’t believe they are receiving Jesus. Their piece of cracker and grape juice is a symbol of remembrance only. We know differently and don’t receive in their churches.

 

[lilypadrees]

If they say they’re a Protestant church, they are. And you are within your rights to refer to them as Protestants.

 

[lilypadrees]

susanbherald:

I’m talking about totally metaphor communion, not Protestants that have consubstantiation. The Protestants I’m talking about are non denominational and think of communion as just a reanactment of the last supper, nothing more

I’m not aware of any communion that teaches consubstantiation. Lutherans certainly do not.

That differs from what a Lutheran told me. She said the Lutheran church does believe in and teach consubstantiation.

This is what I found when I googled the word. (It’s the same thing she told me.)

Consubstantiation

Noun Christian Theology

“the doctrine, especially in Lutheran belief, that the substance of the bread and wine coexists with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist.”

 

[lilypadrees]

I gave the definition of “consubstantiation,” JonNC. The Lutheran (no one here on CAF, a LCMS) and I were discussing transubstantiation. She said Lutherans do not believe in transubstantiation. That they believe that the substance of the bread and wine coexists with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

Do you deny that Lutherans believe this?

 

[JonNC]

I gave the definition of “consubstantiation,” JonNC. The Lutheran (no one here on CAF, a LCMS) and I were discussing transubstantiation. She said Lutherans do not believe in transubstantiation. That they believe that the substance of the bread and wine coexists with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

Do you deny that Lutherans believe this?

What I deny is irrelevant. What the Lutheran tradition teaches, as described by the numerous Lutheran theologians from Gerhard to Sasse, is relevant.
Lutheranism rejects the term and concept, the metaphysical construct of consubstantiation, on the same basic grounds that they rejected Transubstaniation.
Lutherans believe what Christ stated as He held bread in His hands: This is my body