Communion at Protestant churches

[Grace_Seeker]

You don’t get it. Protestants left the Church that Christ instituted. Granted, most protestants now are only protestants out of ignorance and inherited their religion, but none the less, they left Christ’s Church.

And yes, Jesus is Catholic. He instituted the Catholic Church!!! Catholicism is not a denomination. It is the universal Church.

No. You don’t get it. Protestants, Orthodox, Coptic, and yes, even Catholic are all part of one Church – that is the true Universal Church. No one has left it and no one can claim it is exclusively their church. The Church belongs to Jesus Christ, not a denomination, not even the one that (mistakenly) views itself as being founded by Jesus himself. The diviisions between us are of all of our making, and whether we are the leaver or the left, we all equally guilty of the sins associated with separation.

 

[Nella]

when Jesus said “I am the bread of life…”
Hundreds refused to believe and walked away from him (John 6)…

To receive the host in the Catholc Church, one must truly believe in those words as narrated in john6:51 "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." ".

As for Catholics who receive communion at other churches…
as far as I see it plays on 2 things:

1. 
   ]fellowship with our seperated brethren - which is a very Christian thing to do - and Jesus surely won’t frown on this …* however**
   *]it can mislead them to think we beileve in the same things as they do. … try thinking along the lines of St Paul’s advice to the Corinthians (1 Cor 8: 1-13) eating meat sacrificed to idols
   (Note: I’m not linking symbolic communion to idolatry, rather the perspective of handling sensitive topics on faith)
   “…not all have this knowledge…”
   (not all Christians agree with the weight of Jesus’ words when he said "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.")
   
   “…make sure that this liberty of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak…”
   (although Catholics know that they consume ‘symbolic communion’ with the intention of fellowshipping - it can mislead Christians to assume that its not that big a deal to us after all)
   
   “…Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to sin…”
   (I’m not saying us consuming communion will lead our feliow Christians to sin – but if it devalues their understanding of Christ’s physical presence in The Eucharist … then I’d stay away from symbolic communion - it states my stand on how much the Eucharist means to me, and how I’ll never consume anything else that calls itself ‘Holy Communion’ but doesnt fall in line with my belief)
   
   In conclusion-
   the topic of the Eucharist IS Hard to Accept
   ( many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” John 6:60).
   
   Thus its not just humans who complicate things …
   Jesus seems to ‘complicate’ it for us too!
   (Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you?” John6:61)

1. 
   I believe in the entire concept of the Eucharist and I’m not Roman Catholic. I believe in the Real Presence wholeheartedly. It is totally scriptual and it is not limited to any one denomination.

 

[Nella]

I thought Jesus was of Jewish descent?

Yeah, exactly!! Very good point.

 

[Harsalter]

I thought Jesus was of Jewish descent?

And what does that have with him instituting the Church? You deny that Jesus handed over the keys to St. Peter?

No. You don’t get it. Protestants, Orthodox, Coptic, and yes, even Catholic are all part of one Church – that is the true Universal Church.

No, protestants are heretics that left the Church.

 

[Harsalter]

The Church belongs to Jesus Christ, not a denomination, not even the one that (mistakenly) views itself as being founded by Jesus himself.

Catholicism is not a denomination. And the correct term to label protestant denominations are “sects”.

 

[RevDrNorth]

Catholicism is not a denomination.

Oh good…neither is Anglicanism. We do refer to ourselves and the Holy Catholic Church (we are just began as the English branch). Glass of Sherry anyone???

Rev North

 

[dthurmond]

And what does that have with him instituting the Church? You deny that Jesus handed over the keys to St. Peter?

No, protestants are heretics that left the Church.

Please provide the proof in which you so adamantly stand by.

Thank you.

 

[dthurmond]

… cont… also, I never stated anything pertaining to Peter of the Bible. I questioned the concept that Jesus was Catholic and was not of the Judaism Faith. That was my question. Again, Please provide proof in the BIBLE that Jesus was in fact a Catholic??? That is my question at this point.

It appears that some get upset when what they believe is being questioned. Now that is my perception… I could be mistaken. However, what is wrong with dialog without becoming defensive? I believe one thing, others might believe something else. At the end of the day…what really matters? I won’t come on here and bash those of the Catholic Denomination… but I see others that bash or use harsh words towards individuals who are of another denomination… or NON-DENOMINATION. Again, at the end of the day… the only thing that matters is my relationship with God.

study to shew thyself approved

 

[Harsalter]

Please provide the proof in which you so adamantly stand by.

Thank you.

Man, that is Religion 101. Read the early church fathers, study history, or try Matthew 16:18 where Jesus gave the keys to the Church He Himself instituted to Peter.

I don’t have time to use my own words as I need to run and watch the last part of the Nascar race.

But I quote from even a website such as www.religionfacts.com,

For the first thousand years of Christianity there was no “Roman Catholicism” as we know it today, simply because there was no Eastern Orthodoxy or Protestantism to distinguish it. There was only the “one, holy, catholic church” affirmed by the early creeds, which was the body of Christian believers all over the world, united by common traditions, beliefs, church structure and worship (catholic simply means “universal”). Thus, throughout the Middle Ages, if you were a Christian, you belonged to the Catholic Church. Any Christianity other than the Catholic Church was a heresy, not a denomination.

A denomination or protestant sect is a splinter group that left the true and one universal Church, PERIOD.

 

[Harsalter]

… Again, at the end of the day… the only thing that matters is my relationship with God.

study to shew thyself approved

Your relationship with God would be much better if you attended the True Church which has all Seven Sacraments Christ instituted, not just two because it splintered from the true Church.

Angry? No way, I am hoping people will study, pray, etc and convert as I did. I was a baptist for over 40 years, my dad a baptist pastor.

A good show to watch on EWTN is “The Journey Home”. It comes on Tuesday nights I believe and it focuses on a protestant minister or other person that converted to Catholcism. One pastor from Detroit recently brought half of his congregation and converted. A great show that answers a lot of questions people who are interested in Catholicsm may have.

Got to run, this race is about to end. I’ll be on later.

 

[RevDrNorth]

Man, that is Religion 101. Read the early church fathers, study history, or try Matthew 16:18 where Jesus gave the keys to the Church He Himself instituted to Peter.

I don’t have time to use my own words as I need to run and watch the last part of the Nascar race.

But I quote from even a website such as www.religionfacts.com,

For the first thousand years of Christianity there was no “Roman Catholicism” as we know it today, simply because there was no Eastern Orthodoxy or Protestantism to distinguish it. There was only the “one, holy, catholic church” affirmed by the early creeds, which was the body of Christian believers all over the world, united by common traditions, beliefs, church structure and worship (catholic simply means “universal”). Thus, throughout the Middle Ages, if you were a Christian, you belonged to the Catholic Church. Any Christianity other than the Catholic Church was a heresy, not a denomination.

A denomination or protestant sect is a splinter group that left the true and one universal Church, PERIOD.

Nonsense and without getting into quotes (if my friend mrt01 is looking) the Orthodox make the same argument from history and the councils and say the Roman Catholic Church were the first Protestants and left the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which continued as the Orthodox Church. The Catholic Church developed a number of innovate doctrines such as Papal infallability, Purgatory, and on and on. From the Catholic Church came further schisms (other Protestant groups). The Orthodox alone (from their point of view) have continued in the original apostolic conciliar faith without the additiona of all sorts of new doctrines.

The point is that whether you except that or not…things are not quite as cut and dry as you make them so be careful before you spend too much time denograting Protestants since for every finger pointing at them there are several pointing at the Catholic Church.

Rev North

 

[Harsalter]

The Orthodox Church kept the Apostolic Succession, thus still has all the sacraments instituted by Christ. We are still in Communion ( I am a lay person, so I hope that is the correct term, correct me someone if I am wrong) with them as we can receive communion at their Church, and vice versa.

Not a good point.

 

[RevDrNorth]

The Orthodox Church has the Apostolic Succession. We are still in Communion ( I am a lay person, so I hope that is the correct term, correct me someone if I am wrong) with them as we can receive communion at their Church, and vice versa.

Not a good point.

It is quite a good point because they view you in much the same way you view Protestants with the exception that you have valid sacraments. From their point of view you are schismatic in the same way you are accusing Protestants of being schismatic. To them you left the faith that they have maintained unaltered for centuries (while the Catholic Church developed new doctrines after new doctrine from purgatory, indulgences, Papal infallbility, etc). For there to be any reunion the Orthodox would have to have a sort of modern Act of Henotikon in which they overlooked Roman Catholic innovations that have developed apart from the Apostolic faith captured in the first 7 Ecumenical Councils.

Rev North (Protestant or Anglo Catholic depending on your point of view)

 

[Abira]

Hi everyone,

answering the OP from the point of view of the protestant church (irregardless of the catholic view of a catholic taking communion there) I believe it’s quite a blanket statement to say whether or not the church in question would allow a catholic to take communion or not…

I think I remember as a child (church of england) only being allowed a blessing until I was confirmed into that church… and i’m pretty sure this must go to anyone coming to the Anglican church… unless they allow anyone to take communion as long as they are confirmed into any christian faith…?

It’s hard to say being English as very rarely do you meet anyone other than Anglican, with it being the state religion, as I don’t travel round different denominations…

anyone can receive a blessing…would Catholics (from their view) be allowed to receive a blessing from another denomination?

Rev North… are you Anglican? Is the above correct? does anyone else know?

S

 

[Harsalter]

It is quite a good point because they view you in much the same way you view Protestants with the exception that you have valid sacraments. From their point of view you are schismatic in the same way you are accusing Protestants of being schismatic. To them you left the faith that they have maintained unaltered for centuries (while the Catholic Church developed new doctrines after new doctrine from purgatory, indulgences, Papal infallbility, etc). For there to be any reunion the Orthodox would have to have a sort of modern Act of Henotikon in which they overlooked Roman Catholic innovations that have developed apart from the Apostolic faith captured in the first 7 Ecumenical Councils.

Rev North (Protestant or Anglo Catholic depending on your point of view)

That is their view, not ours. As I understand it, Catholics believe the Orthodox have kept true to the faith, kept the Apostolic Succession, but just have missed out on revelations since. And from what I also understand, the two sides have gotten closer to unifying than ever before.

It was less than 5 centuries ago heretics ripped out 7 books out of the Old Testament as they went against them and their heretic views of purgatory. Even the ‘original’ Kings James Version had those 7 books. (From Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: The Untold Story of the Lost Books of the Protestant Bible, by Gary G. Michuta)

 

[dthurmond]

It appears that to state that I need to study… which is what I’m currently doing… reading the Bible and gaining information as it comes… is an attack. I am studying, therefore, I am learning, asking questions, going to Church and Worshipping God. Praising and Praying along the way. It seems that if one is not Catholic, then the Catholic view is that it is their way or no way at all. To subtly attack my relationship with God in no way makes me view the attacker in a positive way.

Be careful of your walk in this world. Again, God will have all of the answers for us in the end. When I get to stand in front of Him on Judgement day, it is my hope and prayer that He will say "well done my daughter… well done!

Denominations… religious dogma… etc… have no bearing on my relationship with God. God knows each one of our hearts!.. No one is perfect, therefore has no right to cast stones at another.

 

[Abira]

That is their view, not ours. As I understand it, Catholics believe the Orthodox have kept true to the faith, kept the Apostolic Succession, but just have missed out on revelations since. And from what I also understand, the two sides have gotten closer to unifying than ever before.

It was less than 5 centuries ago heretics ripped out 7 books out of the Old Testament as they went against them and their heretic views of purgatory. Even the ‘original’ Kings James Version had those 7 books. (From Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: The Untold Story of the Lost Books of the Protestant Bible, by Gary G. Michuta)

I think ‘ripped them out’ is a bit strong… it was definitely a decision Luther made, but I was under the impression that he simply chose the Hebrew OT rather than the Greek…and because some had never been translated into Hebrew (as the hellenistic Jews had no need of the Hebrew versions) he choose the Hebrew canon over the Greek…

he didn’t exactly rip them out…ho just chose one mode over the other… this was what I’d been under the impression of anyway, put kinda briefly

 

[RevDrNorth]

Hi everyone,

answering the OP from the point of view of the protestant church (irregardless of the catholic view of a catholic taking communion there) I believe it’s quite a blanket statement to say whether or not the church in question would allow a catholic to take communion or not…

I think I remember as a child (church of england) only being allowed a blessing until I was confirmed into that church… and i’m pretty sure this must go to anyone coming to the Anglican church… unless they allow anyone to take communion as long as they are confirmed into any christian faith…?

It’s hard to say being English as very rarely do you meet anyone other than Anglican, with it being the state religion, as I don’t travel round different denominations…

anyone can receive a blessing…would Catholics (from their view) be allowed to receive a blessing from another denomination?

Rev North… are you Anglican? Is the above correct? does anyone else know?

S

I think a Catholic could receive a blessing but the Roman Catholic church would not consider it to carry grace with it (if it were not given by a PNCC, or Orthodox Priest). So sort of nice but of no effect.

The Anglican Churches I have been in practice a form of open communion in which any professed Christian can receive. However, you are correct that a Roman Catholic could not receive communion in all denominations since some practice closed communion for much the same reason the Roman Catholic Church does. In other words in those churches you may not recevie communion until you are in concert with that church in terms of doctrine and understanding.

PS My grandmother was from England. I thought all English people were Anglican until I recently met somone whose family has been Bretheren of some sort.

Rev North

 

[Abira]

PS My grandmother was from England. I thought all English people were Anglican until I recently met somone whose family has been Bretheren of some sort.

Rev North

Thanks for the reply,
I reckon 95% english christians are anglican (my rough guess lol) … some then leave…most people are secular but still mostly receive baptism for reasons unbeknown to myself…

I met a lady today who was baptized CofE…then went to quakers…then to Jehovas witnesses lol…then back to CofE…

so it takes all sorts… I believe there was a recent decision to ‘merge’ in some way the church of england and the methodists… so there is some movement between them now…

right, back to the thread…

S

 

[Nella]

Nonsense and without getting into quotes (if my friend mrt01 is looking) the Orthodox make the same argument from history and the councils and say the Roman Catholic Church were the first Protestants and left the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which continued as the Orthodox Church. The Catholic Church developed a number of innovate doctrines such as Papal infallability, Purgatory, and on and on. From the Catholic Church came further schisms (other Protestant groups). The Orthodox alone (from their point of view) have continued in the original apostolic conciliar faith without the additiona of all sorts of new doctrines.

The point is that whether you except that or not…things are not quite as cut and dry as you make them so be careful before you spend too much time denograting Protestants since for every finger pointing at them there are several pointing at the Catholic Church.

Rev North

This is all very good sensical information. Just like the Nicene Creed originally stated that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the father. It is Rome who added “from the father and the son”. We could certainly view this as protestant to the original statement of the creed.