Denied communion thought not a protestant

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Matthew 25:
Hi folks,

I would like to toss out a question for anyone to answer.

I am not Catholic. I am also not “protestant” because I don’t protest my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I am essentially a non-denominational Christian. !
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Matthew 24, My dear brother in Christ. Non-denominational Christians are Protestant. There are three main divisions to which all Christians belong. Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. The Protestants are distinguished by the doctrines of Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, and the other Protestant doctrines. That is what makes them Protestants. If you are an adherent of any of these Protestant Doctrines, then you are a Protestant.

May the Lord richly bless you.

Your brother in Christ.
 
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Ignatius:
Matthew 24, My dear brother in Christ. Non-denominational Christians are Protestant. There are three main divisions to which all Christians belong. Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. The Protestants are distinguished by the doctrines of Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, and the other Protestant doctrines. That is what makes them Protestants. If you are an adherent of any of these Protestant Doctrines, then you are a Protestant.

May the Lord richly bless you.

Your brother in Christ.
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Yes. My past observation and study of non-denominational churches seems to identify them with a mostly “baptist” theology.
 
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ahimsaman72:
By the way, the times I went to mass I was heartbroken when the time came to receive communion. But, I knew it had to be that way.
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Christ has called many to conversion because of their hunger for the Eucharist. Here is a short conversion story about one such case:

Returning to Rome

Also, here are some articles on the topic of this forum (they may have been posted earlier - sorry if they were):

Why is Communion for Catholics Only?

Of Closed Communion and Japanese Restaurants

Who Can Receive Communion?
 
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YinYangMom:
No you would not have been in sin at that point in time.

You would have received the Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of Jesus but would not have received any graces through doing so.

While you say you would have ‘researched it a little and knew not to take it’ that ‘little’ bit of research was not enough for you to truly understand and appreciate what transpires through this sacrament so you didn’t have full knowledge of what you were about to do.

This thread, however, if you’ve read through it all, provides rather sufficient understanding of why you should not present yourself for the Eucharist in a Catholic mass, and what the consequences to your soul would be if you decided to ignore our advice.

Please do present yourself to the priest at communion to receive the blessing of the Church, however. The way you do this is to get in line with the rest of the people in your pew, as you get closer to the priest, cross your arms across your chest (the way we tend to think of people in a casket). That signals to him that you have not yet received the Sacrament of the Eucharist but seek Christ’s blessing since your prayers and petitions are part of the sacrifice of the mass being offered. He will then bless you and you can return to your pew, kneel down for a bit while you spend some time speaking to Christ in your heart.
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Good thing I read up a bit before going to mass! 😃 Just to be clear - I never did partake of the Eucharist. I knew beforehand not to do so.

Growing up I never knew people thought it was actually Jesus in communion :eek: . Of course, we were all Baptists back home! Now I understand much more than I used to. I never thought it was strange to believe in the Real Presence. It never bothered me really. Of course, now I accept the fact that it is Christ, even though I still am not Catholic.

Thank you for sharing the part about blessing. I was pretty disappointed to go and not be able to partake the times I went. I felt really like I was really a bad person and was pretty embarrassed by the whole thing (even though I knew the requirements). I just sat in the pew and bowed my head and contemplated the presence of Christ in my heart.

Peace…
 
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JSmitty2005:
Christ has called many to conversion because of their hunger for the Eucharist. Here is a short conversion story about one such case:

Returning to Rome

Also, here are some articles on the topic of this forum (they may have been posted earlier - sorry if they were):

Why is Communion for Catholics Only?

Of Closed Communion and Japanese Restaurants

Who Can Receive Communion?
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Thanks JSmitty! You know, I have been to many churches in my short life. I have taken communion in different churches and just figured that everyone had the same view - the view that it was symbolic or that Christ was present only spiritually. It’s amazing what happens when you start to move away from your immediate family and learn about other faiths!

Peace…
 
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ahimsaman72:
Thanks JSmitty! You know, I have been to many churches in my short life. I have taken communion in different churches and just figured that everyone had the same view - the view that it was symbolic or that Christ was present only spiritually. It’s amazing what happens when you start to move away from your immediate family and learn about other faiths!

Peace…
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Peace be to you as well. For some reason, your above post brought something to mind regarding the Eucharist. Somewhere along the line I heard that Judas’s rejection of Christ’s teaching regarding the Eucharist in John 6 was his first falling away. Here is what a website I found says about it: “Notice that this is the first time St. John mentions that Judas is going to betray Jesus (v. 71), that it immediately follows many of Jesus’s disciples falling away from him due to the apparent enormity of the idea of eating his flesh and drinking his blood (v. 60). In verse 64, St. John makes the connection between betrayal of Jesus and unbelief in what he has just taught. Here we learn that it was Judas’ failure to believe the Lord in preference to sense evidence that started him on the road to perdition.” Here’s the link:

The Real Presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist

Wouldn’t you think that if Christ intended Communion to be merely symbolic he would have clarified himself so that these disciples would come back? This isn’t something that’s easy to understand either today or 2000 years ago. That’s why it’s considered a mystery. As Catholics, we take Christ’s word for it because we beliebe him to be God. Also, the only other apostolic Church, the schismatic Orthodox, believe in the Real Presence as well. If you’d like more info. on the Eucharist or the Mass, I’d suggest Scott Hahn’s The Lamb’s Supper. It’s my favorite book. 👍

God bless!
-Jon

PS - I like your signature. I wish everyone on here was so open to truth no matter where it leads. 🙂
 
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JSmitty2005:
Peace be to you as well. For some reason, your above post brought something to mind regarding the Eucharist. Somewhere along the line I heard that Judas’s rejection of Christ’s teaching regarding the Eucharist in John 6 was his first falling away. Here is what a website I found says about it: “Notice that this is the first time St. John mentions that Judas is going to betray Jesus (v. 71), that it immediately follows many of Jesus’s disciples falling away from him due to the apparent enormity of the idea of eating his flesh and drinking his blood (v. 60). In verse 64, St. John makes the connection between betrayal of Jesus and unbelief in what he has just taught. Here we learn that it was Judas’ failure to believe the Lord in preference to sense evidence that started him on the road to perdition.” Here’s the link:

The Real Presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist

Wouldn’t you think that if Christ intended Communion to be merely symbolic he would have clarified himself so that these disciples would come back? This isn’t something that’s easy to understand either today or 2000 years ago. That’s why it’s considered a mystery. As Catholics, we take Christ’s word for it because we beliebe him to be God. Also, the only other apostolic Church, the schismatic Orthodox, believe in the Real Presence as well. If you’d like more info. on the Eucharist or the Mass, I’d suggest Scott Hahn’s The Lamb’s Supper. It’s my favorite book. 👍

God bless!
-Jon

PS - I like your signature. I wish everyone on here was so open to truth no matter where it leads. 🙂
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Oh yes, I see your points here. I do believe in the Real Presence even as a Baptist. Thanks for the link. You know, I made up my signature the other day because this is where I am in my spiritual life right now. I’m just trying to get back to sincere faith in Christ and if that leads to the Catholic Church, then that’s great. I simply want to be available to Him. I am praying that some things happen in my life (family-related) but not trying to push too hard. So, I’m just open…

God bless you Jon.

Peace…
 
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ahimsaman72:
I never thought it was strange to believe in the Real Presence. It never bothered me really. Of course, now I accept the fact that it is Christ, even though I still am not Catholic.
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You are much more Catholic than you think, my friend. Belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is usually a huge stumbling block for many non-Catholics. It is by grace that you know this! 🙂 I wait in hopeful anticipation for the first time you receive the consecrated bread and wine. You will weep tears of joy and thanksgiving. God bless you.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

I. THE EUCHARIST - SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF ECCLESIAL LIFE

[1324](javascript:openWindow(‘cr/1324.htm’)😉 The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life."136 "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."137

[1325](javascript:openWindow(‘cr/1325.htm’)😉 "The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit."138
 
ahimsaman72 said:
** It’s amazing what happens when you start to move away from your immediate family and learn about other faiths!**

Peace…
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Oh, yeah! For me, although by the time I approached the Catholic Church, I was already catechized and spiritually “developed,” and could have been received virtually on the spot, the period of waiting (nearly a year) taught me something important – it taught me how much this meant to me. The gut-wrenching yearning for the Blessed Sacrament was, in itself, a great testament to the power of God to draw the heart . . . The waiting was deeply affirming.
 
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Mickey:
You are much more Catholic than you think, my friend. Belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is usually a huge stumbling block for many non-Catholics. It is by grace that you know this! 🙂 I wait in hopeful anticipation for the first time you receive the consecrated bread and wine. You will weep tears of joy and thanksgiving. God bless you.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

I. THE EUCHARIST - SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF ECCLESIAL LIFE

1324 The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life."136 "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."137

1325 "The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit."138
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Hey Mickey :tiphat:

The Real Presence isn’t a hard concept for me to believe in and trust. The teaching I have the hardest time with is infant baptism. That may seem ridiculous, but theologically it is the most difficult teaching for me. I would be prepared to follow through with that with my kids.

It’s funny (not really) because the Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists and (of course) Catholics all do it. It’s just the fundamentalist groups and anabaptists who fight it so fiercely. I suppose it’s so deeply ingrained in my upbringing and theological understanding. It’s just hard to get past 🙂

Peace…
 
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mercygate:
Oh, yeah! For me, although by the time I approached the Catholic Church, I was already catechized and spiritually “developed,” and could have been received virtually on the spot, the period of waiting (nearly a year) taught me something important – it taught me how much this meant to me. The gut-wrenching yearning for the Blessed Sacrament was, in itself, a great testament to the power of God to draw the heart . . . The waiting was deeply affirming.
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Patience is indeed a virtue 🙂 . I’ve never had much of it :o
When and if I walk that road to Rome I will indeed by glad to finally receive Christ not only spiritually but body, blood, soul and divinity.

Peace…
 
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ahimsaman72:
Hey Mickey :tiphat:

The Real Presence isn’t a hard concept for me to believe in and trust. The teaching I have the hardest time with is infant baptism. That may seem ridiculous, but theologically it is the most difficult teaching for me. I would be prepared to follow through with that with my kids.

It’s funny (not really) because the Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists and (of course) Catholics all do it. It’s just the fundamentalist groups and anabaptists who fight it so fiercely. I suppose it’s so deeply ingrained in my upbringing and theological understanding. It’s just hard to get past 🙂

Peace…
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Yes, that is very difficult for most baptists–including my brother-in-law and his family (they are baptists). Did you read the article I posted awhile back? It’s very good.
goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7067.asp

Blessings to you my good friend,
Mickey
 
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ahimsaman72:
Hey Mickey :tiphat:

The Real Presence isn’t a hard concept for me to believe in and trust. The teaching I have the hardest time with is infant baptism. That may seem ridiculous, but theologically it is the most difficult teaching for me.
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I don’t think this is ridiculous. If not for the overwhelming consensus of Christian tradition on the subject, I’d have some issues as well. Not regarding the validity of infant baptism, I hasten to add, only regarding its advisability. As it is, I think infant baptism needs a lot of reexamination to avoid just automatically baptizing the children of nominal Christians. This does everyone a disservice in the long run. (Sure, God can use such a baptism, but more often than not it functions as an inoculation against more serious Christianity.)

The Real Presence, on the other hand, ought to be a pushover . . . .😃
Edwin
 
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Contarini:
I don’t think this is ridiculous. If not for the overwhelming consensus of Christian tradition on the subject, I’d have some issues as well. Not regarding the validity of infant baptism, I hasten to add, only regarding its advisability. As it is, I think infant baptism needs a lot of reexamination to avoid just automatically baptizing the children of nominal Christians. This does everyone a disservice in the long run. (Sure, God can use such a baptism, but more often than not it functions as an inoculation against more serious Christianity.)

The Real Presence, on the other hand, ought to be a pushover . . . .😃
Edwin
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Hello Contarini 👋

Of all the time I’ve been here on the forums I don’t remember us crossing paths - so I am glad to finally do so. I’m glad you don’t find it ridiculous. My whole life the idea of infant baptism was a serious error on the part of those who practiced it. It really goes deep into the theological view of salvation in the anabaptist tradition.

Looking at it now I see that the two biggest issues or distinctions in the anabaptist tradition are related to the symbolic nature of both the Lord’s Supper and baptism. Why should we object to the literal view of Christ in the Lord’s Supper? To me, as I’ve said - it’s like telling your boss you don’t want a raise - :banghead: Why wouldn’t we want to receive the Saviour through the Lord’s Supper? 😃

Peace…
 
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Contarini:
Sure, God can use such a baptism, but more often than not it functions as an inoculation against more serious Christianity.
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What do you mean by this Edwin? Could you elaborate?

Peace,
Mickey
 
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