Do Baptist churches have an altar?

[ben_dy]

Elzee:

I think the door greeters for that particular week collect the cups. This particular Baptist church allows drinking, but I’m guessing it’s grape juice since I think the kids can particpate in communion. I don’t know of any church other than the Catholic Church that uses wine??

Well, all of the Eastern Churches, of course (and ANY church with “Orthodox” in the name, I think!) - and the Anglican Church (not certain about the Episcopalians or Lutherans but I would assume they do as well). Any church that believes, in one way or the other, of the Real Presence would, I imagine use wine. I suppose (but am not certain) that it’s only protestant churches who see the bread and wine as only ‘symbols’ would use grape juice - and then the Mormons, of course, use water in place of even grape juice: I haven’t even asked the “why” of the water only.

 

[Anima_Christi]

Usually Baptist churches have a little table in front of the pulpits below the stage that have the words “DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME” inscribed across the front. They would never call it an altar though, just a communion table. Sometimes they might have a cross on it with an “IHS” in the middle (I have seen this in a Methodist church) but usually they will just have a floral arrangement on it and it’s pretty much ignored except for the four times a year when they do “the Lord’s Supper.”
And yes, Protestant churches have little holes in the back of the pews to put the grape juice cups in after communion. Instead of going up for communion, the “deacons” or “elders” (which really just means men and sometimes women who are on some church committee) come and pass it to the people in the pews just like they’re passing a collection plate.
Now that I look back on it as a former Protestant, I wonder What’s the point of having communion at all? It seems so meaningless now if it isn’t really the Body and Blood of Christ.
I think Flannery O’Connor once said, “If it’s just a symbol, then to hell with it!”

 

[rayne89]

Shlemele:

We Mennonites have the same saying on the table and drink the same shot glasses, we use regular bread though . I think we usually have communion about once a month or so.

This is totally off topic but are Mennonites the ones wher the woman where long skirts (usually denim), kerchiefs and long hair?

 

[rayne89]

By the way how to evangelicals have “altar calls” without an altar?

 

[Shlemele]

rayne89:

This is totally off topic but are Mennonites the ones wher the woman where long skirts (usually denim), kerchiefs and long hair?

not really. Although some do keep to a more plain apearance I think you are thinking of 7th day adventists, although I’m not 100% on that. Most “Traditional” Mennonites wear a small white or black head covering and a long cloth dress usually of a solid fabric. Amish tend to be the ones that really wear this but they tend to be the more old world Anababtists.

 

[ben_dy]

Anima Christi:

Usually Baptist churches have a little table in front of the pulpits below the stage that have the words “DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME” inscribed across the front. They would never call it an altar though, just a communion table. Sometimes they might have a cross on it with an “IHS” in the middle (I have seen this in a Methodist church) but usually they will just have a floral arrangement on it and it’s pretty much ignored except for the four times a year when they do “the Lord’s Supper.”
And yes, Protestant churches have little holes in the back of the pews to put the grape juice cups in after communion. Instead of going up for communion, the “deacons” or “elders” (which really just means men and sometimes women who are on some church committee) come and pass it to the people in the pews just like they’re passing a collection plate.
Now that I look back on it as a former Protestant, I wonder What’s the point of having communion at all? It seems so meaningless now if it isn’t really the Body and Blood of Christ.
I think Flannery O’Connor once said, “If it’s just a symbol, then to hell with it!”

I don’t even remember the context in which it was used, really, but there are a series of words used (and I don’t know if for the first time) in a document from the Council of Trent that speak of (translated into English) Christ’s death upon “the altar of the Cross”. I’m sure I was in my teens when I first read that and it just bowled me over and I have never been able to NOT focus upon an altar as the most sacred and beautiful part of any church. I love going into the churches, cathedrals, and basilicas in Europe (and particularly in Rome!) and seeing the beauty surrounding those altars.

All of which, I suppose, amazes me that ANY church would be built with no altar.