How do Protestants still deny the Eucharist?

[Kortyr]

I am not an apologetics expert, but from my experience, the doctrine of the Eucharist is one of the most clear-cut and heavily supported doctrines that the Catholic Church has. I look at all the Scriptural and historical evidence supporting it, and what little flimsy evidence against it there is, and I wonder: How can Protestants seriously still believe that the bread is not Christ’s Body?

Lack of knowledge of all the supportive evidence surely plays a large part, but there are Protestants, one of which I know, who have seen a majority of the expansive support for the Eucharist, and still do not believe. The friend to which I refer is a rather intelligent person, so surely he should be able to deduce the truth!

Let’s clear this up once and for all. Thanks and God bless.

 

[Mark77]

**They are in error, intelligence is often an impediment to believing the Truth!
**
Faith comes as a Grace from God and as Papa Benedictus XVI said in his book Jesus of Nazareth;

"There is one more Beatitude: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt5:8). The organ for seeing God is the heart. The intellect alone is not enough.

(“Jesus of Nazareth” Papa Benedictus XVI, (p. 92))

They believe that Jesus was speaking “figuratively” due to an erroneous interpretation of ;

“It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him." (Jn 6:53-64)

The Spirit is real and is the Living God, it is not a “figurative” metaphor!

They disregard this “After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.” (Jn 6:66) This is the ONLY PLACE IN SACRED SCRIPTURE WHERE DISCIPLES LEFT JESUS! If Jesus were speaking “figuratively” He would have surely stopped the disciples from leaving if He was speaking “figuratively”.

That argument alone will not convince those in error.

The strongest argument for the Real Presence in the Eucharist is the fact that every Apostle, every Disciple and every early Church and Early Church Father taught The Real Presence in the Most Holy Eucharist just as the Catholic Church has for 2000 years and counting!

For more details please look at these; (catholic.com/library/Real_Presence.asp) and (catholic.com/library/Christ_in_the_Eucharist.asp).

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Por Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark

 

[Roman_Catholic_1]

The question isn’t really why there Protestants who deny the Eucharist, but why anyone denies it. Sadly there are people who call themselves Catholic and go against Catholic teaching and deny Christ’s Presence. As there are Protestants who affirm the Real Presence of Christ.

Let’s clear this up once and for all.

How long have you been a member here?

God bless

 

[NotWorthy]

Although there is no ONE answer, often I find that they don’t believe because then that would mean… those Catholics are right!!!

 

[Kortyr]

The question isn’t really why there Protestants who deny the Eucharist, but why anyone denies it. Sadly there are people who call themselves Catholic and go against Catholic teaching and deny Christ’s Presence. As there are Protestants who affirm the Real Presence of Christ.

How long have you been a member here?

God bless

I have been a member hear for 4-6 months (I think).

 

[adowcday]

Not all Protestants deny the eucharist. Episcopalians/Anglicans and Lutherans believe in the Real Presence. In fact, Luther criticized as heretics the Reformed churches for their teaching that the bread and wine are merely symbols of the Body and Blood of Christ.

By the way, I’m aware that the Catholic Church considers the eucharist as celebrated by these groups to be invalid. That doesn’t affect their belief and teaching about the eucharist as they celebrate it, however.

 

[Kortyr]

They believe that Jesus was speaking “figuratively” due to an erroneous interpretation of ;

“It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him." (Jn 6:53-64)

Yes, they think that this verse is an argument against the Eucharist. But what do they think Jesus means? “Eat my flesh, but you’ll find it a waste of time?” No.

“The flesh” does not refer to the Eucharist. It refers to human wants/feelings/thoughts without the elevation of Christ’s grace. Notice that when Jesus is refering to His Body, He says ‘my flesh’, but He says ‘the flesh’ in this instance.

 

[Roman_Catholic_1]

I have been a member hear for 4-6 months (I think).

So you have been around long enough to see the problem with this:

Let’s clear this up once and for all.

God bless you

 

[Kortyr]

So you have been around long enough to see the problem with this:

Let’s clear this up once and for all.



God bless you

I didn’t actually think that every Protestant that would ever read this post would magically realize God’s true presence lol. I simply hoped for this to be a place where evidence could be compiled and where at least some Protestants could come and realize the truth.

 

[teachccd]

Here is a quote from the sixth Chapter of John’s gospel:

48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 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." 52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?” 53 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. **54 **Whoever eats 19 my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. **55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum
How could it be more clear? Oh wait maybe it can:

Matthew 26-28

26 14 15 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, 16 and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.

So many of our Protestant friends want to take a literal approach to scripture except here. I would imagine that if they were at the last supper when Jesus said, “This is my Body” they might have corrected Him by saying, “No it’s not”…teachccd

 

[Robbinson]

I didn’t actually think that every Protestant that would ever read this post would magically realize God’s true presence lol. I simply hoped for this to be a place where evidence could be compiled and where at least some Protestants could come and realize the truth.

Amen. I believe in the “real presence” in the Eucharist (a minority view - understatement - among Protestants). The remaining question is whether we need a Catholic Priest to make this happen (be the instrument through which God causes this to happen) or whether this real presence can occur through prayer and faith.

I don’t “feel” anything when partaking of the Lord’s supper in most Protestant Churches. I do powerfully feel the presence in the Anglican/Episcopalian Church I attend at times. I can’tattest to it at the Catholic Church as I’m not permitted to partake since I’m not formally part of the Church.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[Kortyr]

Amen. I believe in the “real presence” in the Eucharist (a minority view - understatement - among Protestants). The remaining question is whether we need a Catholic Priest to make this happen (be the instrument through which God causes this to happen) or whether this real presence can occur through prayer and faith.

I don’t “feel” anything when partaking of the Lord’s supper in most Protestant Churches. I do powerfully feel the presence in the Anglican/Episcopalian Church I attend at times. I can’tattest to it at the Catholic Church as I’m not permitted to partake since I’m not formally part of the Church.

Blessings,

Brian

God bless you for believing! Though we approach our faith from two different ways, at least this is one place where we find common ground.

About your “feeling” and not “feeling” anything when partaking in the communion of various churches: The Catholic Church doesn’t believe that the communion of Episcopalian churches have the Real Presence (Anglicans don’t believe in the Real Presence I think) because the Catholic Church teaches that their priests have not been legitimately ordained. But the Episcopals (if not the Anglicans) approach the bread as if it were the Real Flesh. They give it that kind of reverence.

And of course you didn’t feel the Real Presence when partaking in communion of Protestant churches because they simply don’t believe in the Real Presence, so they don’t approach it with that special reverence. (And indeed it isn’t Christ’s Body because they can’t and don’t consecrate it.)

As far as needing a Catholic priest to make the bread Jesus’ Body, I suppose that all depends on your belief whether God established a church here on earth. But that is another topic, which maybe we shall talk about in the future!

God bless.

 

[brb2]

St. Cyril of Alexandria on the topic, A.D. 328

The Savior Himself declares, “Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in him.” By this statement it is to be seen that Christ does not say He will be in us only after the fashion of some relation that is solely intellectual, but also through a participation truly according to nature. Just as if someone were to entwine two pieces of wax together and melt them with a fire, so that both are made one, so too through participation in the Body of Christ and in His Precious Blood, He is united in us and we too in Him. In no other way can that corruptible nature be vivified except by being united bodily to the Body of Him who is, by His very nature, life: that is, the Only begotten.

 

[lizaanne]

Not all Protestants deny the eucharist. Episcopalians/Anglicans and Lutherans believe in the Real Presence.

They believe in consubstantiation or something other than transubstantiation. There is a massive difference.

Amen. I believe in the “real presence” in the Eucharist (a minority view - understatement - among Protestants). The remaining question is whether we need a Catholic Priest to make this happen (be the instrument through which God causes this to happen) or whether this real presence can occur through prayer and faith.

If you believe this, then why are you not Catholic?
Sorry - I don’t intend to take it off topic, perhaps let’s allow this to be a rhetorical comment.

I don’t “feel” anything when partaking of the Lord’s supper in most Protestant Churches. I do powerfully feel the presence in the Anglican/Episcopalian Church I attend at times. I can’tattest to it at the Catholic Church as I’m not permitted to partake since I’m not formally part of the Church.

That is precisely because Christ is NOT THERE. The Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist is ONLY made possible through the Catholic Church. I long wondered why I would feel when going to a non-Catholic service (before I became Catholic) why I just felt like I was in a room that wasn’t any more or less special than any other room full of people, but when I was at a Catholic Church I KNEW it was the right place to be - even before I converted. It is because Christ IS THERE in the Eucharist!!!

This is not a one or two off event - throughout history people have exclaimed the same experience of just knowing there is a difference when in the presence of the Eucharist that is not found outside of a Catholic Church.

SO - to answer the OP…

The reason why Protestants deny the Eucharist is because if they were to admit that it was really Christ there then they would have to accept everything else the Catholic Church teaches, because the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith, and all Truth grows from this point. If that were the case then they would have to change their lives - stop contracepting, stop aborting, stop divorcing, stop living a life of denial of the grace of the Sacraments. They would have to be “different” from their family and friends. They would have to make changes in their lives that could leave them alone and alienated at work and in their families.

So - instead of living honestly and accepting the Truth, they deny that Truth and live conveniently.

Pretty simple actually.

~Liza

 

[AmbroseSJ]

Robbinson:

I don’t “feel” anything when partaking of the Lord’s supper in most Protestant Churches. I do powerfully feel the presence in the Anglican/Episcopalian Church I attend at times. I can’tattest to it at the Catholic Church as I’m not permitted to partake since I’m not formally part of the Church.

It’s normal to “feel” nothing. It’s also normal to “see” bread and wine. Our senses can not be trusted after the miracle of transubstantiation. But with our eyes of Faith we DO see and with our heart of Faith, we DO feel. But it’s a spiritual sight and a spiritual feeling. We worship God in Truth and in Spirit, when we partake of the Eucharist.

 

[Robbinson]

It’s normal to “feel” nothing. It’s also normal to “see” bread and wine. Our senses can not be trusted after the miracle of transubstantiation. But with our eyes of Faith we DO see and with our heart of Faith, we DO feel. But it’s a spiritual sight and a spiritual feeling. We worship God in Truth and in Spirit, when we partake of the Eucharist.

I believe you and have come to believe this - I look forward to the day when I am able to experience it.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[brb2]

when I was at a Catholic Church I KNEW it was the right place to be - even before I converted. It is because Christ IS THERE in the Eucharist!!!

This is not a one or two off event - throughout history people have exclaimed the same experience of just knowing there is a difference when in the presence of the Eucharist that is not found outside of a Catholic Church.

Exactly … lizaanne could dectect the nearness of the Real Presense ! God was in the House. Mass is a Holy Experience … that just isn’t the same in other houses of faith.

Thats how one knows the Church is from the Apostles. Oh yeah …2000 yrs of history also testifies to this fact.

 

[lizaanne]

I look forward to the day when I am able to experience it.

You will never experience this outside the Catholic Church - beware of imitations. Only the REAL and TRUE presence of Christ is in the Eucharist on the altar of the Catholic Church.

~Liza

 

[adowcday]

That is precisely because Christ is NOT THERE. The Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist is ONLY made possible through the Catholic Church. I long wondered why I would feel when going to a non-Catholic service (before I became Catholic) why I just felt like I was in a room that wasn’t any more or less special than any other room full of people, but when I was at a Catholic Church I KNEW it was the right place to be - even before I converted. It is because Christ IS THERE in the Eucharist!!! . . . The reason why Protestants deny the Eucharist is because if they were to admit that it was really Christ there then they would have to accept everything else the Catholic Church teaches, because the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith, and all Truth grows from this point. If that were the case then they would have to change their lives - stop contracepting, stop aborting, stop divorcing, stop living a life of denial of the grace of the Sacraments. They would have to be “different” from their family and friends. They would have to make changes in their lives that could leave them alone and alienated at work and in their families. So - instead of living honestly and accepting the Truth, they deny that Truth and live conveniently. Pretty simple actually.

I don’t agree that “Christ is NOT THERE” in Protestant celebrations of the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist. Jesus may not be present sacramentally, but people do approach the table with faith and with a desire to receive Christ. I am not one who believes that our “separated brethren” are cut off from Christ. I believe that God honors their faith and they receive grace and blessing from God. I am a Catholic and I believe that receiving the sacrament matters. However, I don’t believe that Protestants receive “nothing.” Having attended many celebrations of the Lord’s Supper in Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, UCC and other denominations, I find it impossible to believe that they are not encountering Christ in some way.

 

[lizaanne]

I believe that God honors their faith and they receive grace and blessing from God.

How much do you honestly think that God honors them disobeying His Son’s commands to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood? I never said they are “cut off from Christ”. But what they are doing is just sharing a meal together - that is all. It may make them feel all good and warm and fuzzy inside, but the FACT remains that Christ is NOT there. And as a Catholic you should be aware of this and believe this. To believe something else is heretical.

I find it impossible to believe that they are not encountering Christ in some way.

They are receiving grape juice and crackers. Christ may be “in their hearts and minds” - but He is absolutely NOT present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in their “supper”.

They lack the fullness of Truth - and part of what they lack is sacramental grace that can never be obtained from grape juice and crackers, no matter how hard someone thinks it is. I can concentrate really really hard on my car and try to turn it into a helicopter, but it’s not going to happen, no matter how much I desire it.

~Liza