Re: Protestants: How do you determine which denomination holds the truth? 2

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Well, Jesus did command it. Many Protestants see it as an “ordinance”, like Baptism, an activity we have been commanded to do, so it is done, even though there is no concept of grace attached to it.
My point of course being that either Jesus commanded an empty symbol to be done or there is something more to it.

Remember most of these Protestants say out of one side, ritual doesn’t matter.

Then they do a ritual that by their definition “doesn’t really do anything”
 
If Jesus commanded the Disciples to “do this in remembrance of me” then why get the bread out, why eat a meal? I mean we don’t recreate the whole scenario when we do it.

Couldn’t doing it in remembrance mean reading about it, or “remembering it” some other way?

Or even if the Apostles remembered it with a meal for a few years, what point is there in doing that for all time? Especially after the Gospel was written, we can just read it and remember it.

**You see, if it is mere remembrance, it is the most empty ritual , ridiculous act that is so absurd. **

Jesus commanded us to do much more than just remember.
It clearly is not absurd, but it does miss the important point.

When Christ says, “do this in remembrance of me”, we have to remember what the “this” is. Do what in remembrance of Him? And He has already told us - eat His body, drink His blood - in remembrance of Him.

Jon
 
ISTM you could say " You see we affirm John 14, which you appear to reject", or "seem to reject. But I am not convinced you can say he does reject it.

Jon
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he rejects the Catholic understanding of it. 😉
This one, starting at about post 65.

Jon
Thanks.
It clearly is not absurd, but it does miss the important point.

When Christ says, “do this in remembrance of me”, we have to remember what the “this” is. Do what in remembrance of Him? And He has already told us - eat His body, drink His blood - in remembrance of Him.

Jon
I think most of the misunderstanding of what “remembrance” has happened because of the loss of connection with the early church, and by extension, the Jewish roots of the Church. If one does not understand the anamnesis of the Passover, a lot gets lost.
 
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he rejects the Catholic understanding of it. 😉

Thanks.

I think most of the misunderstanding of what “remembrance” has happened because of the loss of connection with the early church, and by extension, the Jewish roots of the Church. If one does not understand the anamnesis of the Passover, a lot gets lost.
Okay, I’m going to call for jargon clearing here. I don’t know what the word “anamnesis” means, and though many on this board do, most Catholics (let alone most people who are not Catholic) don’t know the meaning of the word.

Regardless, though, everything in the Old Testament was perfected in the New. This does not eliminate the covenant that God made with the Jewish people (their covenant is still in effect as the first people that God chose to make His own); instead, it extends it to all humanity and brings it to another level. Passover, the celebration of the Israelites escaping slavery to the Egyptians becomes Easter (which, in most languages, has the same name as Passover), where humanity escapes slavery to sin and death. Pentecost, the celebration of the giving of the law to the Israelites (and thus, their creation as a nation), becomes the celebration of the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Church - thus initializing the Church.
 
Okay, I’m going to call for jargon clearing here. I don’t know what the word “anamnesis” means, and though many on this board do, most Catholics (let alone most people who are not Catholic) don’t know the meaning of the word.
I don’t recall ever having cleaned my jargon, but you will probably recognize this word as it has been imported into English.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.(I Cor. 11:24)

The term translated “remembrance” here is ANAMNESIS: The “remembrance” of God’s saving deeds in history in the liturgical action of the Church, which inspires thanksgiving and praise. Every Eucharistic Prayer contains an anamnesis or memorial in which the Church calls to mind the Passion, Resurrection, and glorious return of Christ Jesus (CCC)

We most often see this word as “amnesia” or the inability to remember. The ritural is intended to reverse/oppose/undo the forgettery. It is an enacted device to make us present to that which we are to remember. So more than being just a “symbolic” act, there is a recreation that is intended to make us physically, emotionally, and spiritually present.

The Passover is the anamnesis in which the Eucharist is founded. During passover, a real lamb is slain, and people physically eat the lamb, as a way to prevent amnesia. It is not a symbolic lamb, and it is not just some “reminder” that the Exodus occurred, but an enactment, with specific roles, and very specific liturgical instruction.
 
I don’t recall ever having cleaned my jargon, but you will probably recognize this word as it has been imported into English.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.(I Cor. 11:24)

The term translated “remembrance” here is ANAMNESIS: The “remembrance” of God’s saving deeds in history in the liturgical action of the Church, which inspires thanksgiving and praise. Every Eucharistic Prayer contains an anamnesis or memorial in which the Church calls to mind the Passion, Resurrection, and glorious return of Christ Jesus (CCC)

We most often see this word as “amnesia” or the inability to remember. The ritural is intended to reverse/oppose/undo the forgettery. It is an enacted device to make us present to that which we are to remember. So more than being just a “symbolic” act, there is a recreation that is intended to make us physically, emotionally, and spiritually present.

The Passover is the anamnesis in which the Eucharist is founded. During passover, a real lamb is slain, and people physically eat the lamb, as a way to prevent amnesia. It is not a symbolic lamb, and it is not just some “reminder” that the Exodus occurred, but an enactment, with specific roles, and very specific liturgical instruction.
Excellent. 👍
 
The Passover was a ritual enactment, designed to bring all the descendants of the first people involved in the Exodus “present” to this miraculous event.
Agreed and the words “token” are used to describe the elements and “ordinance” for the ceremony. There elements did not change nor become those of the original “sacrifice” except in remembrance which is to make present spiritually and mentally, emotionaly et.c
In the same way, our ritual enactment of the Lord’s supper serves to “make present” the Cross. More specifically, we enter into becoming present at his death and resurrection through that enactment.
Yes, but I guess we differ on what "present’ ’ must mean. To me it does not require CC “transubstantiation”.
The reason Catholics are offended when you say "Not sure how standing in front of the Remembrance table is fighting Satan unless you are having trouble “remembering’” is because we understand the Lord’s Supper to be the Passover of the New Covenant. In it, we are present as Jesus triumphs over Satan on the cross. We enter deeply into the mystery of Jesus defeating sin and death.
No offense meant, for I did say it is good to “renew our mind” if that is what we are talking about. I see that as a personal quest . But corporately don’t usually consider the Table as actual fighting but more of a thanksgiving for a past battle already won. Perhaps it seems like a subtle difference but may have it’s root in some folks (CC and others) as seeing the Eucharist as a sacrifice and pray/petition for it’s reception before the Father which is more of a present or current action/battle. That is different than a present thankfullness for both a past sacrifice and past Fatherly reception.
 
Benhur I am very interested to hear your thoughts on the work of Scott Hahn on The Fourth Cup.

Scott came from an evangelical background that did not have any sacramental beliefs.
Took a look, maybe only 15 minutes. Would like to know not just his testimony on switching to Catholicism but overall “conversion”, like while he was “evangelical”. You know us, we usually say well maybe He was not a real christian, or born again if he “left”, ( and even if he didn’t leave). But he is knowledgeable but did not see any specific reasoning for “transubstantiation” though I may have missed it . He has plenty of OT background for Mass etc. but not sure he differentiated it enough from how Protestants have a Sunday service or communion. Not sure he addresses the part of the mass that I find not biblical or early church, and that is the part of the mass that prays for a Fatherly reception of our “sacrifice”…Another note is that he speaks much of OT and properly so. Just that you can go to far with it and muddle the distinction between old and new. And does some CC terminology and thought been aided by Greek philosophy, at least in terms of explanation of transubstantiation ?
 
Agreed and the words “token” are used to describe the elements and “ordinance” for the ceremony. There elements did not change nor become those of the original “sacrifice” except in remembrance which is to make present spiritually and mentally, emotionaly et.c
You are wrong. At Passover the real lamb must really be eaten, each and every time. They don’t just sit around and remember when they ate the lamb in Egypt.

In the Eucharist we really eat the real Lamb of God, each and every time we gather to “remember”. We don’t just recall the sacrifice of the Lamb with our memories. We don’t just recall the Last Supper, we participate in it “really”.
 
You are wrong. At Passover the real lamb must really be eaten, each and every time. They don’t just sit around and remember when they ate the lamb in Egypt.
Right but the lamb eaten is not the same lamb eaten that eventful night. It is a token lamb, not physically connected to original.
In the Eucharist we really eat the real Lamb of God, each and every time we gather to “remember”. We don’t just recall the sacrifice of the Lamb with our memories. We don’t just recall the Last Supper, we participate in it “really”.
We also don’t just remember but also participate with the tokens and I respectfully understand your further transubstantiation .
 
Right but the lamb eaten is not the same lamb eaten that eventful night. It is a token lamb, not physically connected to original.
Well, yes, it would be kind of difficult for Jews today to eat the physical lambs that were eaten at the original Passover, since they have already been eaten. 🤷

Christ, on the other hand, gives us his glorified body to eat which is present with us always.
 
Well, yes, it would be kind of difficult for Jews today to eat the physical lambs that were eaten at the original Passover, since they have already been eaten. 🤷

Christ, on the other hand, gives us his glorified body to eat which is present with us always.
And St. Paul says so:
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is fore you. Do this in remembrance of me.”f 25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26**For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. **
Jon
 
Took a look, maybe only 15 minutes. Would like to know not just his testimony on switching to Catholicism but overall “conversion”, like while he was “evangelical”. You know us, we usually say well maybe He was not a real christian, or born again if he “left”, ( and even if he didn’t leave). But he is knowledgeable but did not see any specific reasoning for “transubstantiation” though I may have missed it . He has plenty of OT background for Mass etc. but not sure he differentiated it enough from how Protestants have a Sunday service or communion. Not sure he addresses the part of the mass that I find not biblical or early church, and that is the part of the mass that prays for a Fatherly reception of our “sacrifice”…Another note is that he speaks much of OT and properly so. Just that you can go to far with it and muddle the distinction between old and new. And does some CC terminology and thought been aided by Greek philosophy, at least in terms of explanation of transubstantiation ?
You can and should read his book “Rome Sweet Home”. He was as Evangelical as you can get, very devout, very “born again”.

I hope you don’t think of all of us Evangelical Converts as “not real Christians” as reason for our leaving.

There are tons of us, and in my experience they are typically the more open minded, educated, humble, truth seekers.

Truth seekers know matter the cost of where they find the truth to lead (ie even to conversion to a religion they erroneously thought was so misguided at one point ).
 
You can and should read his book “Rome Sweet Home”. He was as Evangelical as you can get, very devout, very “born again”.
He also hated Catholicism very much, and pulled a lot of people out of the Church in the mistaken idea that he was saving them. Nobody was more devoutly Evangelical than he was, at one time. He was even accepted to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Seminary, which is very prestigious; they don’t let lukewarm folks attend there.
 
He also hated Catholicism very much, and pulled a lot of people out of the Church in the mistaken idea that he was saving them. Nobody was more devoutly Evangelical than he was, at one time. He was even accepted to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Seminary, which is very prestigious; they don’t let lukewarm folks attend there.
I think they are referred to as the “frozen chosen”. Yes ,anti catholic and very intellectual but as you know, there are several variations of presbyterianism /anglicanism and not sure where the seminary stands.
 
You can and should read his book “Rome Sweet Home”. He was as Evangelical as you can get, very devout, very “born again”.
Does he share his born again conversion experience ?
I hope you don’t think of all of us Evangelical Converts as “not real Christians” as reason for our leaving.
Not all, just as not all departing Catholics were not poorly catechized.
There are tons of us, and in my experience they are typically the more open minded, educated, humble, truth seekers.
That is good . Don’t think it is true for many ex-Catholics becoming Protestant. They might say they were closed minded, proud and somewhat lost, and worldly, not truth seekers, in short, not born again.
Truth seekers know matter the cost of where they find the truth to lead (ie even to conversion to a religion they erroneously thought was so misguided at one point
On the one hand the bible says no one seeks after God (or His Truth) yet it says seek and ye shall find, with the understanding that *no one seeks unless he is drawn, of the Father.
 
Well, yes, it would be kind of difficult for Jews today to eat the physical lambs that were eaten at the original Passover, since they have already been eaten. 🤷
Right, there is no foreshadow of transubstantiation.
Christ, on the other hand, gives us his glorified body to eat which is present with us always.
and right after His Last Supper consecratory words Jesus said, “of the the fruit of the vine I shall no longer drink …”. But yes, thank you, understand your tradition. I still find it interesting that in the eating discourse of John 6 Jesus says the flesh availeth little. Though not the primary meaning it still fits for some of us…the precision and multifaceted and economic use of Words.
 
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