Thoughts from a First Communion

[nhylan]

I recently traveled to see my future niece have her first communion and something the priest said really got me thinking.

During the services the kids promise that they believe what is essentially the Nicene creed. After they say this the priest says “this is our faith.” That struck me so much because I have heard that in church after church of plenty of denominations. All mainline churches view the Nicene creed as the statement of their faith, if this is true why all the disagreement between he various denominations particularly those are are so similar ie. Anglican/Lutheran/Catholic. it just seems to me like people spend too much time looking at minutia (transubstantiation vs. consubstantiation etc) and not looking at what we are all here for, worshiping God. Why doesn’t someone just jump up and go: “you know what? its all largely the same, lets all just come together and join in worship.”?

Thoughts?

 

[lemonadish]

it just seems to me like people spend too much time looking at minutia (transubstantiation vs. consubstantiation etc) and not looking at what we are all here for, worshiping God. Why doesn’t someone just jump up and go: “you know what? its all largely the same, lets all just come together and join in worship.”?

Am I right to assume you’re suggesting every Christian denomination coming together into one church, based on the fact that we all worship God?

The things that separate us are not actually “minutia”. A lot of the things that are areas of disagreement are not just practices, they’re Holy Sacraments. The Roman Catholic Church believes in transubstantiation of the Eucharist. Other churches believe in consubstantiation. However, many Protestant churches offer crackers and grape juice as a representation of Jesus Christ. There’s such a gigantic difference between “Yes, this is his body and blood” and “This represents him”. Not at all minutia. In Sacramental difference alone, the Catholic Church has Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, etc. If we were to come together into one church, who’s practice would be adopted? That would never work.

 

[lizaanne]

…it just seems to me like people spend too much time looking at minutia (transubstantiation vs. consubstantiation etc) …

The Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ is NOT minutia. If you really think it is then you have a lot of soul searching to do regarding your own beliefs. EVERYTHING the Catholic Faith teaches and believes leads back to the Eucharist. This is a non-negotiable and very essential item of our Faith.

That heretical religions choose not to believe the fullness of Truth is WHY we have these divisions. We don’t just brush the Truth aside because it is difficult and hold hands over the rest - that’s not how Christ intended “that they all might be one”. We are required to follow His commands - and believing in and living all the Catholic Church teaches and believes is how we do that.

EDIT - I am assuming you are Catholic btw since you don’t list that detail.

~Liza

 

[nhylan]

yup, you assumed wrong, I’m Episcopalian, my soul searching is fine. However I would say in regards to what you said there are tons of Catholics that don’t believe everything the church says and yet still are given communion by the priest who fully knows that they don’t agree with everything. If the Roman Catholic church is going to get all tough on other denominations I’d like to see the same thing done to those Catholics who don’t believe the fullness of the RCC’s beliefs.

 

[chris_molter]

The division occurs because we don’t agree on who gets to decide on what issues are adiaphora. That’s what’s going on in your own communion right now and has been since the late 70s. Who gets to draw the lines or boundaries of acceptable belief is an often insurmountable problem, especially between groups that are otherwise close in their beliefs (Lutherans, Anglicans, Catholics).

 

[lemonadish]

If the Roman Catholic church is going to get all tough on other denominations I’d like to see the same thing done to those Catholics who don’t believe the fullness of the RCC’s beliefs.

…what in the world does that have to do with your original post? That certainly doesn’t ring with an ecumenical tone, now does it?

First of all, the Church is not “tough” on other denominations, other than speaking the truth- this is the Church that was designed by God himself and carried out by the people who knew Jesus Christ the best while we was on our Earth. Recognizing that the other denominations of Christianity broke off from the Church and were started by mortal men is reality.

Second, in the case of Catholics that YOU believe are wrongly receiving Communion, you can’t make that judgement of either the parishioner or the priest. Who are you to judge someone’s faith? How do you know what each Catholic believes? Furthermore, assuming that there are Catholics struggling with their faith, how do you know that the priest is aware of it and offering it to them anyway? How could you even possibly know who receives Communion?

I’m not really sure what practices the Episcopal church holds, but I VERY MUCH doubt that every member of your congregation believes fully in what is being taught and practiced.

 

[Lutheranteach]

I recently traveled to see my future niece have her first communion and something the priest said really got me thinking.

During the services the kids promise that they believe what is essentially the Nicene creed. After they say this the priest says “this is our faith.” That struck me so much because I have heard that in church after church of plenty of denominations. All mainline churches view the Nicene creed as the statement of their faith, if this is true why all the disagreement between he various denominations particularly those are are so similar ie. Anglican/Lutheran/Catholic. it just seems to me like people spend too much time looking at minutia (transubstantiation vs. consubstantiation etc) and not looking at what we are all here for, worshiping God. Why doesn’t someone just jump up and go: “you know what? its all largely the same, lets all just come together and join in worship.”?

Thoughts?

I agree with you. I think many of the historical traditions various denominations bring to the table are a strength, not always a a weakness. And yes, I admit there is a a line. Does the host become the body and blood. Is there a real presence. Yes. Does it exist with the bread and wine instead of totally replacing it. Is it only a real, but spiritual presence. Don’t even know which of those it is but know it’s more than a commemoration. I think that just might be fine.

 

[Deconi]

“Unity”?

We pray for it at every Mass!..every hour!..every day!

The people of God are ‘marked’ as He directed, through their Baptism, but we (Catholic) understand that His wish encompasses every soul ever born.

Next Mass you attend, listen carefully.

 

[Reuben_J]

I recently traveled to see my future niece have her first communion and something the priest said really got me thinking.

During the services the kids promise that they believe what is essentially the Nicene creed. After they say this the priest says “this is our faith.” That struck me so much because I have heard that in church after church of plenty of denominations. All mainline churches view the Nicene creed as the statement of their faith, if this is true why all the disagreement between he various denominations particularly those are are so similar ie. Anglican/Lutheran/Catholic. it just seems to me like people spend too much time looking at minutia (transubstantiation vs. consubstantiation etc) and not looking at what we are all here for, worshiping God. Why doesn’t someone just jump up and go: “you know what? its all largely the same, lets all just come together and join in worship.”?

Thoughts?

The disagreement comes about because we see the creed and even Holy Scripture from different lens and perspective. Obviously this does not come from God but human pride and independence.

You may say we use the same Bible, err not so, you take away some of them, but even on those that we have in common we see them differently.

Even if we agree ‘it’s all largely the same’, then whose version of understanding are we to follow?

I think it’s a good idea to come together and worship but do we worship on what we believe or do not believe? So it’s just not practical especially if we want to put all our soul during the worship.

I don’t have a solution for you; I could only offer suggestion but I am sure one that you would surely disagree with.

God bless.