Why do Protestants think this way?

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turtle18

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My sister told me my brother-in-law gets very angry that he can’t receive Communion. He has no interest in becoming Catholic because he doesn’t believe the tenets of the Church. My question is, then why is he so angry he can’t receive Communion? If you don’t believe in the Eucharist, why would you want to receive the Eucharist?
 
When someone has grown up seeing communion as symbolic, then they don’t often understand why we have a closed communion as Catholics. I have heard angry comments from people who think that we are just being mean or exclusionary for no good reason. Usually when it is explained to them that by receiving communion they are affirming all that our church teaches and believes, they stop wanting to receive.

I also mention that even Catholics must make a full confession to a priest of all mortal sins and receive absolution or we cannot receive because we are not in a state of grace. I tell them that absolution during confession is not automatically given either. That usually ends the problem because the person is most definitely not interested in going to confession.

On a side note, some people get angry about not being able to receive during communion because they feel embarassed at sitting in the pew. They think that other people are judging them for why they did not receive. This can be a problem for a prideful person whether Protestant or Catholic.
 
I have a lutheran friend that can’t understand why she can’t receive communion from a catholic church and goes on and on about how anyone can receive at her church. She thinks it’s about being welcoming and inclusive. Everyone should receive Jesus. I try to point out what St Paul says about receivng unworthily but she seems to ignore it. To make things worse, when she goes to her sister in law’s catholic church the priest allows her to receive.

And of course I"m being mean and exclusive when I insist she shouldn’t. Go figure.

She has invited me to come to her church and receive and I told her there is no way I would, even if I could. That makes her even more upset.
 
turtle18 said:
My sister told me my brother-in-law gets very angry that he can’t receive Communion. He has no interest in becoming Catholic because he doesn’t believe the tenets of the Church. My question is, then why is he so angry he can’t receive Communion? If you don’t believe in the Eucharist, why would you want to receive the Eucharist?
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I’m not a behavioral expert (unless parenthood counts) or anything but I believe that it has to do with simply being told that you can’t do something. Many people absolutely hate being denied something even if that something is something that they don’t necessarily want. Thankfully, most people grow out of this immaturity shortly after their teens. Just my opinion. God bless all.
 
turtle18 said:
My sister told me my brother-in-law gets very angry that he can’t receive Communion. He has no interest in becoming Catholic because he doesn’t believe the tenets of the Church. My question is, then why is he so angry he can’t receive Communion? If you don’t believe in the Eucharist, why would you want to receive the Eucharist?
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wrong question
you have presented no evidence that all “Protestants” think this way so it is not fair to pose the question in those terms

ask rather, why does this person feel this way, and ask the person, since no one here can see into his mind and heart and no one here is qualified to answer for him
 
turtle18 said:
My sister told me my brother-in-law gets very angry that he can’t receive Communion. He has no interest in becoming Catholic because he doesn’t believe the tenets of the Church. My question is, then why is he so angry he can’t receive Communion? If you don’t believe in the Eucharist, why would you want to receive the Eucharist?
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You answered your own question: ‘if you don’t believe in the Eucharist’. Most Protestants do not understand the doctrine of the Eucharist, and therefore do not understand the closed Communion. They see the Host as merely bread. Of course they do not understand what the big deal is. When I started going to Mass, I was puzzled, too, but one day Jesus called out to me during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and I suddenly found myself LONGING for Him. I didn’t understand what was going on. I decided to enter RCIA the next available class, and I never minded sitting in the pew during Communion. I understood there was more to the Rite than I understood, since the conviction of the Holy Spirit was so strong. Once I understood and accepted the doctrine of Transubstantiation, it made the waiting all the more beneficial, because I had the opportunity to really examine my life and my soul up until the time when I was received into full communion in the RCC. Try to realize that faith is a gift, and if anyone who is not a Catholic is angry about the perception of being arbitrarily excluded from Communion, then you need to patiently explain the reality of the Christ’s real presence, and pray that the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of faith for that person. 👍
 
puzzleannie said:
wrong question
you have presented no evidence that all “Protestants” think this way so it is not fair to pose the question in those terms

ask rather, why does this person feel this way, and ask the person, since no one here can see into his mind and heart and no one here is qualified to answer for him
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The OP didn’t refer to ALL Protestants feeling this way… But, the question does address a common Protestant reaction to closed communion.

I had the same reaction myself when I was a Protestant. For me, it was a matter of not understanding the sacredness of the Real Presence. I thought, “I’m a Christian and MY church doesn’t keep people out. MY church welcomes ALL believers to receive communion.” Once I came to the understanding of the Real Presence, I could completely understand… Of course, by this time, I was already on my way in!

Many Protestant churches have open communion and view closed communion as un-welcoming. Even the idea that “if you don’t believe as Catholics do, why would you want to take it anyway” doesn’t help ease the feeling of being “left out” that many feel when they are not permitted to receive. Symbolic communion does not carry the same weight and caused me to think, “What’s the big deal? It’s just bread and wine!” I was pretty upset for a long time about it.

Now, I completely understand… and am thankful for the Church’s closed communion. Now, if I could just get my family to understand! 😉
 
It’s not just Protestants. I have had to explain to non-Christians that we Christians aren’t excluding them from being church members and being part of our club. They are excluding themselves by not sharing the same beliefs. They see it as “nice people accept everyone, but mean people exclude.” Maybe your friend is like that too.
 
I got into a huge circular discussion about this on a protestant message board. Several posters were miffed that they couldn’t recieve Holy Communion, yet they disagreed with the Church’s teaching on Communion. I never got an answer to the question “Why would you want to take part in something you believe to be false?” That’s what I didn’t understand. People are free to believe any interpretation of communion they wish, but why would anyone want to take part in something they feel is wrong.
 
mom2three said:
The OP didn’t refer to ALL Protestants feeling this way… But, the question does address a common Protestant reaction to closed communion.
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thread title says exactly that

OP is quite right to focus on the issue which is the irrationality of resentment against a law about something in which a person does not even believe.
 
When i received by accident and my GF corrected me, i was pretty miffed too…not because i couldn’t receive, but because i felt like an idiot for assuming i could. No one told me, lol!

I often refer to protestants who get so angry about it as “proud-estants”. I work hard to stay in a state of grace, submit to God’s will as much as i can, I’ve been going to weekly confession, and pray daily. It’s tough work! And you need to humble yourself to do it! Pride is so damaging, I think it’s a good thing that they get angry about communion. It could inspire further study of the topic.

There’s no need to explain it away. If they receive communion in a Catholic Church you are supposed to be in full communion with everything the church teaches. Period.
 
When a Protestant goes to visit a Catholic church, there is a written statement in the Missal about who can and cannot receive Communion, and I feel it is explained very well. Protestants who get miffed by this need to stop thinking they are owed something, and realize that is the way it is, so getting angry about it is useless.
 
revelations said:
When i received by accident and my GF corrected me, i was pretty miffed too…not because i couldn’t receive, but because i felt like an idiot for assuming i could. No one told me, lol!
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This was also my experience. I don’t know why he didn’t tell me until AFTER. Maybe he just didn’t expect me to take it. But I’d never experienced a time when I “couldn’t” so I just assumed. Anyway, I was not only upset that it was closed, but the embarrassment of taking it when I shouldn’t wasn’t easy either.

Of course, now that I’m Catholic, I’m over it! 🙂
 
mom2three
I’m excited for you. We are going to try to serve at the reception following the Vigil Mass for some friends of ours that are going through RCIA. We’re stoked too.

Tiber Swim Team 07, left as 1 came Home as 5.
 
Tietjen said:
I’m not a behavioral expert (unless parenthood counts) or anything but I believe that it has to do with simply being told that you can’t do something. Many people absolutely hate being denied something even if that something is something that they don’t necessarily want. Thankfully, most people grow out of this immaturity shortly after their teens. Just my opinion. God bless all.
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I think this probably hits the nail on the head for most.:o
 
Well, I never felt angry about it, and I sat through nine months of masses where I could not receive communion during RCIA. I guess some people might feel excluded or embarrased, but that is prideful. I was more than happy to sit in the pew in obedience to the Lord and not worry what anyone thought.
 
living_water said:
I guess some people might feel excluded or embarrased, but that is prideful.
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Exactly. I sat through 2 years of masses with no communion, and it’s given me a lot of time to appreciate what goes on. Frankly right now, i can hardly handle confession and getting my life straight, let alone receiving Jesus weekly! That, and weekly mass fills me right up with faith, i cant wait to receive communion!

Also, it’s a good lesson in humbling oneself, and getting rid of that prideful tendency.

11 more days…😃
 
I was dating a Pentecostal girl for a few years and she came to Mass (albeit it very rarely). I didn’t really know the first time that she wasn’t supposed to receive Communion and she did. After we stopped dating and I found out she wasn’t supposed to I wasn’t strong with being able to say no to someone. People say I’m too nice (I’m not trying to boast, I swear) but I would have hard a hard time back then saying no. Now dating a Southern Baptist (can someone please explain what God is trying to put me through) I’m able to stand up and say no to her receiving. So maybe those people either expected you to know or were weak in stopping you from going up. However, now that really isn’t an issue. 🙂 Welcome home!

On a side note the Eucharist has been the hot topic between the new girl and I. I’ve been trying to explain it to her and am just embarking on explaining it to one of the assistant pastors at her church.
 
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