Today we will examine the different views of communion held by various denominations and churches. Our church has a belief on each view but we do not consider these views “essential beliefs,” meaning as Christians we can hold different beliefs and agree to disagree.
What is Communion?
The account of the institution of this ordinance is given in Matthew 26:26-29 , Mark 14:22-25 , Luke 22:19 Luke 22:20 , and 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 .
It was designed:
1. To commemorate the death of Christ: “This do in remembrance of me.”
2. To signify, seal, and apply to believers all the benefits of the New Covenant.
3. To be a badge of the Christian profession.
4. To indicate and to promote the communion of believers with Christ.
5. To represent the mutual communion of believers with each other.
The elements used to represent Christ’s body and blood are bread and wine. The kind of bread, whether leavened or unleavened, is not specified. Christ used unleavened bread simply because it was at that moment at the Passover Meal. Jesus used wine but He also calls it “the fruit of the vine,” so grape juice may be used as well. ( Matthew 26:26-29 ).
Different Names?
Communion is also known as the “Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor.11:20) or the “Lord’s Table” (1 Cor. 10:21), the “Eucharist” (Greek) (1 Cor. 11:24a), “Remembrance” (1 Cor.11:24b) or “Breaking Bread” in the Early Church (Acts 2).
Open or Closed or Close?
The difference between “open” and “closed” communion hinges on a church’s view of the purpose of communion and the authority of the church.
- Churches that practice “open” communion invites all professed believers in Christ to join them in observing the ordinance.
- Churches that practice “closed” communion limit involvement in the Lord’s Supper to their own local body—only official members in good standing are allowed to partake.
- Some churches practice a third type, which they call “close” communion; in “close” communion members of other churches in the same denomination are allowed to break bread together with the members of the local church.
VIEWS OF COMMUNION?
TRANSUBSTANTIATION (Catholic):The bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
This is the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, which takes the words of Christ in the Gospels literally. Each time the elements of the Lord’s Supper are consecrated by a priest, a literal metaphysical change takes place. The substance of the bread and the wine are transformed into the literal body and blood of Christ.
When this “change” (transubstantiation) takes place, according to the Catholic Church, the bread and wine become the real body and blood of Jesus. Additionally, grace is imparted through the elements to those practicing Catholics participating in the ceremony. And finally, in each mass, a real sacrifice takes place and Christ is sacrificed again and again on behalf of the participants. Only an ordained priest can actually consecrate the bread and wine. Unless an ordained priest follows a set formula, the bread and wine are not changed. At the Fourth Lateran Council [5] in 1215, the Church established the doctrine of transubstantiation concerning Holy Communion. By this view, bread and wine during communion literally transforms into the body and blood of Christ.
CONSUBSTANTIATION (Lutheran): Martin Luther did not believe that the bread and wine were actually changed into the body and blood of Christ, but he believed that the body and blood were present in the elements.
According to the consubstantiation view, the bread and wine maintain their physical identities and the Real Presence of Christ’s body and blood co-exist with these elements during communion.
SYMBOLISM (Reformed): The body and blood of Christ is present in the bread and wine only in a figurative and symbolic sense.
The Reformed view of John Calvin and many other Reformers took yet another step away from the Roman Catholic view regarding the literal presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. Calvin suggested that the bread and wine did not change into the body and blood of Christ (the Catholic View), nor did they contain the body and blood of Christ (the Lutheran view). Rather, Calvin believed that there is the presence of Christ at the Lord’s Supper, but it is spiritual and not physical.
MEMORIALISM:The Lord’s Supper is commemoration of Christ’s death
Another early reformer, Ulrich Zwingli, is regarded as the author of this view. Zwingli, like Calvin, believed that the physical body of Jesus was in no way present in the elements of the Lord’s Supper. However, his view was different from Calvin’s, in that he saw the Lord’s Supper as a commemoration of Christ’s death. It is celebrated by the believer as an act of “remembrance” of Christ’s death and his sacrifice. This view emphasizes that the Lord’s Supper is a devotional act on the part of the believer.
What Do We Believe about Communion?
As a church we typically observe “The Lord’s Supper” or “Communion” at least once a month. We have “Open Communion” meaning all Christ followers or believers can participate. We believe that the elements (the bread and wine) are “symbolic” of Jesus body and blood, but we do believe that “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there.” Matthew 18:20 NKJV. In other words, Jesus has promised He is present when we gather in His name.
I look forward to seeing you the next time we gather in Jesus’ name.
Darrell
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Sources:
https://grace.sc/resources/articles/the-lords-supper-four-major-views/
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