Hot answers tagged sacraments
11
There is no precedent for infant baptism in Scripture
Infant baptism simply is not found in the Bible. That isn't an argument that it can't be done, but it should be seen as an extrabiblical tradition.
Baptism is commanded with salvation
Jesus commanded the apostles as follows:
Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all ...
9
Yes, wine was most likely used by Jesus during the Last Supper, just as the cups in the Passover Feast are typically wine in today's observances. Yet, there is not prescriptive command to use wine nor is there any prohibitive command against using grape juice.
If this were a significant issue, then it is reasonable to assume that the Bible would contain ...
9
One aspect I don't see addressed in other posts is the significance of bread and wine. Yes, it's because that's what Jesus said to do, but he did not merely pick to random substances to represent himself.
Although I would argue that John 6 does not have sacramental overtones in mind per se, we do see Jesus using bread to represent himself. A couple of ...
9
This is the analogy that Jesus chose at his last supper.
Matt 26:26-29 (NIV)
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given
thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and
eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to
them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 ...
8
I think part of the problem with baptism discussions is that they are often mis-characterized as "adult" baptisms and "infant" baptisms, when really, the crux of disagreement is in the significance of the baptism rather than the age of its recipient. (baptism based on repentance vs. baptism as a covenental birthright) I know you clarify this in your ...
8
Communion with bread and wine is common in most Christian denominations, although it can mean different things to different denominations (see What do different denominations mean when they talk about the Real Presence in the Eucharist?).
The bread and wine are from the Last Supper.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Supper
The Last Supper is the final ...
7
The earliest recorded formulation of the Lord's Supper reads:
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, 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.” In the same way also he took the cup, after ...
7
The Catholic Church teaches that man's sins may be absolved by the Church. Absolution from sin means "To free from sin", which is pretty much the same as forgiveness of sins.
In lay-person's terms, as I understand it, the Priest is acting under the authority and power of the Church, which, in turn, is acting under the authority and power of Christ.
This ...
7
The LDS church proscribes wine (or any alcoholic beverage, really), so water is used instead, although it doesn't matter what is used for the symbols of the sacrament, according to Doctrine and Covenants in the LDS canon:
D&C 27:2
2 For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the ...
6
Marriage was the proto-sacrament. It became a sacrament after Christ came.
Eucharist was the second. It first appeared on Maundy Thursday.
Baptism is ambiguous. The baptism of John was not sacramental. I believe that it became a sacrament after the resurrection.
Ordination can be seen between the resurrection and Thomas's acceptance of that fact. It can ...
6
Asking "What do Protestants think about the sacraments?" is a bit misleading. There are a large variety of Protestant views, some of them are more traditional than others. The question as to whether Protestant groups are wholly divorced from the Apostolic succession is also not 100% correct. There are a few clearly Protestant groups who have at least some ...
6
Abstract
Protestants do perform many of the rites that the Catholic church considers Sacraments, but only two, Baptism and Communion, are considered Sacraments by the majority of Protestants. These two are the only two rites that are conducted using the formula given to us by Jesus.
Luther, as is usual, took the first step:
We have now finished the ...
5
The Sacrament of Baptism is often called "The door of the Church" because it is considered the first of the seven sacraments. According to Catholic Catechism (1212), the Catholic Church sees baptism as the first and basic sacrament of Christian initiation. For most Christians and especially Catholics, baptism is the first sacrament received (often as an ...
4
I would say it is not valid. The wine at the Last Supper — Jesus' Passover celebration — was fermented because that was the tradition. It was an oral tradition later codified in the Mishnah, but it was still what Christ did, so it should be when we Do this in remembrance. It's not simply an act, it's a re-creation. I can see that the theology of ...
4
Per @awe and @Jamess, there are really two sides of this. It can go either way.
Are you breaking your fast? Yes. You truly are. But you have to question: Why am I fasting?
If you are fasting in order to grow closer to God and find reliance only on him, then taking communion would not necessarily be bad. Since communion is meant to draw us to God, ...
4
Let me preface this with a note that the view I present does not think it serious to hold a more traditional view. Unity on other matters make this subject peripheral.
Another common view is among popular evangelicalism that would not try to defend their emphasis on the sacraments, but oppose an over emphasis by others. From their view the need for any kind ...
4
Communion is always "valid under both species" as Catholics would say. That means that if you only receive Jesus under the form of wine or under the form of bread, you're receiving the whole of God.
For about 20 years or so (depending where you live) in much of North America it has been common practice to offer the cup to the laity at communion for all ...
4
It would make a huge difference.
First of all, neither Bill nor Martha is Catholic or ever has been, so they are not subject to canon law in either the negative or the positive sense. Neither of them is a valid minister of the sacrament of matrimony -- that is to say, it is not possible for them to contract a sacramental marriage. Objectively speaking, an ...
3
I had the same thoughts you did until I understood Luther more. The thing with Luther is that he most certainly believed you are saved by faith only and that even baptism was not necessary. Having said that he puts such weight on Baptism that it almost seems that 'if there was anything needed beyond faith' baptism would be it. You must not blame Luther for ...
3
Simple answer, No. No there is no proof of the assertion by that priest.
The idea of Apostolic succession from which the orthodox imposition of hands as a sacrament finds its purpose is not something that can be historically traced. The laying on of hands is in the bible but not for this serious purpose of defining legitimate authority to administer the ...
3
The discipline of fasting is a time of introspection on God by forsaking some of the human need (here food) for a period. Communion is a time of fellowship with God in community. I believe we should follow the spirit of Bible, which is expressed in 2 Corinthians 3:6 last part (for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. quoted from NIV). Jesus always ...
3
I think @DavidStratton's answer takes a good "root cause" approach but I'd like to look at the surface of things a bit as well. I noted in my comment above that protestant baptisms and marriages are not categorically rejected by the Catholic Church so I'll just focus on communion. There are three main reasons why Catholics wouldn't receive communion from ...
2
I believe that @Justin Y's answer to an earlier question of mine has the key to the answer to your question as well. My question was "What is the doctrinal or Scriptural basis for a central Church authority"
In his answer, Justin stated this:
A central church authority is a necessary byproduct of believing that
certain ordinances are necessary for ...
2
I'd say not, but this is just my opinion, and not because I've ever heard of Ex Opere Operato so I'll keep this short and hopefully someone adds a better answer. But Baptism leaves an indelible mark:
Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark ...
2
Here's what my denomination, the United Methodist Church, says about child communion:
May young children receive Communion?
Certainly. As The United Methodist Book of Worship puts it, “All who intend to lead a Christian life, together with their children, are invited to receive the bread and cup.” We remember that when some of Jesus’ disciples tried ...
2
I'll have another go since Affable Geek has redefined the question...
The noted Anglican divine Richard Hooker defined a sacrament as "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace" [sorry, don't have a reference for that]. The Roman Catholic Church teaches "the sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to ...
2
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that "the first grace of this Sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age." There's quite a bit more: it covers six pages. "In this sacrament the sick person receives the strength and the gift of uniting ...
2
Catholic teaching states that you must make a sincere effort to confess all mortal sins in the sacrament of confession. It is often encouraged that all grave sins be confessed as soon as possible, and certainly all mortal sins. However, if the sinner is unable to confess before death, the effortful intent to confess is taught to be valid, provided it is a ...
2
That's pretty lame, the author didn't even say which sacraments he's talking about! Here's my idle speculation from what I've learned about what Protestants assume about the sacraments here on Christianity.SE.
The first two would probably be Baptism and the Eucharist.
The first to be added must be Holy Orders to establish apostolic succession to keep up ...
2
Short Answer: The answer to your question depends completely on how you understand the "sacrament of priesthood", and on how you interpret the early writings. To me it seems clear that the early church did not have a singular voice on the topic, and at least some of them did not seem to view "priesthood" the way many Churches today view it. I think the ...
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