Comments on: The Lord’s Supper, Food, Nourishment, Grace, and Symbolism http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/ Fear God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man - Ecclesiastes 12:13 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:33:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Charles http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/comment-page-1/#comment-749 Charles Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:46:09 +0000 http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/#comment-749 Bruce, Ariel, Jamie, Randall, Thanks so much for the read and the comments. Charles. Bruce, Ariel, Jamie, Randall,
Thanks so much for the read and the comments.

Charles.

]]> By: Jamie http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/comment-page-1/#comment-748 Jamie Fri, 21 Sep 2007 02:44:17 +0000 http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/#comment-748 Sorry for being really delayed in replying here, but I appreciated this post. I tend toward viewing communion as very symbolic, but there is a risk in that of undermining the significance of the ritual. Even if it's symbolic, it's still a means of grace, as you point out. Sorry for being really delayed in replying here, but I appreciated this post. I tend toward viewing communion as very symbolic, but there is a risk in that of undermining the significance of the ritual. Even if it’s symbolic, it’s still a means of grace, as you point out.

]]> By: The Preacher » Blog Archive » The Reality of Symbols http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/comment-page-1/#comment-755 The Preacher » Blog Archive » The Reality of Symbols Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:09:52 +0000 http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/#comment-755 [...] my last post, I discussed the nature of the sacraments and how referring to them as “mere” symbols [...] [...] my last post, I discussed the nature of the sacraments and how referring to them as “mere” symbols [...]

]]> By: R. Sherman http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/comment-page-1/#comment-750 R. Sherman Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:11:24 +0000 http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/#comment-750 Spot on. This is why we are called to examine ourselves <b>before</b> we take communion. Our hearts must be right with God, because it is a very serious matter. Cheers. Spot on.

This is why we are called to examine ourselves before we take communion. Our hearts must be right with God, because it is a very serious matter.

Cheers.

]]> By: Ariel http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/comment-page-1/#comment-751 Ariel Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:31:11 +0000 http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/#comment-751 Thanks for the clarification. I think your point is a good one. Saying that communion is "merely" symbolic is kind of like saying that getting dunked in cold water is "merely" symbolic. Both are real experiences. I like Calvin's position on communion, in that he says there is a real spiritual blessing for those who take communion in faith, since it's a means of grace God has chosen to use. No magic, no smoke & mirrors, but a potential remembrance of and meeting with the risen Christ. Thanks for the clarification. I think your point is a good one. Saying that communion is “merely” symbolic is kind of like saying that getting dunked in cold water is “merely” symbolic. Both are real experiences. I like Calvin’s position on communion, in that he says there is a real spiritual blessing for those who take communion in faith, since it’s a means of grace God has chosen to use. No magic, no smoke & mirrors, but a potential remembrance of and meeting with the risen Christ.

]]> By: BruceA http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/comment-page-1/#comment-754 BruceA Sat, 15 Sep 2007 06:39:53 +0000 http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/#comment-754 Good post. I grew up believing that communion was just symbolic. Then I went to a Lutheran college, where I heard about the doctrine of consubstantiation. At first I thought it was strange, but it did make me pay attention to what was really happening when I took communion. And communion became more than a symbol. I'm not sure I can find the words to convey it, but now when I take communion, I am connecting with Christ in a different way from normal, everyday experience. And there is a part of me that recognizes this even if I don't "feel" anything special. In this very real sense, communion has become a means of grace to me. Good post.

I grew up believing that communion was just symbolic. Then I went to a Lutheran college, where I heard about the doctrine of consubstantiation. At first I thought it was strange, but it did make me pay attention to what was really happening when I took communion. And communion became more than a symbol. I’m not sure I can find the words to convey it, but now when I take communion, I am connecting with Christ in a different way from normal, everyday experience. And there is a part of me that recognizes this even if I don’t “feel” anything special. In this very real sense, communion has become a means of grace to me.

]]> By: Charles http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/comment-page-1/#comment-752 Charles Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:08:01 +0000 http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/#comment-752 I wasn't trying to specifically tie regular eating and drinking together into the same thing as communion (but the fact that God chose eating and drinking does tell us something - he could have just as reasonably chose anything else, such as fishing, or stamp collecting - talk about a shot in the arm to philately :) The reason I chose food as an example of a means of grace is because of the assumed "mundane" nature of the act, and because of it's physical significance. My primary goal was to illustrate that we place a layer between ourselves and communion that does not exist. Communion is as real a thing as a meal is. By saying it is "merely" symbolic, we diminish the reality of it and we forget the significant symbolism that things like food bear as well. I feel like I'm doing the written equivalent of mumbling... Thanks for the read and the request for clarification! I wasn’t trying to specifically tie regular eating and drinking together into the same thing as communion (but the fact that God chose eating and drinking does tell us something – he could have just as reasonably chose anything else, such as fishing, or stamp collecting – talk about a shot in the arm to philately :)

The reason I chose food as an example of a means of grace is because of the assumed “mundane” nature of the act, and because of it’s physical significance. My primary goal was to illustrate that we place a layer between ourselves and communion that does not exist. Communion is as real a thing as a meal is. By saying it is “merely” symbolic, we diminish the reality of it and we forget the significant symbolism that things like food bear as well.

I feel like I’m doing the written equivalent of mumbling…
Thanks for the read and the request for clarification!

]]> By: Ariel http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/comment-page-1/#comment-753 Ariel Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:46:47 +0000 http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2007/09/14/the-lords-supper-food-nourishment-grace-and-symbolism/#comment-753 So are you saying that communion involves "real spiritual blessing," but that such blessing is always inherent to the acts of eating and drinking, when we do so to the glory of God? Or is communion substantially different? So are you saying that communion involves “real spiritual blessing,” but that such blessing is always inherent to the acts of eating and drinking, when we do so to the glory of God? Or is communion substantially different?

]]>