BibleCyst
Puritan Board Freshman
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
I find myself slightly mixed up in regard to The Lord's Supper. Within the course of my life, I've gotten diverse explanations on what exactly takes place during this sacrament. (This probably has to do with the fact that I grew up in the PCA, and attended a Lutheran school for a number of years.) I understand that the Roman Catholic position is that the elements literally transform into the body and blood of Christ, and that the holy communion is a sacrifice (not unlike the Old Testament sacrifices) which imputes the sins of the receiver to Christ. I also understand that the Baptist position is generally the other extreme - the Lord's Supper is purely symbolic and holds no real spiritual benefit for the receiver (correct me if I'm wrong?). Am I not mistaken that the Presbyterian position lies somewhere in the middle? That the elements do not literally transform into the body and blood of Christ, but that the elements are also more than just bread and juice? I was looking through the Westminster Confession, but I feel as though the section for the Lord's Supper is not really confirming (or rejecting) what I've been taught - perhaps I need to look at it with fresh eyes in the morning. At any rate, my first question is, what exactly do Presbyterians believe happens during the Lord's Supper?
Now, to bring Lutheranism into the mix. For an unrelated reason, I was browsing the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod website, and I happened across their section on the Lord's Supper. (This is actually what peaked my curiosity on this subject.) I found that my presuppositions on the Lord's Supper matched their statements. (More specific examples coming up.) I fear that my mix of PCA and Lutheranism has caused my theology to be confused on this matter, and I'm having trouble placing where in-between Rome and Purely Symbolic both Lutherans and Presbyterians stand. For example:
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
Forgive me, I know this post is kind of all over the place. What am I missing here?
I find myself slightly mixed up in regard to The Lord's Supper. Within the course of my life, I've gotten diverse explanations on what exactly takes place during this sacrament. (This probably has to do with the fact that I grew up in the PCA, and attended a Lutheran school for a number of years.) I understand that the Roman Catholic position is that the elements literally transform into the body and blood of Christ, and that the holy communion is a sacrifice (not unlike the Old Testament sacrifices) which imputes the sins of the receiver to Christ. I also understand that the Baptist position is generally the other extreme - the Lord's Supper is purely symbolic and holds no real spiritual benefit for the receiver (correct me if I'm wrong?). Am I not mistaken that the Presbyterian position lies somewhere in the middle? That the elements do not literally transform into the body and blood of Christ, but that the elements are also more than just bread and juice? I was looking through the Westminster Confession, but I feel as though the section for the Lord's Supper is not really confirming (or rejecting) what I've been taught - perhaps I need to look at it with fresh eyes in the morning. At any rate, my first question is, what exactly do Presbyterians believe happens during the Lord's Supper?
Now, to bring Lutheranism into the mix. For an unrelated reason, I was browsing the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod website, and I happened across their section on the Lord's Supper. (This is actually what peaked my curiosity on this subject.) I found that my presuppositions on the Lord's Supper matched their statements. (More specific examples coming up.) I fear that my mix of PCA and Lutheranism has caused my theology to be confused on this matter, and I'm having trouble placing where in-between Rome and Purely Symbolic both Lutherans and Presbyterians stand. For example:
The clear promise that Christ gives to his church is, "Take and eat, this is my body," and "This is my blood" (Matthew 26:26-28). Together with the bread and wine that we receive, Jesus, the Son of God, says he gives us his body and his blood that were given into death and poured out on our behalf.
The real presence of Christ's body and blood is a special, sacramental presence that is beyond our full understanding. We say this to avoid crass, cannibalistic ideas that have no place here. This eating is real, but it is supernatural. We do not see or taste the body and blood. It cannot be detected by our senses. We do not digest it like ordinary food.
In summary, we believe that Christ's body and blood are present in the Sacrament and received because of the promise of Christ and because Christ’s body is the body of the Son of God.
We believe that, together with the bread and wine, Christ's body and blood are truly present, however, this does not depend on papal ordination but on Christ's institution. We do not accept the adoration (worship) of the host, nor do we believe that a sacrifice takes place. We stick just to what the Words of Institution say.
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
Forgive me, I know this post is kind of all over the place. What am I missing here?