This article is representing a protestant Christian perspective as part of an interfaith dialogue discussing the question: Within your religious traditions, what rituals and/or traditions give you a sense of connection to your fellow congregants, beliefs, and communities? What actions do you take to ensure the stability of those connections? Do you feel that the connections that have been made are sufficient for your spiritual and/or religious needs? Other perspectives from different faiths are presented by Unknowing Mind (Buddhist) and Sojourner (Pagan)
Jesus loved to party. That may come as a surprise to some who have well designed preconceptions of the Master's demeanor and habits based on some of the attitudes some of his followers display sometimes, but especially as his life is recorded in the Gospel of Luke Jesus always seems to have a leg of lamb in one hand and some fruit of the vine in the other. Clearly, he was not a glutton or a drunk, but his reputation for enjoying a good time proceeded him, and was often exaggerated in the process. The simple fact is that Jesus valued relationship. He loved people, and he loved all kinds of people. He could be found hanging out with religious elites, and prostitutes, and oppressive IRS-type agents, and union-type fishermen, and rich dudes, and the terminally ill (though he often changed that), and the poor, and Roman soldiers, etc...
Because of that it is highly apropos and rather touching that the central ritual of the Christian faith, and by that I can confidently say all branches of the Christian faith, though how they interpret the celebration varies greatly, is the Lord's Table. This event goes by many names in the Christian community: Eucharist, Communion, the Lord's Supper, a Love Feast, etc. I will not go into details on the specifics of how any particular tradition practices the event. First, that would be a very daunting process and take a long time for you to read, but second, out of respect for the individual traditions it is important that people experience the Lord's Supper as disciples of Jesus or observe it as seekers rather than merely hearing it described "objectively". I suppose this my respecting the ancient Christian tradition of the "discipline of the secret." On top of that, I do not wish to bore you with comparisons of different "substantiation" theological theories, though if you know the debates and observe my terminology you could probably construct the fact that I view the Supper as a powerful symbol of a discipling community's relationship with Jesus.
There are a number of things that are taught directly through the celebration of the Supper, however, that are helpful in answering the question at hand. First, the Supper is an act of Thanksgiving to God for his provision of forgiveness and relationship in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Second, the Supper recognizes the unity of common love that followers of Jesus (both globally and historically) share because of our common experience of deliverance. Third, the Supper memorializes what Jesus did on the cross in a very existential, kinesthetic, and timeless kind of way. Fourth, the Supper is an act of hope awaiting the wonderful things that Jesus will do in the future. Fifth, the Supper recognizes the daily provision of grace to meet our spiritual needs that Jesus offers. Sixth, it is an opportunity for disciples to practice a time of introspection and ensure that their relationships with Jesus and each other are healthy. Seventh, if done in conjunction with a more complete meal the Supper can actually be an opportunity to build relationships with other people who are Jesus followers. Eighth, the Supper reminds us of our historical connections to God's people in ancient Israel (the Supper was first celebrated during a Passover meal), Finally, non-Christian seekers who are observing at a Supper event receive a clear visual and auditory proclamation of the message and acts of Jesus.
Of all of the different faith acts that Christians do, the Supper is probably the most meaningful in accomplishing simultaneously all the different goals mentioned in the question. Because it is practiced by the actual local gathering of disciples and not merely by an individual it reflects the Christian focus on the whole person including their relationships. It undoubtedly helps connect with other disciples, reinforces Christian teachings, and can renew a focus on serving the world. Because the Supper is taken frequently (how frequently varies by tradition and individual church) the lessons that it teaches are confirmed and established perpetually in the lives of disciples.
As for the sufficiency aspect mentioned in the question, clearly all Christian faith acts are more than sufficient from God's part of the equation (obviously, that is the whole point of grace), but the question comes down to the attitude of the individual disciple. It should be noted, that rituals in and of themselves accomplish absolutely nothing of spiritual value. An Christian act such as the Supper, that is done with an attitude of trust (faith), however, can have a highly meaningful impact on the life of the person who is experiencing it. I know that because I have experienced that before myself, and many fellow disciples share that same experience.
I apologize for an overabundance of technical jargon in this blog entry. That is, however, part of the nature of dealing with a topic of this detail. Thank you for a very good question! I look forward to the dialog that will follow in the comment section. I hope some day (either in this age or the next) to celebrate the Supper with any of you who are or become followers of Jesus. For those of you who do not yet know him, we would be happy to share a meal now with you as well, I share my Master's fondness for dining!
"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus on the night 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 after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." [NIV 1Corinthians 11: 23 - 36, the words of the Apostle Paul c.60AD]
Jesus loved to party. That may come as a surprise to some who have well designed preconceptions of the Master's demeanor and habits based on some of the attitudes some of his followers display sometimes, but especially as his life is recorded in the Gospel of Luke Jesus always seems to have a leg of lamb in one hand and some fruit of the vine in the other. Clearly, he was not a glutton or a drunk, but his reputation for enjoying a good time proceeded him, and was often exaggerated in the process. The simple fact is that Jesus valued relationship. He loved people, and he loved all kinds of people. He could be found hanging out with religious elites, and prostitutes, and oppressive IRS-type agents, and union-type fishermen, and rich dudes, and the terminally ill (though he often changed that), and the poor, and Roman soldiers, etc...
Because of that it is highly apropos and rather touching that the central ritual of the Christian faith, and by that I can confidently say all branches of the Christian faith, though how they interpret the celebration varies greatly, is the Lord's Table. This event goes by many names in the Christian community: Eucharist, Communion, the Lord's Supper, a Love Feast, etc. I will not go into details on the specifics of how any particular tradition practices the event. First, that would be a very daunting process and take a long time for you to read, but second, out of respect for the individual traditions it is important that people experience the Lord's Supper as disciples of Jesus or observe it as seekers rather than merely hearing it described "objectively". I suppose this my respecting the ancient Christian tradition of the "discipline of the secret." On top of that, I do not wish to bore you with comparisons of different "substantiation" theological theories, though if you know the debates and observe my terminology you could probably construct the fact that I view the Supper as a powerful symbol of a discipling community's relationship with Jesus.
There are a number of things that are taught directly through the celebration of the Supper, however, that are helpful in answering the question at hand. First, the Supper is an act of Thanksgiving to God for his provision of forgiveness and relationship in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Second, the Supper recognizes the unity of common love that followers of Jesus (both globally and historically) share because of our common experience of deliverance. Third, the Supper memorializes what Jesus did on the cross in a very existential, kinesthetic, and timeless kind of way. Fourth, the Supper is an act of hope awaiting the wonderful things that Jesus will do in the future. Fifth, the Supper recognizes the daily provision of grace to meet our spiritual needs that Jesus offers. Sixth, it is an opportunity for disciples to practice a time of introspection and ensure that their relationships with Jesus and each other are healthy. Seventh, if done in conjunction with a more complete meal the Supper can actually be an opportunity to build relationships with other people who are Jesus followers. Eighth, the Supper reminds us of our historical connections to God's people in ancient Israel (the Supper was first celebrated during a Passover meal), Finally, non-Christian seekers who are observing at a Supper event receive a clear visual and auditory proclamation of the message and acts of Jesus.
Of all of the different faith acts that Christians do, the Supper is probably the most meaningful in accomplishing simultaneously all the different goals mentioned in the question. Because it is practiced by the actual local gathering of disciples and not merely by an individual it reflects the Christian focus on the whole person including their relationships. It undoubtedly helps connect with other disciples, reinforces Christian teachings, and can renew a focus on serving the world. Because the Supper is taken frequently (how frequently varies by tradition and individual church) the lessons that it teaches are confirmed and established perpetually in the lives of disciples.
As for the sufficiency aspect mentioned in the question, clearly all Christian faith acts are more than sufficient from God's part of the equation (obviously, that is the whole point of grace), but the question comes down to the attitude of the individual disciple. It should be noted, that rituals in and of themselves accomplish absolutely nothing of spiritual value. An Christian act such as the Supper, that is done with an attitude of trust (faith), however, can have a highly meaningful impact on the life of the person who is experiencing it. I know that because I have experienced that before myself, and many fellow disciples share that same experience.
I apologize for an overabundance of technical jargon in this blog entry. That is, however, part of the nature of dealing with a topic of this detail. Thank you for a very good question! I look forward to the dialog that will follow in the comment section. I hope some day (either in this age or the next) to celebrate the Supper with any of you who are or become followers of Jesus. For those of you who do not yet know him, we would be happy to share a meal now with you as well, I share my Master's fondness for dining!
2 comments:
It should be noted, that rituals in and of themselves accomplish absolutely nothing of spiritual value. An Christian act such as the Supper, that is done with an attitude of trust (faith), however, can have a highly meaningful impact on the life of the person who is experiencing it.
Very true. Rituals are not of themselves spiritual in value unless there is an understanding of the symbolism and the right attitude behind them. I can do the same thing day after day, but if there is not a sense of something more behind the act, that act is just something that happens everyday and not spiritually fulfilling.
You outlined 9 things that people should be aware of when they are taking communion. Only when people are aware of those many aspects of the symbolism behind the act, can they truly understand what they are doing.
Good Post.
This is a great essay, Jon. I think Sojourner highlighted what I would say is the key sentence in your entire post: "Rituals, in and of themselves, accomplish absolutely nothing of spiritual value."
In a sense, one must "put in the effort" in any ritual or tradition. Going through the motions of a ritual, or just following a tradition because it's a tradition, is worthless and a waste of time and energy. But when one understands the meaning behind the tradition, or performs the ritual in full awareness of its symbolism, significance, and purpose, one's own energy enlivens the ritual or tradition, giving it meaning.
I also enjoyed your categorization of the many-layered meaning in the Supper. Very instructional. I think the ideal is that the practitioner endeavor to understand the entirety of the symbolism and meaning in ritual. However, even if a participant in the Supper were to understand and keep mindful of only one or two of the aspects of its tradition and meaning, he or she would still benefit tremendously toward that end.
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