Posted by Diana on June 29, 19101 at 04:08:19:
In Reply to: Re: Where is the Body of Christ? posted by Phil on June 28, 19101 at 12:09:59:
: : : Just an additional note.....I can't imagine a God of overwhelming Love denying the Body of Christ in the Eucharist to other members of the Body of Christ. I think this practice is making the Eucharist a stumbling block.
: Well, yes, that it is: a stumbling block. "And many of his disciples left him . . ."
Don't quite understand the relevance of this quote here, Phil. Do you think that one leaves Christ
because one has varying opinions about this issue?
How about "....I have come to call sinners, not the self-righteous." (Mark, 2:17)
: I tried reading these exchanges and found it tedious. It's one thing to say that believers constitute the Body of Christ, but quite another to say that this entitles just anyone to Eucharist. Even in that idyllic time we call the early Church, serious sin was a reason to refuse the Eucharist to someone. When one is in sin, one is cut off, as it were, from the body (mortal sin, especially), and so to receive Eucharist is a counter-symbol and Paul states that it's even detrimental--can cause spiritual problems.
My question would be: "Who are you or any external figure to determine that the person is in a serious state of sin?" You have no awareness of the inner workings of the person that would constitute a state in which they would be capable of commiting sin. You have no knowledge of their wounds, their psychological make-up, their
foundational formation, or their reasons for a particular behavior. Commiting serious sin includes both knowledge and intention.
As for the reception of the Eucharist causing spiritual problems, Christ came to call the sinner, not the self-righteous. Christ came precisely for the people who hurt and needed him,
How can anyone deny that or deny them the very medicine that they need?
: Catholics refusing Communion to Protestants is a little more difficult to justify sometimes, but many do not believe it is what Catholics do. Also, it is at the heart of Catholic spiritual life, so why should a Protestant want to share in that?
Because Protestants also believe in Christ.
: You all can carry on without me now. Enjoy . .
Yes, thanks for your comments and allowing us to post our thoughts on your boards.
As I already told Anne in a previous post, I've had my opportunity to express my thoughts about all this and my part in the exchange is drawing to a close. I'd love to hear the thoughts of others about this important issue. I think where we see the Body of Christ determines where we stand in many of the polarizing issues present in the Church today.
Interesting.
Diana