Quote:
Originally Posted by Amanah
David K Bernard said this on Facebook and it's close to what Jesse White teaches on communion:
Communion isn’t merely symbolic, for Christ truly comes to us in a personal, spiritual way when we participate. It’s an important opportunity to apply the benefits of Christ’s atonement by focusing our faith to receive forgiveness, blessing, healing, and deliverance.
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Bernard is head of the UPC, and in the UPC "communion" is generally celebrated once a year (on the pagan "new year's day" for some reason), in a manner borrowed from the Protestants who borrowed their method from the Roman Catholics. That is, they use a cracker of unleavened bread and a thimble of grape juice/wine. The ceremony is conducted in a "solemn" manner, with much "reflection upon the death of Christ, remorse for sins, diligent examination of oneself to make sure one is currently sanctified and thus not guilty of taking the communion in an unworthy condition", etc.
Whereas, in the Bible, the communion was a meal, that had as its central feature a single loaf of bread and a single cup of wine shared by the members, as a fellowship meal in remembrance of how Jesus died to save us and make us one Body, and apparently was eaten often. In fact, there is some evidence that
whenever Christians had a meal together including bread and wine (which back then would have been practically every meal) it was considered "the Lord's Supper". Footwashing is also commanded, and while it may not happen at EVERY Lord's Supper it certainly should not be altogether neglected. A church that observes the Paschal feast would definitely be doing the footwashing with the Lord's Supper at that time, at least.
Regarding White... doesn't he have some kind of background or connection with some Antiochene Orthodox Church? Or am I getting him confused with someone else?