The topic of
the Eucharist is a highly controversial one between Catholics and most
Protestants. We’ve already posted a
two-part series on the Catholic Eucharist in which we believe the Catholic
arguments are shown to be false. See
here:
The Catholic
Church teaches that Jesus is present in the Eucharist in body, blood, soul, and
divinity. The Eucharist is “the whole
Christ” according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1374, and the
Council of Trent, Session XIII, Canon 1.
The “whole Christ,” body, blood, soul and
divinity are supposedly what the Catholic is eating! They insist that it is literally Jesus,
Himself, but how can someone literally eat Jesus’ soul? Notwithstanding that,
the emphasis is that Jesus’ body is here with us today in the form of the Eucharist.
But
Scripture tells us that Jesus is no
longer here in the flesh:
John 12:7 – Jesus
therefore said, “Let her alone, in order that she may keep it for the day of My
burial.
John 12:8 – “For the
poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me.”
In what
sense do we not have Jesus today? Did Jesus mean that we wouldn’t have Him spiritually? Of course not, since He said elsewhere that
He would be with us (believers) until the end (Matthew 28:20). It is clear that He was speaking in John
12:8 of His physical
presence. So, in that sense, He is not “available” today.
John 16:10 – And
concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer
behold Me.
But wait a
minute, Catholics insist that we can still behold / see Him in the form of the
Eucharist, yet He, Himself is saying that we can no longer behold / see Him.
So, one of two things is happening here:
either 1) Catholics are wrong about the Eucharist, or 2) Jesus
lied. We believe it’s safe to go with
the first choice.
John 17:11 – “And I
am no more in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I
come to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in
Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We
are.”
How much
plainer can it be? Jesus is speaking of
His departure to the Father, and says that He is (or will be) “no more in the world,” physically
speaking. If He is no longer in the
world, then He cannot be in the
Catholic Eucharist, as they claim, can He?
Of course,
Catholics will say that this is all a great mystery
that we can’t fully understand, but this “mystery” of theirs is not
biblical. In fact, it is anti-biblical,
as just demonstrated. Or, Catholics
might say that the Eucharist has some kind of special power as a “sacrament,”
but this is just special pleading. See
here:
According to
Scripture, we are denied access to
the physical presence of His body or His blood.
Therefore, the “Jesus” in the Catholic Eucharist is an idol. It is another
Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4).
The Jesus of
the Bible does not want us to literally eat Him. That is not what He meant when He said, “Eat
My flesh” and “Drink My blood” (see the first two links above). He simply wants us to believe in Him (John 6:29,35,47-51) and in His work
on the cross where the penalty for sin was fully paid. He wants us to believe and trust in the fact
of His death, burial and resurrection.
That is the essence of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and the true
access to the Father. That is the good
news.
Hi Russell,
ReplyDeleteDid the Roman Catholic Church remove the second commandment from its list of Ten Commandments and split the tenth one in half? If so, then on what basis do you hold this belief (if you do)?
Jonathon
Hi Jonathon,
ReplyDeleteYour question appears to be somewhat off-topic, unless you intended to tie it into the idolatry that is referred to in the above article. If that is the case, then I will address it here.
I have heard this argument many times before, but I don’t think that I have personally ever used it. I think that both sides (Catholics and Protestants) overlook some simple points.
First, assigning a specific number to each and every commandment is not the real problem here. In both Exodus 20, and Deuteronomy 5, there are more “Thou shalt nots” and “Thou shalts” together than just the Ten. Some are simply elaborating on the main point. Catholics do agree that we should worship God alone, but they tend to shy away from stressing the passages concerning statues (since they employ statues throughout all Catholic Churches). I think that this is the sticking point for most Protestants.
But whether the warning about coveting is in the ninth or the tenth Commandment is pretty irrelevant. The issue is that coveting (whether of people or things) is wrong.
Concerning images / statues, these passages in both Exodus and Deuteronomy contain stern warnings against idolatry. Idolatry was a constant problem for the Israelites. It got them into trouble, perhaps more than anything else. It is possible to be near an image / statue and NOT worship it. But we have a very real warning about what can happen over time with images / statues. In 2 Kings 18:4, we are told that the very same bronze serpent that God COMMANDED Moses to erect had become an idol that the people worshipped, and it needed to be destroyed.
So, the question is not whether Catholics removed the second Commandment and split the tenth… the question is: “Is it spiritually safe living in a statue-infested environment (along with such an abundance of prayer to, and "honor" of, angels, saints and Mary)?”
I would say, “No.”
Hello again Russell,
ReplyDeleteThanks for answering my question.
How would you respond to passages such as Hebrews 9:23 and Malaki 1:11? Do these Scriptural references imply that the Catholic Eucharist would be important to the early church?
I will look forward to reading your comments on my "proof-texts"!
Thanks,
Jonathon
Hi Jonathon,
ReplyDeleteI see absolutely nothing in Hebrews 9:23 or in Malachi 1:11 that says anything about the Catholic Eucharist. If YOU do, please break these verses down for me and show me how they might refer to the Eucharist, without reading that back into the text. In other words, please use exegesis, and not eisegesis.
The Roman Catholic Church would have us believe that the sacrificial work of our Lord Jesus Christ is ongoing. It is believed by faithful adherents that His work is re-presented by the priest consecrating the communion elements during each Mass. However, the Scripture always describes His atonement as taking place in the past tense. Consider texts from the Book of Revelation:
ReplyDelete"And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth." (Revelation 5:6)
"And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." (Revelation 5:9)
"saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12)
If the sacrifice at Calvary and the sacrifice of the Mass are one and the same, then how come the Bible nowhere makes mention of such a concept? The past tense language occupied in the three quoted verses above are in perfect harmony with the emphatic "once for all" theme set forth in the Book of Hebrews. Additionally, Roman Catholic apologists contend that the words spoken by Christ concerning eating His flesh and drinking His blood are meant to be literal. Yet, the Old Testament does contain figurative references to eating:
"Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts." (Jeremiah 15:16)
Jesse,
ReplyDeleteYes, "continuing to offer" the sacrifice of Calvary is a scary concept! It is not for mere MAN to offer in the first place. It was Jesus' offering (of Himself) and His offering alone. And it was ONCE FOR ALL. How hard is that to figure out?
It's like trying to pay a debt that has already been fully paid. It is an INSULT to the Savior's work, suggesting that it isn't enough!
Are Catholics really willing to suggest that? Are they so loyal to "Mother Church" that they MUST accept this perversion?
I will continue to pray for them. I can only hope that the eyes of some will be opened.
Hey Russell,
ReplyDeleteI think an argument against the Roman Catholic Eucharist can be made from Daniel 9:24-27. It speaks of the Messiah bringing things to completion, i.e. transgression, sin, and iniquity by means of atonement. If the Messiah will bring an end to these things by His death, then the notion of the Mass as a perpetual sacrifice is contrary to that verse. It would fit with the entire chapter of Hebrews 10 and Christ's "once for all" sacrifice. Daniel 9:27 refers to Christ putting an end to sacrifices and offerings as well. Would you not find this argument interesting?
Hello Jesse,
ReplyDeleteIt’s good to hear from you.
I’m not quite sure how to answer your question, but the completion that Daniel speaks of, I think, is an utterly complete end of sin and transgression. The penalty for sin is indeed today completely paid for, but we’re still living in the midst of a sinful world. I think what Daniel is talking about is at the very end of time, when sin will be utterly destroyed and will never again be present with mankind.
As far as putting an end to sacrifices, I think this refers to the sacrifices that will soon be re-instated with a new Jewish temple about the time of the antichrist and his reign.
I believe that we have many other great verses to choose from that utterly destroy the concept of the Catholic Eucharist. It seems to me that it might be pretty much stretching the meaning of Daniel 9:24-27 to try and use it in this way.
Anyway, that’s my opinion.