The Methodist also has a unique service for the Holy Communion. The order of service, however, is similar to that of the Baptists. The communion is usually held once or twice a month. It is normally held during or after the regular morning or evening worship thus there is a reading and delivery of sermons and prayers during this time. The Methodist refers to the Sunday on which there is communion service as ‘Sacrament Sunday’.
During the service the Priest says the words of Christ – “This is my body. This is my blood”- over the bread and wine in a prayer that reminds the people about the importance of the Last Supper. The people receive the bread and wine and a prayer of thanks giving to God.
“Go in peace in the power of the spirit to live and work to God’s
Praise and glory.
Thanks be to God.”
There exist a few differences between the Orthodox and the Methodist communions. One of the major differences is that some of the bread is not consecrated in the Orthodox liturgy. However, in the Methodist communion, the bread is consecrated.
The Orthodox liturgy is conducted in two parts (liturgy of the word and liturgy of the faithful), and is presided over by a Priest. In contrast the Methodist communion is conducted in one session and is presided over by a minister and occasionally conducted by laymen.
Most Christians believe that when we celebrate the Holy Communion we obey the commandments of God. Just as we require nourishment to remain alive so do we also need the Holy Communion? This spiritual food supplies us the strength and motivation to pursue the teaching of Christ earnestly. When we receive the Eucharist, we become united and share in eternal life. To the apostle Paul, the Eucharist is the way to build a strong Christian community. The way Jesus Christ meant it to be.
The Holy Communion cannot be discussed without first relating how it links to the Jewish festival of Passover and how the festival affected the lives of the Jews. The feast of Passover was first celebrated when God saved the Israelites from Egypt. When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God sent Moses to Pharaoh and instructed that the Jews be released. The King refused and God punished the Egyptians with various plagues. Pharaoh remained adamant and deceitful. God therefore caused the deaths of the first-born sons of each family. However, before this, he instructed the Jews to sprinkle the blood of the slaughtered and untainted lamb on their doors. The angel of death was to pass over the houses with this sign.
The last supper happened during the Feast of Passover. Christ shared his meal with his disciples offering them bread (his body) and wine (his blood). Various Christians build up a similarity between the Passover and the Holy Communion. Just as God saved the Jews in the Old Testament, God also saves the whole of humanity from sin through Christ. They believe that the Passover symbolizes the old covenant between God and the Israelites. However, the Holy Communion represents a new covenant between God and the whole of mankind.
Some Christian churches (for instance the Baptists) believe that the Eucharist serves as a form of remembrance of the sacrifices made by Christ for us to show unity as Christians. However other Christians like the Catholics hold the same views but they derive a deeper meaning from this. They actually see the consecrated bread and wine as the real body and blood of Christ. By saying the words of the last supper over the bread and wine Jesus is made present in a real way. This serves as a major difference between the Protestants and the Catholics idea of the Eucharist’s.
However, other denominations like the Lutherans believe that the bread and wine while staying bread wine were also the body and blood of Christ, since Jesus had said ‘this is my body ‘ and ‘this is my blood’. Luther meant that the bread represented two things, the bread and the body so also does the wine represent the wine and the blood. This is similar to carving a statue with a stone. It now becomes two things (a statue and a stone). In contrast, the Calvinist believes that the bread and wine did not change at all when they were blessed.
In discussing the Eucharist questions arise. One of these questions is to determine if the Holy Communion is practiced by all Christian denominations. Various denominations do not practice it.
The Salvation Army and the Quakers do not indulge in Holy Communion services. They argue that outward signs are not necessary. They believe that most Christians deceive them selves with the idea of Holy Communion and devote themselves to the sacrament more than to God. They believe that what actually matters is the way Christians accept Jesus Christ for themselves in their hearts.
William Booth, who is also the founder of the Salvation Army, includes practices such as child dedication and unnecessary religious practices, as practices which do not ‘save the soul’. The most important idea of the reformation is that all people are justified in the sight of God through faith in Christ Jesus. They believe that everyone who has sinned and deserves punishment. But, all forgiveness comes from God. Sharing the sacrament represents God’s love and forgiveness. It would be absolutely useless when one who receives Holy Communion remains faithless in Christ.
In conclusion, various Christian denominations practice the Eucharist while others do not, for different reasons. Also the Eucharist has been forced back to the feast of the Passover and both symbolize the relationship between God and Man. However, I support the view that ‘The manner in which you treat other people is more important than participating in The Holy Communion. The main teachings of Christ are summarized in these words ‘Love thy neighbour as yourself’. Therefore in abiding by Christ’s teachings, our focus should be the above instructions. Thus since the Eucharist is only but a mere symbolical representation of the unity Christ intends for the Christian society, it should be treated as such and not as a dogma. Based on the teachings of Christ, it is more important to treat your fellow human beings well rather than take part in Holy Communion.
