HOLY COMMUNION
"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."
1 Corinthians 10:14-17 (ESV)
Below is a concise teaching on communion, presented in a question-and-answer format, authored by our pastor, Ryan Hart.
What is Holy Communion?
Families and cultures often have important traditions that include a meal together, such as a birthday gathering or a holiday party. To Christians, Communion is similar to that idea, but it holds a much greater significance.
It is an occasion where believers come together, sharing bread and wine (often grape juice in Protestant churches) in remembrance of Jesus and his profound work on the cross. It is a spiritual meal that fosters a deep connection both with one another and with Christ. It is a practice of the Church that has lasted for the past two thousand years and will continue until Christ returns.
The word Communion (or the phrase Holy Communion) is a description of the specific action of what is happening when believers gather together to receive The Eucharist. When The Eucharist is received, we are in communion (intimate association & spiritual fellowship) with Christ and other believers.
All Christians share some basic similarities in their views of Communion, although there are some different views of The Eucharist itself.
What is The Eucharist, and is that a Roman Catholic term?
The Eucharist originates from the Greek word eucharistia, which means thanksgiving.
On the night Jesus was betrayed, He began what the Church calls The Lord's Supper. He took some bread, blessed it, broke it, called it His body, and told His disciples to eat it in remembrance of Him. Following that, He took some wine, blessed it, called it His blood of the new covenant that is poured out for many, and told His disciples to drink it in remembrance of Him.
Christians use the term The Eucharist as a way to describe receiving the body and blood of Christ, through the elements of bread and wine (sometimes wafer and grape juice).
In this way, The Eucharist acts as a "vessel" of sorts for the body and blood of Christ. Just as a cup can hold liquid, The Eucharist can hold the presence of Christ. There are several common views among Christian denominations for what that means and how that plays out.
Many Protestant Christians tend to refer to the Lord's Supper as Communion or Holy Communion (what happens when we receive The Eucharist), while Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians tend to more frequently refer to the Lord's Supper as The Eucharist (the elements themselves).
The Eucharist is not exclusively a Roman Catholic term and can appropriately be used by any Christian to refer to the bread and wine (or wafer and grape juice) that has been consecrated and blessed.
What are the different views of The Eucharist/Holy Communion?
There are four common views that Christians have about The Eucharist/Holy Communion:
1. Transformation - Theologically this is known as transubstantiation. It holds the view that after the bread and wine are blessed, their substance is transformed into the body and blood of Christ, including His soul and divinity. Even though the appearance and taste of bread and wine remain, they cease to exist, and their substance is now that of Christ. This is the official view of Roman Catholic Christians. This view is also common among Eastern Orthodox Christians with the caveat that they tend to treat it with more mystery than Roman Catholics do.
2. Sacramental Union - This view holds that after the elements are blessed, the substance of Christ is present in, with, and under the bread and wine. The bread and wine remain fully bread and wine as a substance, while simultaneously being the body and blood of Christ. This perspective comes from Martin Luther and is common among Lutheran Christians.
3. Spiritual Presence - This view holds that believers spiritually commune with Christ through the sacrament by the Holy Spirit through faith. Rather than the elements physically becoming the body and blood of Christ, communion becomes a means through which believers participate in the life and presence of Jesus. This view is common among many Christians, including Anglicans and Reformed Christians.
4. Memorialism - This view holds that the bread and wine are not believed to undergo any change in substance; they remain ordinary elements. They are understood as symbols of the body and blood of Christ. This is a common view among Baptist and Pentecostal Christians. With this understanding, communion serves as a memorial of Jesus' sacrifice.
While Christians debate on how Christ is present in communion, all Christians affirm that the Lord’s Table is holy, sacred, and deeply important to the life of the Church.
Who is allowed to participate in Communion?
Participation in Holy Communion is open to all believers who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and trusted in His saving work through His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and promised return. You do not have to be an official member of Kingdom Church to participate in Communion, but we do request that if you are still exploring the faith and are not yet a follower of Christ you refrain from receiving the elements.
Personal perfection is not required. Humility, repentance, and faith are. Scripture teaches believers to approach the Lord’s Table with reverence, self-examination, and discernment as we remember and proclaim the Gospel together.
The Eucharist/Holy Communion is not something we casually “take,” but rather a gift believers receive with gratitude and faith. Before participating, Christians should prayerfully examine their hearts and approach the Table with sincerity, reverence, and worship.
What should I expect when I participate in Holy Communion?
You should receive the bread and wine with faith and expect to have a real encounter with Christ. Jesus Christ is our sole focus, and experiences with His manifest presence are secondary, but real, possibilities. Those manifestations can vary.
Some people might experience the profound peace of God upon their heart. Others might be overwhelmed with the tangible sensation of God's great love. Some may sense the joy of the Lord, while others may be caught up in the awe and wonder of His great mercy. Some may experience healing from sickness or disease in their body. Some might experience visions, some will become deeply thankful and filled with gratitude, and many people will undoubtedly sense His nearness to them.
We are not chasing a feeling; our focus is on the Lord Jesus, not ourselves. Yet, we receive The Eucharist in faith, and it is reasonable to expect an encounter with the Lord. He is good, and He loves us.
What are the Eucharistic views of Kingdom Church?
Our highest view is that Holy Communion/The Eucharist is meant to bring unity among believers, not division.
Therefore, we do not have an official aligned position among the 4 common views listed above. We have members of our congregation that come from various Christian traditions - Catholic, Assemblies of God, Methodist, Lutheran, Reformed, and more. You will find all four common views of Communion present in our church staff and congregation.
We do take Communion seriously and treat The Eucharist with the utmost sacred respect. Nearly every church service we have begins by participating in Holy Communion together to begin our worship service.