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The Sacraments

The Sacraments. Part 5: Reformation Perspectives on the Meal. Luther & The Reformers. Basic theological concern is God’s grace To come to God clothed with the crucified Christ is to encounter God as love Thus, meal is gospel because Christ is present

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The Sacraments

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  1. The Sacraments Part 5: Reformation Perspectives on the Meal

  2. Luther & The Reformers • Basic theological concern is God’s grace • To come to God clothed with the crucified Christ is to encounter God as love • Thus, meal is gospel because Christ is present • Presence based on divine initiative, not human action

  3. Two Points of Contention • With Rome: nature of sacrifice in the Meal • Augsburg Confession (CA)written especially to deal with contention from Rome • ApologyofAugsburg Confession (Ap) amplifies, clarifies CA • With other reform movements: nature of Christ’s presence • Some of these disagreements hinted at in CA, Ap • Others addressed in person, other writings

  4. The Catechism • True body and blood of Christ • Instituted by Christ • Gives forgiveness of sins, life and salvation • Union of word of promise with bread, wine • Faith in promise is only necessary preparation

  5. The Confessions • The mass as gospel is directed toward people, not God • The sacrifice of the mass is Eucharistic (thanksgiving), not expiatory/propitiatory (“sin offering”) • The language is to be the vernacular • Must include communion of the faithful (private masses abolished) • Chalice restored to laity

  6. Luther and Zwingli… • Real presence • For Luther, Christ is truly present “in, with and under” the bread and wine • Sole point of contention with Zwingli • For Zwingli, meal transports us spiritually to heaven, where Christ is present • Worship stripped down to readings and prayers, with meal celebrated infrequently • Zwingli’s position becomes influential especially among “non-liturgical” Protestants

  7. …and Calvin • John Calvin • Primary concern is sovereignty of God • Deplored “idolatry” of the Mass, identification of God with something corruptible (bread, wine) • Humanity of Jesus, localized in heaven, is united with divinity of glorified Christ, which is universally available • Union effected by Holy Spirit • Thus, Christ is spiritually, rather than bodily, present

  8. After the Reformation • 16th and 17th Century Pietism focused on individual reception • Personal worthiness • Forgiveness of sins, i.e., individual absolution • The Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th Centuries reacted against this moralistic view of sin • Brought decline in both frequency and participation • Shortage of pastors led to infrequent celebration in North America

  9. Liturgical Renewal: 19th-20th Cent. • Protestant – • Sought to recover practice of 16th Century • Catholic – • Sought a return to 13th Century • Anglican – • Sought return to early (1st-2nd Century) church • Current ecumenical lit. renewal seeks to listen to theological insights of past, rather than blindly adopt cultural forms

  10. Next Time: (At Least) Five Things That Happen In The Meal

  11. Questions to Ponder • What should we call this meal? Why? • Who is invited? Non-Lutherans? Non-Protestants? The Orthodox? The unbaptized? Why or why not? • What about children? At what age? Why? • How often? Why? • Who presides? Why? • Wine or grape juice? Beer and pretzels? Why?

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