Theology 1.0: The four views on the Lord's Supper

Obviously not bread and wine

One of the major theological issues that divides the Christian world is the issue of the Lord's Supper. The four words "this is my body" (Luke 22:19) caused much arguments between the churches. Is God physically or spiritually present during the Holy Communion?

In this post I will summarise the four major views on this: (A) Roman Catholicism, (B) Lutheranism, (C) (C) Zwinglianism, and (D) Calvinism.

Pope Clement V

(A) Roman Catholicism

At the Communion table (with the ordained priest's blessings), the bread and wine are converted to the actual literal Body and Blood of Christ. This process is called transubstantiation. Thus, Roman Catholics believe that Christ is physically present during the Lord's Supper, while the bread and wine retain their appearance and taste.

By partaking in the Lord's Supper, believers enter a union with Christ and are therefore part of the true church.

(B) Lutheranism

Luther's view is sometimes called consubstantiation (but he did not use that term). He felt that the presence of Christ does join the bread and wine of communion in a "glorified body". No priestly input is needed.

He rejected the term "transubstantiation" (as it came from Greek philosophy) and argued that Christian faith should be separate from reason (i.e. Aristotle's philosophy). He also argued that any attempt to deny Christ's physical presence is to overwrite His actual words "This is my body."

Institutes of Christian Religion by John Calvin

(C) Zwinglianism

Zwingli's view is often called memorialism. Zwingli argued that Christ was present symbolically, rather than physically in the bread and wine. Therefore Christ's presence is already present by partaking in faith, so Christ did not need to be particularly present during the Holy Communion. The bread and wine symbolises spiritual assets.

(D) Calvinism

Calvin takes a position that Christ is present spiritually but not physically. Sometimes called virtualism or receptionism, The Body and Blood of Christ are thus sacraments or vehicles of grace to allow believers to participate in the body of Christ.

Conclusion

Regardless of your church's tradition, remember to take the Holy Communion seriously, and in remembrance of Christ's love and sacrifice for us.

For more information:

Simply Put

Inview

Two Pilgrims

Theology 1.0: The meeting of Luther and Zwingli

Martin Luther, German Reformer

The first official meeting of Protestants
As mentioned in my Reformation post, both Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli led the Protestants movements in Germany and Switzerland respectively. As the enemies of Protestantism gathered, the political supporters of the Reformation found it practical to attempt to unite the differing Protestant camps. Thus from 1st October to 4th October 1529, the two leading Reformers Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli met at Philipp I of Hessen's castle in Marburg. This event was known as the Marburg Colloquy.

Were Luther and Zwingli agreeable?
While Zwingli had read Luther's works before, he often claimed to have come to the doctrine of justification by faith alone independently (Reeves, 2009). This claim seemed to be supported by how Luther and Zwingli presented their doctrines. For instance, while Luther argued that humanity inherited guilt when Adam sinned, and thus needs Christ to be clothed in His righteousness. Zwingli on the other hand believed that each time we sin we are more guilty but Christ makes us righteous in ourselves. In fact a generalisation between Luther's and Zwingli's theology would be the statement "agreeable, but in a different way".

So it was not a big surprise at the Marburg Colloquy that the two Reformers found themselves in agreement with 14 out of 15 articles of faith. The one they could not agree on is the Lord's Supper.

Luther's view
Although Luther rejected the Roman Catholic's view of 'transubstantiation' (that Jesus Christ Himself was physically present at the Lord's Supper), he upheld instead a view of sacramental union (that bread and wine are both sacramentally in union with the body and blood of Jesus). In other words, God both reveals and hides Himself at the same time. While sounding only superficially different from the Roman Catholics, Luther seemed to be happy to alter the understanding behind the practices without changing the rituals.

Zwingli's view
For Zwingli, God's presence at the Lord's Supper was largely symbolic. In other words, the Lord's Supper is a public testimony to affirm the grace of God. Due this view, Zwingli's supporters tended to have simple ceremonies during the Lord's Supper, as compared to Luther's and the Roman Catholics'.

Why so serious?
To the most readers, this one difference seemed rather trivial and the Reformers looked unnecessarily pedantic. However, this disregards the point that both Luther and Zwingli were willingly to tolerate their differences in theology in their 14 articles of faith they agreed upon. Despite the political pressure, both Luther and Zwingli were unwilling to compromise on an issue they felt was essential to the understanding of the Christian faith.

To Luther, making the Lord's Supper symbolic was a compromise to the doctrine of justification by faith alone. To make this sacrament commemorative for Christians to be reminded to do something, would give a doctrine of works. Furthermore, Zwingli took away the true meaning of celebrating the Lord's Supper.

To Zwingli, Luther was being irrational. Zwingli affirmed God's omnipresence and omnipotence by stating that God is not simply present only at the Lord's Supper. Zwingli also felt that Luther was too afraid to cut ties with Rome and leave the old ways.

Conclusion of Marburg
After harsh words were exchanged over the days, Luther and Zwingli wept together and forgave each other for their bitter tones. Both agreed that the Reformations in Luther's Wittenburg and Zwingli's Zurich would go their separate ways.

One thing learnt from studying the event is that the leaders of the Reformation were willingly to tolerate varying beliefs, but were unwillingly to compromise on whatever they felt were vital to Christianity.

Let's pray that the Lord's Supper would proclaim the body of Christ broken for us, and let's not slip into the temptation that makes it purely ritualistic.

References
Reeves, M. (2009) The Unquenchable Flame

For further reading
Luther VS Zwingli