Monday, 11 August 2008
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Should Non-Believers Be Allowed to Take Communion?
While growing up in a Roman Catholic family, I was raised to believe that the Eucharist (communion) is literally the sacred body and blood of Christ. While I've since begun attending a Protestant church, which has a slightly different stance on the nature of communion, I still take the ceremony with utmost seriousness, as I'm sure the vast majority of my brothers and sisters in Christ do.
Is it super elitist of me to feel uncomfortable when a non-believer partakes in the Eucharist/Communion during church service? On the one hand, some denominations (such as Catholicism) are really strict on who can take it and who can't. I feel as if it's almost disrespectful when someone participates in a sacred ritual without realizing what it means to the religion's followers. On the other hand, I don't know if it's fair to call someone out for not knowing any better.
I won't pretend to be a theologian, a seminary student, or a church historian, so I can't say for sure what all the "rules" people have regarding the communion are, or even exactly what it's supposed to symbolize for each denomination. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the ceremony, I can say that my understanding of it is that it's a church ritual that reenacts Jesus' breaking of the bread during the Last Supper. In the Catholic church, we have this ritual in every Sunday Mass, during which the priest repeats Jesus' words: "This is my body, which will be given up for you" before we eat the wafer (the body) and take a sip of the wine (the blood.) Traditionally, only Catholics who have gone through the "First Communion" ceremony can take the Eucharist...I'm not exactly sure how it works in other churches, so if someone could enlighten me through the comments or something, that'd be great.
What I'm wondering is if church-going Christians in general have a problem with non-Christians partaking in this sacred ritual. I ask this because a couple of years ago, one of my non-Christian friends asked if she could attend Mass with me in remembrance of a family friend's death. Of course, I said yes, but I also asked her if she'd ever gone to a Catholic service before.
"Oh yeah, I've gone a couple of times," she said. "It's cool. I can do the hand-shoulder-forehead action, and I've had that cracker and wine thing too."
I didn't want to tell her, "Uh, actually, Catholics believe you shouldn't take the Eucharist unless you've had your First Communion ceremony..." for fear of coming across as an elitist and turning her opinion away from the faith....but I'm not gonna lie - I felt weird when I saw her do the Sign of the Cross and take the body and blood of Christ with the rest of us.
I ask myself, if I believe that Christ died for everyone and that God's grace is available to all people...then why did I feel so uncomfortable about my non-believing friend taking Communion? Maybe it's because she and I have talked about Christianity before, and she's rejected it...maybe it's because I'm more Catholic than I thought...maybe it's because the ceremony is intended as communion amongst believers only.
It's weird, it's just communion that gets to me. I really don't mind (maybe I even...like it...) when non-believers attend church, sing worship music, come to retreats, pray with me, or do other "Christian-y things," even when they have no intention of becoming a Christian...who knows, maybe people like it. I just don't like seeing sacred rituals treated like a novelty...like a thing to try or do.
I'm pretty sure that the next time I bring a non-believer to church, I still won't tell them what they can or can't do, unless it's blatantly disrespectful, like talking on their cellphones during the sermon or something. I can't judge why non-believers attend church or partake in our sacred rituals...but I still feel weird about it.
Maybe it's not just "a Christian thing." Back at home, in Taiwan, a lot of people who follow traditional Chinese beliefs light incense for their ancestors...I can imagine them feeling a little weird if someone who didn't follow their beliefs (such as I) just lit one and waved it around. At the same time, I wouldn't really want to light an incense stick for my ancestors since I don't follow traditional Chinese religion.
Do you feel uncomfortable when non-Christians take communion, or to be more general, when people who do not follow your religious beliefs still partake in things you consider sacred? What do you do in that situation?
Would you partake in another religion's sacred ritual?
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Comments (147)
This seems like the ultimate non-issue to me.
i've never seen a non-christian take communion. why would they?
Not according to the Bible!
I'm sorry, unfortunately I don't know my bible well enough, but is there anything saying "Those who don't know Christ as their personal savior may not partake in communion"? I also grew up in a church that said gently that non-believers should probably let the communion pass them by. However, now that this is brought up, I'm not sure if it says anywhere that communion is only FOR believers.
I visit the family church on special occasions such as Easter and Christmas to be there with my Mom cause it means a lot to her. No one ever says anything to me, I don't really enjoy partaking in it, but I do it out of respect. I would feel wierd going to a service and not partaking in their rituals. I feel that it's disrespectful. I hope it's not though.
What makes you think that a non-believer is automatically ignorant of your customs? That's mistake number one - assuming ignorance.
And also it is very elitist. Non-believers do it out of respect not out of ignorance. You shouldn't have issues with someone paying your faith respect, since that's what all religious people want; for people to respect the culture and nature of their religion.
Please consider other perspectives before you rant.
Honestly, I would feel incredibly awkward participating in another religion's sacred rituals, including communion (HOW many people drink at that same cup? EW.)
I was REALLY tempted one time in Europe, though, when I was really hungry to just take a chunk of bread. If I hadn't been there with the family I was staying with, I would have taken it, but I didn't do so, just out of respect for them.
@m1kyo@xanga - As a non-believer, I am very familiar with communion and what it represents. And as such, out of respect, I would never take communion unless I was specifically ASKED to do so. Seriously, to me, it's just a piece of bread, and I think it would be highly offensive to other people for me to eat it in their ceremony while they believe they are physically consuming Christ. CLEARLY, I don't believe that, so just being there when they do it is bad enough, but doing it myself just seems to be a mockery of their religion.
@m1kyo@xanga - Communion is symbolic of (among other things) the unity of the Church, that is, the body of believers, the body of Christ, those who are disciples of Christ and who are striving to follow him. It is the "breaking of bread together" that in older cultures symbolized deep unity and friendship (it used to be taboo to harm someone after you had eaten of his salt, in some cultures).
If nonChristians are allowed to partake of Communion, it renders the whole symbol meaningless.
It isn't respect if you violate the customs of the religion you wish to "respect." It wouldn't be respect for the Jewish faith, for example, for a nonJewish woman who wished to show respect for the Jewish faith to go into an orthodox synagogue and reverently touch the Torah. That would violate their customs, and thus show disrespect.
Likewise, if you as a nonbeliever wish to respect the Christian religion, you will refrain from partaking in communion.
I believe that communion is for all disciples of Christ. The Catholic church, however, believes that all other churches are not in correct communion with God, and thus the Catholic Eucharist is meant to only be for Catholics. This is their custom, and I have to respect that, even though it seems silly from my perspective: when I worship at a Catholic church I do not partake in the Eucharist.
@death_by_chocolat@xanga - 1 Corinthians 11 is what you want, I believe.
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an
unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of
the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. --St. Paul.
@brickmelinda@xanga - At many churches, they instruct people who haven't had their first communion not to take communion. I'm not sure how your mom's church is. But bottom line- if you feel uncomfortable, don't do it.
@haemina@xanga - Some think it's respectful and some are just hungry. lol.
@la_faerie_joyeuse@xanga - I know. I agree with you. Though there are situations where people try to get non-believers to participate. I'm saying they do so out of respect.
The Bible says: (1 Corinthians 11:27-31)
So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.
Churches can't police the heart condition of everyone who takes communion, but thinking about this passage, I personally wouldn't want to take communion lightly. I think it's an issue of each person's heart.
@ChrisRusso@xanga - If one non-believer participating is enough to render the ritual meaningless to you, then you are being a tad bit too elitist. Realize that non-believers don't just come into these rituals and do it. They're usually invited. You act like non-believers go in and eat bread to intentionally be disrespectful.
@m1kyo@xanga - It doesn't bother me if nonbelievers participate, but they are bringing judgment on themselves (1 Corinthians 11).
@Pickwick12@xanga - You do realize that they as non-believers don't believe that they're bringing judgment on themselves. You can't just say they're bringing judgment on themselves; you believe that judgment is being brought upon them.
@m1kyo@xanga - As a believer, I believe they are bringing judgment on themselves. I was speaking as if what the Bible says is true because I believe it is.
@Pickwick12@xanga - I realize. But when discussing such a delicate topic that is potentially insulting to both parties you should at least make an attempt to be politically correct.
@m1kyo@xanga - Elitism would be believing that Christians should be giving special treatment or favors for being Christian. This isn't so. This is believing that only Christians should be participating in an event that is the heart of Christianity.
Not to mention that for many branches of the faith, Communion is more than just a symbol, it is something literally sacred. (We can discuss Transubstantiation another time, though.) For a nonChristian to partake of it would (for them) violate the sacred aspect of it.
For me and my branch, it is a symbol yet more than a symbol. I don't think (and didn't say that) the whole thing is ruined if a single nonChristian partakes, but nevertheless, it shouldn't be open to everyone, and nonChristians shouldn't be invited to partake, no matter what their intentions.
@m1kyo@xanga - I disagree, but thank you for your perspective.
@m1kyo@xanga - Political Correctness is overrated and I avoid it whenever possible. When did "offense" become such a horrible thing?
Time it was, people could discuss something they disagreed strongly about without taking the issue personally... Time it was, they could even remain friends while doing so. I miss the days of Chesterton and Shaw.
to put this simply..
anyone can partake in communion...
but only the true believers in it will receive its graces.
I know that many don't think that the Eucharist is the true blood, body, soul, and divinity of Christ. If so then this issue does not belong to you and you have no right in arguing against the Eucharist and those individuals that do believe in it.
The Eucharist is the most beautiful part of the Catholic church. The Eucharsit is what connects us traditionally to the Fathers of the Church, it connects to those that first practiced the Christian Faith because it replays Christ's Sacrifice and love for Humanity as they saw it and experienced it.
To be able to receive the Eucharist is a Privelidge because it is the True Body, Blood, Soul, And Divinity of Christ.
those who don't believe it can receive it if they want but it'll only remain as bread and wine for them because they don't fully believe in it,
"believing is seeing"
@m1kyo@xanga - Apologies - I misunderstood.
@m1kyo@xanga - agree
@ChrisRusso@xanga - Elitism isn't about special privileges to believers, its about showing disdain or rather looking down in some way or form on non-believers. And quite frankly most non-Christians don't have much of a desire to partake. Why would they? You act like they're fighting to be able to partake in this ritual.
And it is sacred, yes. That can be respected.
Also political correctness isn't so much about sparing feelings as it is about being civil.
@me8523@xanga - Agreed.