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Francis Chan turns towards a more historical and ancient view of Communion

...aching on Communion from around 2012, views which have clearly moved on since then towards a more historical view. Chan says he isn’t making any sort of “grand statement” here, and goes on to give a brief, if little distorted, overview of church history: “I didn’t know that for the first 1,500 years of church history, everyone saw it as the literal body and blood of Christ … And it wasn’t until 500 years ago that someone popularised the thought that it’s just a symbol and nothing more. I didn’t know that. I thought, ‘Wow, that’s something to consider.’” This part isn’t too far from reality, really, though a little over-simplifie...

Lent Day 34: Cyril of Jerusalem: Catechetical Lectures: Lecture XXIII

...turgy and Communion and is an exposition based on 1 Peter 2:1 1 Peter 2:1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Any of my liturgical friends may enjoy this one today. Cyril gives us a breakdown of the liturgy spoken in the church service when they are about to receive Communion. I couldn’t help but get a little excited when I read this lecture as it reminded me so much of my Anglican upbringing: the liturgy used in some parts, is word-for-word, which just goes to show how well preserved this has been down through the centuries. For example, in the Anglican order of service, the Liturgy of the Sacrame...

Creedal Christians: The Apostle's Creed

....org/wiki/Communion_of_saints https://www.fpcjackson.org/resource-library/sermons/i-believe-inthe-Communion-of-the-saints Tyrannius Rufinus’ Commentary – http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2711.htm Ignatius, Epistle to the Trallians, Chapter 9 – http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.v.iv.ix.html cf. Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, Chapter 1 – http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.v.vii.i.html Justin Martyr, First Apology, Chapter 13 – http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.ii.xiii.html Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 1, Chapter 10 – http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ix.ii.xi.html...

A Historic Easter Change Is Coming — But Will Protestants Get On Board?

...Anglican Communion. Historically, the disparity in Easter dates has been a visible manifestation of Christian disunity, and efforts to establish a common date have been ongoing. Previous Attempts  In 2016, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby expressed support for a fixed date for Easter, engaging in dialogues with leaders from various Christian traditions, including Pope Francis and Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew. He emphasised the importance of unity in celebrating the resurrection of Christ and hoped for an agreement within a decade, or at least before he retired. Recently uncovered scandals forced him to retire earlier than planned, so that dream isn’...

Lent Day 33: Cyril of Jerusalem: Catechetical Lectures: Lecture XXII

...rine that Communion is purely symbolic, and more towards the Real Presence idea that Christ is spiritually present in the elements. I think I've always leaned that way, but before I didn't know how to verbalise it, or know what to call it until recently. To me, this view makes the most sense, especially when you consider the seriousness of eating the Eucharist which Paul writes about to the Corinthians, otherwise, why would there be such dire consequences? 1 Corinthians 11:27-30Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of...

What does the word "Catholic" mean?

...  For many people today, non-Christians and (low church) Christians alike, when they hear the word “Catholic”, certain images spring to mind: the Pope, the rosery, Catholic school, big old churches buildings, choirboys, maybe monks or statues of Mary even; and sadly more recently, sex abuse scandals. But, generally speaking, all of these are actually aspects of Roman Catholicism — a particular branch of Christianity, and not what the word “catholic” truly means as we’ll see when examining how the early church used the word and what the original Greek word means. καθολικός (katholikos) The Greek word where we get the English word “c...