communion...?

Question

is there a reason why christians pretend to eat flesh and drink blood? does this sound gross to anyone else? cannibalistic maybe?

Answer 1

When Jesus first pronounced that none can be saved unless they eat his flesh and drink his blood, many of his followers found it just as you said, too gross to believe, and they stopped being his disciples.

Yet it is believed that he was talking of symbolically eating and drinking his flesh and blood.

The reasoning is this: the sacrifices of the Old Testament were eaten by those making the sacrifice, along with the priests. The sacrifice was a communion (fellowshipping) with God -- that is, like eating at God's dinner table as a guest.

Jesus's sacrifice (his death on the cross) was the fulfillment of the Passover Sacrifice; Jesus died at the exact time the Passover Lambs were to be killed. He gave his disciples the symbols of bread and wine as representing his body and blood so that he could show that there is a fulfillment in the Passover ceremony -- a lamb was no longer necessary because Jesus was the Lamb of God, "sacrificed for us" (1 Cor 5:7).

So, when Christians partake of the Passover, they are sharing in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ -- fellowshipping (communing) with God.

Answer 2

You are not alone in your line of thinking. That's what the "Jews" in Chapter 6 also thought when Jesus was speaking. Not only that, some of his disciples were thinking cannibalism and they left Jesus! See John 6:60-66.

No doubt that it required faith from the followers that stayed with him. It still does today, but at least we can more easily connect the dots, having already the connect between his sacrifice on the cross and the image of the Lamb that was slain, and how the Passover feast foreshadows this sacrifice and communion. Through eyes of faith, we understand that the Bread and Wine become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ and that by partaking in this meal, we really and trully become one with him and each other.

Answer 3

Catholics at least, don't pretend. We have God's word that what we consume is his authentic body and blood, under the appearances of bread and wine.

But what we eat isn't dead flesh. It's the risen and glorified flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, and as such, it's true food and true drink.

And since the real presence of Christ lasts only as long as his substance does, after about 15 minutes or so, only God's grace remains, so "cannibalism" is not an issue.

And it's not gross at all. It's the best experience anyone can have in this world.

You should try it.

Answer 4

Only Catholics state that the bread is actually the body and the wine is actually the blood of Christ.

Most Christians, however, believe that Communion is spiritual and symbolic.

Nothing cannibalistic at all.

Answer 5

On this Earth when we eat food , it becomes part of us. When we eat the Heavenly Bread Jesus we become a part of him. Yes we Catholics do eat him in reality that is why we are of the Body of Christ here on Earth but the other denominations only eat a symbol. It is up to the Lord of course who he will save and who he will not but, I wouldn't have wanted to be a Jew in the time of the Passover and only eat a symbol of the sacrificed lamb and I wouldn't have wanted to throw grape juice on my door.

Answer 6

Symbolistic of eating of the truth. (Jesus)

There is a pattern in the Bible of truth being likened to food that we eat and Jesus is that truth. Communion is a manifestation of this theme where we remember the sacrifice that Jesus paid for us.

Answer 7

It is kind of gross if you think about it in a non-religious way.
Mainly, taking of the body and blood of Christ is to share in the "divinity" of Christ.

Answer 8

It's ritualized cannibalism. It is consumed to bring the spirit of christ into you. Much like the headhunters... it's all about consuming the spirit.