what you think of a person who is a Christian, but is not Catholic wanting to have Communion without being?

Question

prepared, or at least respecting what the Catholic Church says about having the FIRST COMMUNION? He does NOT understand that there are certain rules and as every Institution, should be followed and above all, respected. He did not listen to me, he went to the Communion without being ready to do so and told me that anybody can take Jesus home and offer Communion. It was for nothing to tell him about this and he says I am the blind one and that he knows better then most people do. Now, tell me.....what would you have done when a person just doesn't listen or respect your own beliefs?
Please, no jokes or judgement. This is a very serious issue.

Answer 1

I was raised Lutheran, and went through Catechism study and my "first communion" ritual. When my future hubby and I stopped at my Church Christmas Eve and he wanted to partake of communion, I had to inform him that he would have to speak with our Pastor first. My beau was very angry. He had been raised Catholic, but had changed to Baptist faith.
I understand that my Pastor would say that the person needs to understand the full depth of the sacrament and can not be entered into lightly, but....
Christ did not structure any rules to partaking of communion with His disciples. Christ looked to a man's heart. The communion was seen as showing the right heart for God, and understanding the message & meaning behind it - what it represents.
The Catholic Church (and Lutheran to a smaller degree) can be a bit ritualistic (even legalistic !) in their practice, thereby misleading the people into the crux of what these special occassions were designed for.
My hubby should not have been denied access to communion because he is Christian first, and whatever affiliation he belongs to is 2nd. And I am sorry that I did not go ahead and welcome him to join me.
So, it is serious, but should not be "used" to seperate man from God, in that, some special "studies" have to be done first. The Pastor/Priest repeats the verses of what occurred during the Last Supper, and all should be welcomed to partake who proclaim themselves Christian. Bar none.
God made laws, but His Son came "not to judge the World, but that the World through Him may be saved". Jesus is the love & sacrifice part of God, and all things that are of Jesus do not put 'pomp & ceremony' as first, but instead, Christ is the bridge between God & Man. Let nothing come between the two. Let not a matter of a 'ceremonial study' come between the Christian and Jesus' Holy Communion.

042307 8:43

Answer 2

Where in the bible does Jesus institute a ritual or law concerning communion? If I've read it correctly and I know I have, Jesus said that we were to eat the bread and drink the wine in remembrance of Him. There was no "getting ready" or ritual commanded for communion. Jesus is open to all that will come to Him. Not just for the few who have believed on Him and created all sorts of rituals and rules that have nothing to do with the bible. The bible says to whomsoever will, LET THEM COME. Many people come to Christ and they don't know any better or how to conduct themselves in Christ. Remember they are as new born babes!! We are not supposed to block their way! So until they understand better, if someone wants to take communion and they believe in Jesus Christ, what right has ANYONE to stop him or her from coming to Christ in that way? Remember, the Church is only to preach/teach the Gospel, not legalize it and put a bunch of restraints that Jesus never instituted upon people. And some churches wonder why the world is so against us now and why so many people are leaving the church. I'll tell you why....It's because the Church isn't even doing what Jesus Himself said is supposed to be done to draw people to Him, which is to lift Him up (teach about Him) and He (by the power of the Holy Spirit) will do the drawing.

Answer 3

I understand your viewpoint that Catholics feel that only Catholics should partake of Holy Communion. However, he probably is from a faith that practices open Communion, recognizing that Jesus did not invite just Catholics, but rather All Christians to Communion.

You did not state this specifically but I'm assuming you are girlfriend/boyfriend and you are Catholic and he is Protestant.

If you are in a serious relationship and both of you are firm in your religious beliefs, I'd recommend stepping back and taking a serious look at what's ahead of you.

While it is true that Catholicism and Protestantism are both Christian faiths, they have very different beliefs, Communion being one of the smallest differences.

Answer 4

I did not know Communion was just for Catholics. Every church I have ever went to took communion and I've never been Catholic.
yes it is very serious ceremony and you shouldn't take it if you have any sin in your life. But people just don't understand that or don't want to. I have even seen drug dealers come to church on Easter and take it. Some people let their children take it but I didn't when I was little. You can't tell some people things though, they know it all. I try not to let it bother me and let the Master take care of it.

Answer 5

he should have communion with a different denomination. Other denominations don't believe that communion/mass has to be performed by the priest, or that a "first communion" is required.

I prefer to just do it exactly as Jesus said : as often as you eat the bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. I don't really see mention of specific guidelines, so doing it how Jesus did it is the best bet: eat the bread and fruit of the vine in remeberance of Him, and not just for food.

disrespect is a bad thing at all times. Especially for the "don't cause your brother to stumble (1 Cirinthians 8)". so that wasn't right of Him, but let God be the judge of Him.

Answer 6

People take the Catholic Church and consider it the Christian Church, but if you actually check it against the Bible you will find many wrong practices. God's word is the guideline for the Christian life, not religious leaders. I take communion, but not catholic communion. It is a time to search myself compared to God's word and make changes.

Answer 7

Well, I'm not catholic but I go to a catholic school and instead when we have mass all of the non-catholics just take a blessing from the father. I guess it would be ok if he did it once and understood what he was doing because that is a big deal to receive the body of Christ. Oh I do take it at my church when they have it every other month.

Answer 8

Receiving the Most Holy Eucharist is the ultimate sign of the unity of Christ's Church. Those who are separated from the true Church, but who partake of the Eucharist, are in fact living a lie, acting as though they are in fact united with the Church Christ founded, when in fact vthey are members of manmade institutions formed through rebelklion against Christ's Church.

It is also a sacrilege to receive the actual body and blood of the risen Lord while treating it as nothing more than a bit of bread. Even some Protestant churches reserve communion to their own members, and in that case it IS only a piece of bread!
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Answer 9

Scripture is clear that partaking of the Eucharist is among the highest signs of Christian unity: "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Cor. 10:17). For this reason, it is normally impossible for non-Catholic Christians to receive Holy Communion, for to do so would be to proclaim a unity to exist that, regrettably, does not.

Another reason that many non-Catholics may not ordinarily receive Communion is for their own protection, since many reject the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Scripture warns that it is very dangerous for one not believing in the Real Presence to receive Communion: "For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died" (1 Cor. 11:29–30).

Answer 10

I've always wanted to walk into a Catholic church and do the same. It's a stupid rule. What, is the waffer going to sizzle on his toungue. I think if he was with you he should have respected you enough to not do it, but otherwise, lighten up, if Jesus and God and Holy Lady Mary whatever are all real, they either don't care or will enact the right and just punishment in its own time. How many people you think do that all the time and you don't know.