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2007-07-05 14:17:53 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

Mr. Pregnant
Please do not post such links on this channel. I know of at least two teachers in religion who tell their pupils to follow this series.

2007-07-05 14:26:17 · update #1

8 answers

"Sacraments are "powers that comes forth" from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are "the masterworks of God" in the new and everlasting covenant."

2007-07-05 14:24:44 · answer #1 · answered by stpolycarp77 6 · 1 0

The Latin word which we translate as Sacrament, is a translation of a Western Syriac (Aramaic) and Greek word which we usually translate as "mystery."

Sacrament really means a bond or covenant. The Greek word usually gets mistranslated as a "symbol." The problem is the Greek and Syriac word for symbol does not overlap with the English word much.

A symbol in English, such as stop sign, stands for another concept but is not the concept itself.

In Greek and Syriac, it is both the outer manifestation and the actual reality. In the Greek sense, you are a symbol or mystery. It is only through contact with you that we learn and experience you but we never fully experience you. Some of you is always known only to you. Some of you is not even known to you.

So Baptism is a sacrament because it is a sign and symbol of the reality of God, but it is also a direct connection or presence of God in early Christian thought. Ones sins were forgiven and you were healed not because you believed nor because you were magically forgiven but because you were in the complete presence of God and sin cannot dwell where God lives and is present. But that reality is hidden under the mystery of baptism and likewise under the mysteries of chrismation (called confirmation in the West), eucharist, marriage, holy orders, reconcilliation, penance or repentance, and annointing of the sick.

The idea is that Jesus is the medicine of Life and that all who participate in the mystery are participating in the Life of God and all who do are saved, necessarily.

So when a Catholic or Orthodox say that the eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus, they do not mean it symbolically as a Protestant would, but symbolically as an Aramaic or Greek speaking Christian of the first century would. Protestant ideas would have been completely foreign and unintelligable to early Christians, they simply lacked the cultural references and ideas.

Concepts of algebra that are necessary for Protestant concepts do not exist yet. If x=5, then x stands for the value five and is a symbol. To early Christians this substitution by symbol didn't yet exist, like the idea of a zero and therefore risk did not exist yet.

To give an idea of the varying levels of equality in English consider the following phrase:

"John and Tom have the same pet."

This could mean they are brothers and both share the same dog named Fido.

It could mean they just both have the same type of dog.

It could also just mean they both have dogs.

Old Christianity would insist that only the first meaning applied to the world sacrament. New Christianity would allow all meanings or only the last one or two. The differences are subtle, but important and underly why Catholics hold to such a strange literal reading of John's Gospel but Protestants who are 1500 years of learning later do not.

2007-07-05 15:21:42 · answer #2 · answered by OPM 7 · 0 0

A sacrament is an outward visible sign, of an inward spiritual reality.
In Catholic teaching there are 7 recognized sacraments:
3 of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Euchahrist.
2 of Vocation: Marriage, & Holy Orders.
2 of Healing: Reconciliation (Confession), & Anointing.

2007-07-05 14:26:43 · answer #3 · answered by Robert S 7 · 0 0

An outward sign instituted by Christ to communicate Grace,God's shared life with us.The 7 sacraments are:Baptism
Confirmation
Penance(Confession)
Eucharist
Matrimony
Holy Orders(Priesthood)
Anointing of the Sick

2007-07-05 14:25:04 · answer #4 · answered by James O 7 · 0 0

A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.

2007-07-05 14:26:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

"For by grace are ye saved..." Eph 2:8 - concerning salvation. it is not by sacraments. Salvation is a completely free gift from God- grace. "The grace of God leadeth men to repentance." Grace is not earned. It is not a reward. It is the choice of God because He is good and loving. It is different than mercy. Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve (punishment for our sins- death in hell) Grace is almost like a nudging reminder from God that He loves you. It can be shown in blessings, in promises, in the smile of a friend who really cares. In short- it is almost too simple and yet too complicated for words but once you find it- you will never forget it and you will know what it truly means.

2016-05-19 02:50:27 · answer #6 · answered by arvilla 3 · 0 0

In the Christian church they are baptism, marriage, communion. These are all sacred before God. I just asked my husband who is a Preacher.

2007-07-05 14:27:51 · answer #7 · answered by trainer53 6 · 0 0

Pray for this sad fat ugly loser >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Uj9l_Ti8Y

2007-07-05 14:20:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

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