Hi. First of all, I'm a non-denominational protestant, not by choice but by the fact that military bases only offer a "general protestant" service that I've gone to since I can remember. All good, I don't care, I'm just glad to be a christan. Also, I have kind of a bias against the catholic church as being an unnesscesary, and beaurocratic institution between me and my lord, but I respect it as it is still a church, just a church with one hell of a presence in the world.
Anyway, yesterday, I decided that since I had been sleeping through alot of church services (at 10 in the morning, and I'm a college freshman, you know the deal...), I'd go with a few of my catholic mates to St. Johns. It was interesting: Aside from not knowing everything to say and from doing the cross on my chest backward a few times, I liked it and felt like I could fit in here for a while. Honestly. It was refreshing, the sermon-giver (not sure if it's a priest, preacher, or pastor in the catholic setting) gave a good, engaging sermon, and I liked the experience, and I plan on doing it again.
I told another friend of mine that I went, cause this guy's a die-hard catholic and we've had a few friendly debates on the subject: protestant v. catholic. He was kinda buzzed untill he asked if I did communion. "Of course."
Now the guy almost hates me for disregarding a sacred catholic rule (or something like that). Apparently, I have not officially acklowledged the wafer and wine as the true body of christ. Okay, sure, I still see the fact that it is in fact a wafer I'm eating, but for me it's a symbolism in which one must attach meaning to. Anyone can eat a wafer. Anyone can eat flesh, including christ's physical flesh, and still not be changed. It takes a mental effort to put meaning to the action, and that's my argument for accepting the wafer as a SYMBOL of christ, not his actual... left tendon. It's the true acceptance of christ into your life that matters, not the physical action attached. Besides, if I can do communion in a protestant church, then as a christian, why the hell shouldn't I be able to do so in another christian church?
After debating this heatedly, we're still friends and all, but he asked if I'd go to mass with him next week, in which I told him that if he doesn't have a problem with me taking communion as a christian does (but not a catholic), then sure. Needless to say, he doesn't want to go with me. Apparently, there are other physical beauratic actions that I must first undergo to partake in a christian ceremony that I've done for years. Whatever... Jesus wouldn't have wanted it this way.
I dunno, am I wrong in taking things literally here? Is it wrong for me to defile a stupid rule that a friend of mine takes personally if I can gain enlightenment from the church that I do this in? Does he need to chill out a bit? Or is the catholic church really the supreme authority of god and jesus that is unfortunately controlled and distorted by the minds of men (good-natured men, but still very imperfect). I guess I just want to know what people think here, go ahead, fire away
Anyway, yesterday, I decided that since I had been sleeping through alot of church services (at 10 in the morning, and I'm a college freshman, you know the deal...), I'd go with a few of my catholic mates to St. Johns. It was interesting: Aside from not knowing everything to say and from doing the cross on my chest backward a few times, I liked it and felt like I could fit in here for a while. Honestly. It was refreshing, the sermon-giver (not sure if it's a priest, preacher, or pastor in the catholic setting) gave a good, engaging sermon, and I liked the experience, and I plan on doing it again.
I told another friend of mine that I went, cause this guy's a die-hard catholic and we've had a few friendly debates on the subject: protestant v. catholic. He was kinda buzzed untill he asked if I did communion. "Of course."
Now the guy almost hates me for disregarding a sacred catholic rule (or something like that). Apparently, I have not officially acklowledged the wafer and wine as the true body of christ. Okay, sure, I still see the fact that it is in fact a wafer I'm eating, but for me it's a symbolism in which one must attach meaning to. Anyone can eat a wafer. Anyone can eat flesh, including christ's physical flesh, and still not be changed. It takes a mental effort to put meaning to the action, and that's my argument for accepting the wafer as a SYMBOL of christ, not his actual... left tendon. It's the true acceptance of christ into your life that matters, not the physical action attached. Besides, if I can do communion in a protestant church, then as a christian, why the hell shouldn't I be able to do so in another christian church?
After debating this heatedly, we're still friends and all, but he asked if I'd go to mass with him next week, in which I told him that if he doesn't have a problem with me taking communion as a christian does (but not a catholic), then sure. Needless to say, he doesn't want to go with me. Apparently, there are other physical beauratic actions that I must first undergo to partake in a christian ceremony that I've done for years. Whatever... Jesus wouldn't have wanted it this way.
I dunno, am I wrong in taking things literally here? Is it wrong for me to defile a stupid rule that a friend of mine takes personally if I can gain enlightenment from the church that I do this in? Does he need to chill out a bit? Or is the catholic church really the supreme authority of god and jesus that is unfortunately controlled and distorted by the minds of men (good-natured men, but still very imperfect). I guess I just want to know what people think here, go ahead, fire away