Communion (The Eucharist)

The Last Supper, by Bouveret - 1896

As I visited churches, I didn't always have Communion (the Eucharist) with them.  While some churches have The Eucharist (Communion) weekly, many have it monthly, and some have it quarterly.  So if I visited a church that held it monthly, or quarterly, I was not always there on their Communion Sunday.  On the other hand, if they held it weekly, then of course, I was there for that service.

However, all churches observe Communion (The Eucharist).  There is only one exception among the churches I visited, and that is the Salvation Army.  They do not observe it as part of their church service, believing it is merely an outward sign of an inward grace - that should be observed in the heart.  Quakers also do not observe this on the same grounds - but I did not visit them as they do not have a church in Petaluma.  All other orthodox Christian churches observe this.  So for almost all such churches, this is a point of unity.

Most Christian traditions also believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the elements (the bread [or host] and the wine).  That is, they really believe Christ is present in the elements, and the elements are not merely symbols.  On this point, there is unity in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican/Episcopal, and Methodist traditions.  While each may understand the Real Presence differently (another topic for discussion), they each affirm it.  While I do not want to overlook the different ways different traditions understand this, I would rather not focus on those differences.

The Baptist tradition (and those who stand in the Baptist tradition) denies the Real Presence - that is they believe the elements are merely symbolic.  However, they affirm that Christ is present during the Communion, as He is present throughout the entire service, since Christ said where two or three are gathered in His name, He is present.  (Matthew 18:20)

To be sure, all such traditions believe the elements, the bread and the wine, are to some degree symbolic, or signs, or represent in some sense - the body and blood of Jesus, especially since at the Last Supper, Jesus was still bodily present when he presented the bread and the wine to the apostles.  However, most traditions do not regard them as merely symbols.

In addition, all such traditions agree that The Eucharist (or Communion) is a memorial, or a remembrance. However, some believe it is only a memorial - while others believe it is a reenactment memorial, similar to how Israel reenacted the Passover as a memorial (somewhat similar to how we, as Americans, reenact Thanksgiving as a memorial to the first Pilgrims).

Some traditions believe the bread must be unleavened, while others accept leavened bread, and others leave it optional.  Unfortunately, at times, in Church history, there have been fierce battles over this, and some still see this as a point of contention (though many others accept either).

While some Christians, traditions, or churches, seem to focus on the areas of disagreement here, and argue forcefully about it, I, and many other Christians, traditions, and churches would rather focus on the areas of agreement here, and avoid an argument, if possible, without overlooking differences and diversity, and instead, promote unity here to the extent possible.

Finally, that leaves the issue about why some traditions call it Communion, while some call it The Eucharist.  Eucharist simply means thanksgiving in Greek.  All Christians agree there is thanksgiving in this celebration. Communion is a Latin word for sharing something in common - the Greek word is koininia - often translated fellowship in the New Testament.  So while some may see grounds here for disagreement, I see more grounds for agreement - all Christians would agree that the remembrance of the Last Supper is both cause for thanksgiving and something we share in common, and a basis for fellowship.