However, in my opinion, providing that you live a good Christian life, it is not necessary to show off your Christianity to other people. Church ceremonies and rituals also give Christians the chance to meet other Christians in the community. Christianity is very much a community religion and many long-lasting associations are made in a Church community. It is also a family religion and attending religious ceremonies in Church enables families to do things together.
It could be argued that not having these ceremonies would be helping to break down and eventually destroy the family tradition. This is something that affects society as a whole and contributes towards the breaking down of family values. The symbolic part of Christian rituals and ceremonies is also important as signs and symbols are important elements of human life. Whereas words and Bible readings may be difficult to understand, the symbols and signs used in Christian ceremonies mean something which can be conveyed easily to Christians from all walks of life.
I have already given a few of my own personal reasons for not needing to perform rituals and ceremonies in Church. Some people believe that the ceremonies performed in Church are not even biblical. In fact it is thought that Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas have come to be celebrated at times of year which are linked more to pagan rituals than to biblical events. If Easter celebrates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, why does the Easter holiday not fall on the same day every year?
Many people also believe that performing rituals in Church can lead to fanatical behaviour. For me the arguments for performing rituals and ceremonies in Church outweigh the arguments against. Whilst I believe that being a Christian is all about trying to live a good life and treating other people as you would like to be treated, I still think that it is necessary to have rituals and ceremonies in Church.
I believe that having these helps to bring families and communities together, which makes it easier for people to be Christian towards one another.
Get Full Access Now. See related essays. This is why they frequently celebrate it. In some Churches, only people who have been confirmed are allowed to participate in the celebration of Holy Communion, whereas in the Roman Catholic Church there is no such restriction.
This emphasises how Jesus had welcomed everybody in his own life and had. In the last of these plagues, an angel of death would come and kill the eldest son of every Egyptian family, but would pass over every Israelite home. One essentially important point is that at the Passover meal, a Jewish father reminds his children that they, not just their ancestors, were freed from slavery in Egypt by the Lord.
Thus Erasmus is supporting Luther's claim that it is not in the Pope's capability alone to interpret the Scriptures. Although their aims were dissimilar, the humanists must have indirectly contributed to Luther's popularity and must therefore take some of the blame for the eventual split with Catholicism. Basically, what was under concern was whether the Easter celebration must be observed on a Sunday or if it should be celebrated on the 14th day of Nisan, regardless of the day on which this date may fall.
This was the day on which the Jews celebrated Passover, which is. Paul believed that human nature is basically sinful. For that reason, he felt that people are unable to repent and live according to God's law. Yet Paul believed that human nature can be changed through faith in Jesus as the Son of God and belief in His power to forgive sin. But that's probably not much more helpful Here's another definition: A sacrament is an an action made holy or special because of its believed ability to demonstrate a religious truth, or a truth about God.
Think about it like this If they say "I love you", and put their arms round you and give you a great big hug, you get the truth of what they're saying in a different and more powerful way. A hug is an outward sign of the love they have inside.
Or take some of the saints of old who gave their lives for others. Saying that you love all humanity is one thing. Dying to save others is a very powerful way of acting out the truth of your words.
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Eucharist Last updated What happens The Eucharist is a re-enactment of the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest, and eventual crucifixion. Understanding the Eucharist A new covenant The Eucharist symbolises the new covenant given by God to his followers. According to the Synpotic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the Eucharist was instituted by Jesus, who said the following: Take, eat, this is my body Scripture provides no further instruction as to how or when Holy Communion should be performed.
In basic terms, Holy Communion is a ritual instituted by Jesus in which bread and wine are prayed over and then consumed by the faithful in memory of Christ. The holy meal is considered to be a sacrament in most Christian churches.
In particular, Christians agree that:. These beliefs diverge as to the nature of the Communion bread and wine, the frequency with which believers should receive Communion, who should serve Communion, who should receive Communion, what prayers should be said during Communion, and whether the Communion cup should be filled with wine or grape juice. This article attempts to provide an overview of two of the most debated issues regarding Holy Communion — the nature of the Communion bread and wine, and how often churches should offer Holy Communion.
The most disputed issue among Christian denominations regarding Holy Communion is what the bread and wine represent. Denominations such as the Catholic and Orthodox faiths believe in the doctrine of the Real Presence during Holy Communion.
This belief holds that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the essence or substance of the consecrated bread and wine transforms into the essence of the body and blood of Jesus during the Eucharistic prayer. Importantly, although the food elements become the true body and blood of Christ, the elements maintain their outward appearance of bread and wine for the sake of our human senses.
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