Comments on: “Mere” Symbols http://pursiful.com/2006/08/mere-symbols/ Darrell Pursiful's blog Mon, 14 May 2012 13:24:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: D. P. http://pursiful.com/2006/08/mere-symbols/comment-page-1/#comment-10 D. P. Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:49:10 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=6#comment-10 Derek, you raise an interesting question with respect to what we Protestants think we're doing when we give thanks over the bread and the cup. In my tradition, the usual procedure is to read the institution narrative and then offer a brief, extemporaneous prayer of thanksgiving. I can't say that I ever remember a minister <em>specifically</em> invoking the Holy Spirit or asking him to consecrate the elements. I would certainly be easier to make the kind of points I'd like to make if ministers in my denominational family had more words on record like those in the Second London Confession to which I could appeal. I doubt many Baptist preachers would admit that they pray for God to do things they know he isn't going to do! Derek, you raise an interesting question with respect to what we Protestants think we’re doing when we give thanks over the bread and the cup. In my tradition, the usual procedure is to read the institution narrative and then offer a brief, extemporaneous prayer of thanksgiving. I can’t say that I ever remember a minister specifically invoking the Holy Spirit or asking him to consecrate the elements.

I would certainly be easier to make the kind of points I’d like to make if ministers in my denominational family had more words on record like those in the Second London Confession to which I could appeal. I doubt many Baptist preachers would admit that they pray for God to do things they know he isn’t going to do!

]]> By: Derek G Shore http://pursiful.com/2006/08/mere-symbols/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Derek G Shore Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:39:13 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=6#comment-9 If we have called on the Holy Spirit to come and consecrate these elements...and we believe that he has...what, other than the real presence are we expecting to be there? We Protestants really need to get a handle on the sacramental nature of such things. If we have called on the Holy Spirit to come and consecrate these elements…and we believe that he has…what, other than the real presence are we expecting to be there? We Protestants really need to get a handle on the sacramental nature of such things.

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