Communion and Non-Catholics

Those who are not Catholic should not take communion at a Catholic Mass. Unfortunately I have seen family members who are not Catholic go to communion anyway. The Church explains that the belief in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist is our faith and those who do not share our faith, those who are not in communion with us, should not take Holy Communion with us. If it is a sign of communion we should be in communion first. If we are not in communion we cannot show a sign of communion. This would be a contradiction.[1]

This is a hard subject to talk about. We do want unity and we pray that some day we shall all be one like Jesus prayed.[2] We want ecumenism but we do not want to water down our faith. We do love our sisters and brothers in Christ. We do not want to hurt anybody’s feelings and it is hard when members of the same family do not share the same faith, especially the faith in the Eucharist. It has been particularly difficult for me to come to a point where I needed to write the following.

Is the Catholic Church wrong? What business does she have telling people what to do? Is the Church prejudiced against Christians of other Traditions? If this is a sign of unity and we want unity why should we refuse this sign of unity? Someone even said to me not to worry as she had prayed to the “Holy Spirit” and He had said to her
it was alright. So why should I go against what the “Holy Spirit” said? The answer is very simple Holy Communion is not wishful thinking of future unity that might never happen, on the contrary it is a sign of unity that already exists, “one bread, one body, one faith” said Paul.[3] Only those who believe Holy Communion is truly the “one bread, one body” of Christ are truly “one faith.” Truly the Holy Spirit would not ask any one of us to pretend we are united when we are not. But there is more to this.

Is the Church prejudiced? No. People do not always understand the implications of what they do. Actually when the Church asks Non-Catholics not to receive Holy Communion she does this out of love. I will try to explain the Catholic position by appealing first to Scripture and then to common sense. Let’s review what Catholics
believe and compare this to the first letter to the Corinthians, chapters 8 through 11.[4]

What Catholics believe

The Mass is the re-presentation of the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary where He shed is blood once and for all for the redemption of the world. At the Last Supper He taught His apostles that the bread He was handing them was His body given up for the many. As Catholics read the scriptures literally this means that the bread consecrated at Mass is the Body of Christ. Jesus speaks in the present tense, therefore the sacrifice of Christ starts in the Upper Room and ends at Calvary. It is one event. The Mass
(Upper Room) is a sacrifice (Calvary). The bread is the flesh, the body of Christ.[5] If this sounds amazing, insane or pagan does not matter here; that would be the
subject of another article. Here we are concerned with what the Church believes, not whether she is right or not in her belief. After the host is consecrated the body, soul and divinity of Christ (the whole person) becomes present in the Eucharist and then we partake of His body and life.

The Sacrifice (1 Corinthians, chapters 8 through 11)

1 Corinthians, chapter 8 - Idolatry

Some Non-Catholics believe that because the Church teaches the Mass is a sacrifice she is actually performing a pagan ritual. It is logical therefore to think the bread and wine, flesh and blood offered in sacrifice at Mass is offered in sacrifice to an idol. In chapter 8 of the first letter to the Corinthians takes up that theme in the context of food offered to idols. The text in the second column is the KJV, the third column is paraphrasedfor clarity.

1Co 8:1 Now concerning
those things that are sacrificed to idols: we know we all have knowledge. Knowledge
puffeth up: but charity edifieth.		 Now regarding what is sacrificed
to idols: we know what they are. But we need to remember knowledge can make us
full of pride whereas love builds up.

What is Paul saying? If we replace the word “meat” offered to idols by the word “bread and wine” offered to God then this would apply to the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church saying the “bread and wine” is Jesus would be committing idolatry. What is Paul’s logic? If you know that this is only bread and there is no other
gods than God then it should be alright to eat it. Fair enough but think about this: not all Christians have your knowledge and some seeing you take communion
might think it is alright to eat bread and wine sacrificed to an idol. That becomes a stumbling block to your brother and you will be responsible for his spiritual
death. The technical term for leading someone by bad example is “scandal.” Remember Jesus’s warning to those who bring scandal and weaken others in the faith (Luke 17:1-2): “And he said to his disciples: It is impossible that scandals should not come. But woe to him through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.”[6] Don’t bring scandal to others. Don’t take Holy Communion in a Catholic Church.

1 Corinthians, chapter 9 - Freedom in Christ

In First Corinthians chapter 9 Paul then explains that being free in Christ is no excuse to offend others.

1Co 9:1 Am I not
I free? Am not I an apostle? Have not I seen Christ Jesus our Lord? Are not you
my work in the Lord?		 Am I not I free? Am not I an apostle?
Have I not seen Christ Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

What is Paul saying? Yes, we are free in Christ but more importantly we are servants for others. Our freedom is to save and serve others not to offend them. We must
control our body, our freedom, our beliefs. Applying this to Holy Communion, even if we know this is mere bread we still have no excuse when we offend others. We
have to control ourselve, it’s not about my needs but about other people’s needs. Our knowledge of the Gospel and our Christian freedom is not for my own glory but for other people’s sake. Otherwise our knowledge and preaching is in vain and we can lose our salvation. Don’t misuse your freedom. Don’t take Holy Communion in a Catholic Church.

1 Corinthians,chapter 10 - Don’t share with the devils.

In chapter 10 Paul expands his teaching on freedom, sacrifices to idols, Christian unity and Communion.

1Co 10:1 For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under
the cloud: and all passed through the sea.		 Remember, brothers, that at the time of the Exodus all the Hebrews were protected
by the cloud and passed through the Red Sea;
1Co 10:2 And all in Moses were baptized,
in the cloud and in the sea:		 In Moses
they were all baptized in spirit and water
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same
spiritual food:		 and all ate the same
spiritual food
1Co 10:4 And all drank the same spiritual drink: (And they drank of the spiritual rock
that followed them: and the rock was Christ.)		 and the same spiritual drink, that is to say they all drank the same sacramental
rock: Christ Himself.
1Co
10:5		 But with most of them God was not
well pleased: for they were overthrown in the desert.		 They all practiced the same sacraments but God was not pleased with all of
them. Eventually they all died in the desert.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were done
in a figure of us, that we should not covet evil things, as they also coveted.		 This is an analogy for us not to do evil
1Co 10:7 Neither become ye idolaters,
as some of them, as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink and rose
up to play.		 Nor to become idolaters like
some of them were.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted and perished by the serpent. Don’t tempt Christ and die like some of them did.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened to them in figure: and they are written for our
correction, upon whom the ends of the world are come.		 These things are analogies to us, for our own benefit.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore, he that thinketh
himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall.		 Don’t think of yourself as once saved always saved or you might fall.
1Co 10:13 Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will
make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.		 Let no temptation take hold on you.
1Co 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved,
fly from the service of idols.		 Run away
from idolatry.
1Co 10:15 I speak as to wise men: judge ye yourselves what I say. Think about what I am saying. I am talking about Communion.
1Co 10:16 The chalice of benediction which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood
of Christ? And the bread which we break, is it not the partaking of the body of
the Lord?		 The chalice of blessings is
that not the communion of the blood of Christ? And the bread we break, isn’t
that the sharing in the body of the Lord?
1Co 10:17 For we, being many, are
one bread, one body: all that partake of one bread.		 Although we are many we are one body because we share the same bread.
1Co 10:18 Behold Israel according to the flesh. Are not they that eat of the sacrifices
partakers of the altar?		 Okay, let me
explain it plainly. In all religions and even in the religion of Israel, those
who eat sacrifices share in the altar.
1Co 10:19 What then? Do I say that
what is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? Or that the idol is any thing?		 So what am I saying? That sacrifices to idols mean anything?
1Co 10:20 But the things which the heathens sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not
to God. And I would not that you should be made partakers with devils.		 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to devils not to God. Don’t
share with the devil.
1Co
10:21		 You cannot drink the chalice of
the Lord and the chalice of devils: you cannot be partakers of the table of the
Lord and of the table of devils.		 You
cannot drink at the same time the chalice of the Lord and the cup of the devils.
You cannot eat at the same time at the table of the Lord and the table of the
devil.
1Co 10:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? All things are
lawful for me: but all things are not expedient.		 Don’t provoke the Lord. All things might be lawful for me but not all
things are good.
1Co 10:28 But if any man say: This has been sacrificed to idols: do not eat of it, for
his sake that told it and for conscience’ sake.		 If some one says: this has been sacrificed, do not eat it, for their sake and
their conscience.
1Co 10:29 Conscience I say, not thy own, but the other’s. For why is my liberty
judged by another man’s conscience?		 ItÂ’s not about your conscience but theirs.
1Co 10:32 Be without offence to the
Jew, and to the Gentiles and to the church of God:		 Don’t offend Jews, pagans or the Church of God.
1Co 10:33 As I also in all things
please all men, not seeking that which is profitable to myself but to many: that
they may be saved.		 Don’t think
about yourself but think about what will save others.

What is Paul saying? Remember the Israelites. They all had the same covenants. As an analogy and to our own sacraments (baptism, bread and wine) they all received
the same graces. But it is not the grace we receive that makes us justified in God’s eyes but what we do with the grace. All the Israelites received the same graces but God made them perish in the desert. Don’t be idolaters like they were. Don’t tempt Christ, don’t think you are saved or you might fall. Run away from idolatry. This is our faith: the cup is communion in the blood of Christ, the bread is sharing in His body; we are one body because we share the same Eucharist. What is Paul saying? If you don’t believe this then why do you want to share bread with demons? Don’t provoke God. If the Catholic Church says this bread has been sacrificed then don’t eat it for their conscience’s sake. Don’t offend others and don’t offend the Church of God. Don’t think of yourself but think of others, if you care about their salvation. Don’t take Holy Communion in a Catholic Church.

1 Corinthians, chapter 11 - Recognize the Body

In chapter 11 Paul stops explaining, and takes the gloves out. No punches held back. Straight to the point.

1Co 11:17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that
ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.		 Now in giving you the following instructions, I cannot praise you. When you
get come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
1Co 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be
divisions among you; and I partly believe it.		 When you assemble in church, I hear that you are divided and I believe it
1Co 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may
be made manifest among you.		 because there
must be heresies to test the faithful.
1Co 11:20 When ye come together therefore
into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.		 When you assemble together it is not to eat Holy Communion.
1Co 11:21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one
is hungry, and another is drunken.		 Everyone
eats his own food before the others. Some go hungry and some are drunk.
1Co 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of
God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you
in this? I praise you not.		 Don’t
you have houses to eat? Or are you here to despise the Church of God? How can
I praise you?
1Co 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That
the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:		 This is what I have received for the Lord and what I taught you. The night
he was betrayed the Lord Jesus took bread,
1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks,
he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for
you: this do in remembrance of me.		 and
giving thanks, He broke it and said: take and eat, this is my body, which shall
be delivered for you. Do this in Memory of me.
1Co 11:25 After the same manner also
he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament
in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.		 In the same manner He took the cup, after supper and said: this cup is the
New Testament in my blood. Do this, as often as you shall drink, in Memory of
me.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s
death till he come.		 For as often as you
shall eat this bread and drink this cup, you shall proclaim the death of the Lord,
until He comes.
1Co 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the
Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.		 Therefore whosoever eats this bread and drinks this cup unworthily is guilty
of the murder of Christ.
1Co
11:28		 But let a man examine himself,
and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.		 Examine your conscience first and then share in Holy Communion.
1Co 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to
himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.		 Because those who eat and drink Holy Communion unworthily drink judgement and
damnation on themselves, because they do not discern the body of the Lord.
1Co 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. That’s
why some among you are sick and others are dead.
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves,
we should not be judged.		 Judge yourself and
you shall not be judged.

What is Paul saying? Holy Communion is not a mere meal. Examine your conscience. If you do not recognize the body of Christ you eat and drink death and damnation upon yourself. What does Paul mean when he say the “body” of the Lord? In the New Testament “body” can mean either the Church or the actual incarnate flesh of Christ. If the “body” of Christ is a symbol of the Church and I don’t recognize Communion as a symbol of the Church then why should I die? We might fine someone who burns the American flag because it is the symbol of the American people but we do not condemn people who burn the flag to the electric chair. On the other hand if we even attempt something against the body of the president that’s a different story. Why? Because the president is not a symbol, the president is a person. Why then, does disrespect for this “body” merit damnation? What kind of “body” is this? A symbol or a person? If you don’t believe this is the body of Christ don’t take Holy Communion in a Catholic Church.

Paul’s Teaching

To summarize, this is what Paul believes. The cup of consecrated wine is the blood of Christ and the bread is His body (1Co 10:16). If you don’t believe this, it’s okay, just don’t share Holy Communion with those who believe it (1Co 10:20-21). If you think you can receive communion, think about this. Don’t become proud and arrogant because of your knowledge (1Co 10:5 and 10:33). Have respect for others and their Church (1Co 10:32). If someone with a weaker faith than yours sees you doing this (1Co 8:10) you might destroy their faith and this will be on your conscience (1Co 8:11-13). At best you are committing scandal (1Co 8:9-10), at worse you are committing idolatry (1Co 10:7). If you “know” the Eucharist is a sacrifice and you believe this is “idolatry” then you are sharing communion with the devil (1Co 10:21). Finally, this is really the body and blood of Jesus (1Co 10:16) but if you don’t believe that it is the body of the Lord then don’t eat it or you bring damnation on yourself
(1Co 11:29).

Common Sense

I tried to use Scripture to explain why Non-Catholics should not receive Holy Communion at a Catholic Church. This is also true for Catholics. Catholics should not receive Holy Communion in a Non-Catholic church. The same rules and explanations apply. The difference is that Catholics should know better and therefore have a greater sin to answer for.[7] On the other hand someone might disagree with my interpretation of those four chapters of the first letter to the Corinthians. Then let’s see if I can use some simple common sense.

I could use the argument “my house my rules.” The Catholic Church the Catholic rules. I am a guess I should follow my hosts rules. This should be enough for me to stop taking communion in someone else’s church. This would be common sense and common courtesy. But there is still some more.

After the priest consecrates the Eucharist, he makes the altar call and invites the congregation to come and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. People line up down the aisle and go receive Jesus in their body, their heart and their soul. When the person reaches the priest, there in front of the whole church at the altar of God, the priest says “the body of Christ” and the person answers “amen” (yes, truly, I believe it, let it be so).

So my brother and sister is it really the Holy Spirit who said “yes, don’t worry, it’s alright to receive Holy Communion.” Is it alright if you do not believe that the Eucharist is the body of Christ, for you to say to the priest, in front of the whole church, at the altar of God, yes you do believe it is the body of Christ? Can the Holy Spirit say “yes, don’t worry, it’s alright to lie to the priest, in front of the whole church at the altar of God?” Test the spirit. What kind of spirit is this?

Am I saying any of this? No, Paul is saying it. Don’t commit scandal or idolatry. Don’t use your freedom in Christ for your boosting but use it for the salvation of others.
Don’t share with the devil. Don’t commit perjury and if you don’t believe the Eucharist is Christ’s body don’t bring judgement on yourself.
Just don’t receive Holy Communion in a Catholic Church.

[1] http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/q&a/mass/communion.shtml

[2] John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent
me. (Notice this is essential as it is Jesus’s last prayer/will before being arrested; notice also that unity is a condition for the world to truly believe Jesus is sent by the Father. How much stronger can Jesus stress the need for unity among Christians? But unity has to be in truth if Jesus be the Truth.)

[3] 1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (But are we really one body? We are not. If the bread is only
a symbol are we symbolizing a unity we do not have? Paul speaks at the present tense not the future).

[4] Yes, this is not based only one verse of Scripture. It is based on four entire chapters sometimes directly but sometimes indirectly with this same issue. Even when treating the subject indirectly Paul’s thoughts, principles and teachings do apply to the subject at hand.

[5] John 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. See also the whole context John 6:31-71. How many times does Jesus has to tell those who cannot believe this “verily, verily, I say unto you?” Notice also that Judas is singled out as the traitor, here in the context of Bread of Life discourse.

[6] Rom 14:12-15 Therefore every one of us shall render account to God for himself. Let us not therefore judge one another any more. But judge this rather, that you
put not a stumbling block or a scandal in your brother’s way. I know, and am confident in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if, because of thy meat, thy brother be grieved, thou walkest not now according to charity. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. See also Mat 16:23, Mat 18:7, Rom 14:12-15, 1 John 2:10.

[7] Luke 12:48 For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.