Why make a big deal about Holy Baptism and The Lord’s Supper? Why is it so important that we do not concede any ground to those who say, “baptism is symbolic”? Or why did the church fight so many battles against those who would say, “the body and blood of Jesus in communion are symbolic”? Or “how can I explain closed communion, so it makes sense to my friends?” Why do these questions always seem to be popping up in the church and theological discussions with other Christians?
One reason why people try to explain the sacraments as being symbolic or explainable in a rational way is because the scriptures offer no explanation for the how of the sacraments. The nature of the sacraments is such that the bible doesn’t give us a formula for explaining how the miraculous takes place. How does baptism work? Explain to me how bread and wine become body and blood?
The reason these questions keep circling is because of the nature of the sacraments. The sacraments are defined as actions that 1. Our Lord commands us to do. 2. Attaches to it a physical element. 3. Gives a promise of forgiveness.
The very nature of a sacrament is such that it cannot be explained. There is no 1+1=2 formula for “understanding” the means of grace. There are instructions in the scriptures for administering and the benefits of the sacraments but there is no way to present to a person a set road map for making sure they understand the sacraments. The reason is because the sacraments require faith. They require faith because they give a promise of forgiveness of sins when one believes the promises given.
There is plenty of evidence that babies should be baptized in the scriptures. “Therefore, go to all nations making disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” But I cannot point you to a verse that says, “Baptize infants.” The reason is because God wants the promises of baptism to be received by faith. That when God gives faith and washes us of all our sins, we have this assurance by faith. This is good because then that means no one can explain the benefits of baptism away. No one can say, “Your baptism was a mistake.” Or “Your baptism didn’t work.” Or “You have out sinned your baptism.”
No, the benefits of baptism are built on the one who gives the promises, Jesus himself. “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” Titus 3:5. You can’t put the water in baptism under a microscope and see supernatural cleaning elements that will scrub sin from your soul. You can’t throw baptismal water on a witch, and they begin to melt. That last statement was pure theater but isn’t that baptismal imagery in the “Wizard of Oz”? My point is that baptism and it’s benefit all depend on who gives the promise and faith in that person, God.
In the Lord’s Supper the same is the case. I can’t show you a formula for how the bread and wine are the body and blood of Jesus. We can’t do an experiment to see anything divine about bread and wine. But you can see by faith. That’s why if a person doesn’t believe the words of Jesus, “This is my body…this is my blood for the forgiveness of your sins.” They eat and drink judgment on themselves. They eat and drink judgment because they don’t believe. It doesn’t take faith to see the Lord’s Supper as just symbolic.
Many denominations have resorted to believing that the presence of Jesus is symbolic in the Lord’s Supper. Why would they do this? Because when you say something is symbolic faith is no longer required. You don’t need faith to wrestle with Jesus’ words.
Also, with what is called “closed communion.” Closed communion is the historic (all Christian and non-Christian (Mormon) denominations at one time practiced closed communion) practice of Lutheran churches. I can’t though find a scriptural text that says, “Here is what you have to believe to come to communion.” Just like baptism and the nature of communion, the faithful practice of communion relies on faith. Faith in something that is not seen, the unity of the church.
The unity of the church is not something we can see. Certainly, we see people coming to church on Sundays. We see parking lots all over DFW on Sundays sometimes full, other times not so much. But the unity of the church cannot be seen. The unity of the church is Christ. So, with closed communion just showing up at church does not mean you are in unity with your fellow Christians. One person may think bread and wine is symbolic and the other may think the eating and drinking is symbolic. But I think it safe to say those two opinions are not in unity.
I said that the unity of the church cannot be seen. That is true in the strict sense. However, the unity of the church can be heard.
“The doctrine of the church is not abstract or floating, but concretely confessed, based alone on God’s work through the means of grace. Our Confessions take as a matter of fact that “our churches” are manifestations of the holy catholic church, not because of their own purity, but because of the purifying power of God’s word and sacraments. For this reason, Christians can be found wherever the gospel is found. “God be praised,” writes Luther, “a seven-year-old child knows what the church is: holy believers and ‘the little sheep who hear the voice of their shepherd’ [John 10:3]” (SA III:12, 2). In a very real sense, then, the church enjoys complete and perfect unity wherever anyone hears the voice of Christ, even if we rarely experience this unity here in time.”
Rev. Jason Lane, online article about the reformation at www.lutheranreformation.org.
The nature of the sacraments and the nature of the church is not something that can be scientifically or mathematically explained. The truth of the sacraments is received by faith given by the Holy Spirit. Think back even to your own journey. Perhaps someone pointed you to some scriptures that helped with your understanding of the sacraments or closed communion. That was the Holy Spirit guiding you. Or maybe like me you were just always taught these truths and as you became older you researched the word of God and rejoiced in the promises given.
Either way, your conscience can be at rest knowing that there is no way to explain someone into the faith. It is all the work of the Holy Spirit who works through means, “faith comes by hearing” Rom. 10:17.
The church is not here to make things understandable but to echo the words of her Savior. The church doesn’t understand everything but confesses the truth. This is the cross. How does it make sense that Jesus is true God and true man? How can we explain that the innocent perfect son of God gave his life for you and me, even the whole world?!!
So even if you struggle with these things, that’s ok. It is meant to push you to trust Jesus and his promises in spite of your doubts. “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief! Mark 9:24. It’s ok that you can’t convince someone right away of the awesomeness of the sacraments. However, be careful when you begin to explain the miracles of God apart from His promises. Be careful when you might be tempted to say, “Oh that doesn’t matter. It’s just symbolic.” Be careful when you toss out God’s word. Because when you no longer trust the promises of Christ what do you have? “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36.
See you on Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Ottmers