09 November 2007
Old Lutheran Quote of the Day
The Eucharist is a symbol of the renewal of all things by Christ and in Christ. This is part of Christ's total sacramental design. By His own baptism, He hallows Jordan and all waters to be a saving flood and an abundant washing away of sin. By His own union with His bride the church He reflects this great mystery in the union of every Christian husband with every Christian wife and, in a fainter refraction of the mystery, in every human union where every act of unselfish giving of oneself in authentic love, no matter how fleeting, mirrors His love for the world that He has reconciled to God. By His separation to His service of man upon whom the Spirit's charism of priesthood is bestowed by the laying on of hands, Christ affirms His will that no potential harvest anywhere in the world be lost because of a lack of laborers - a point that the earliest Lutheran ordinals made very strongly. Through the reconciliation of the penitent in holy absolution He affirms that the door of hope and of rescue that the Holy Spirit opened in Baptism is never closed as long as life lasts. -- A.C. Piepkorn, *The Church* pp. 198, 199
I wouldn't have a problem with this quote if it weren't for the use of the word "symbol" and that the Eucharist is a "symbol" for renewal of all things by Christ...
ReplyDeleteWhy not speak definitively of what the Eucharist is, that it is a renewal of humanity by Christ?
Lutheran theology has become way too complacent in the past 150 years of speaking in terms of symbols and metaphors. Is it any surprise, therefore, that more and more Lutherans, both laymen and clergy, are speaking not of "This is my body" and "This is my Blood", but, instead, "this represents my body" and "this represents my blood"?
I suspect he's using symbol in its older sense: as the sign of a PRESENT (but hidden) reality; not as the sign of an ABSENT one.
ReplyDeleteHuh? Now, we have to argue about what the definition of symbol is?
ReplyDeleteIf it is a prsent reality, then simply say "the Eucharist is..." The word "makes" his premise make sense. Reducing the Eucharist to symbols, representations, signs, etc. only furthers non-Lutherans coming to the conclusion that Lutherans do not believe the bread is His body nor the wine His blood.
Christopher,
ReplyDeleteThere's much more history and meaning to the church's use of the Word symbol than what you seem to be operating with. May I suggest you consult Schmemann on the question? He's very helpful on it.