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"Do Methodist believe in transubstantiation?" Eric P, Noonan, GA
Well Eric, allow me to break from custom and give an explanation before I give an answer. For those who do not know, Eric is inquiring about a doctrine that deals with the presence of Christ during the Eucharist, or Holy Communion. Transubstantiation is a central belief in Roman Catholic Eucharistic theology (Council of Trent 1545-63). According to this doctrine, the elements of the Eucharist (the bread and wine) are metaphysically changed upon the priest's consecration. The substance of the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. Now the doctrine states that the substance and essence of the bread and wine are changed, not the accidents. Thus the bread and wine retain the shape, texture, and taste as they had before consecration. This is the reason why a paten is used when the bread is offered. A paten is a small plate that is placed under the chin of the recipient to collect and crumbs that may fall from the mouth. When everyone has partaken in the Eucharist, the crumbs are dumped into the chalice and are mixed with the blood of Christ (the wine) and is then consumed by the presiding priest. Since Catholics believe, because of transubstantiation, that the bread is the actual body of Christ; extra care is taken to prevent the crumbs from falling to the floor where they are trampled on by people as they leave. This doctrine is based on Saint Luke's account of the Last Supper in which Christ says "this is my body" (Luke 22:19-20).
Do Methodist's believe in transubstantiation? John Wesley, the founder of United Methodist Church, was adamant about the importance of receiving communion on a regular basis. Wesley was an Anglican priest and modified the Church of England's Article's of Religion for Methodists, reducing the number from 39 to 25. And according to Article XVIII "Transubstantiation, or the change of the substance of bread and wine in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions. The body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after a heavenly and spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is faith".
So the answer in a nutshell is...no. But what do Methodist's believe about the transformation, the mystery, that occurs upon consecration? Wesley believed, and subsequently Methodists believe, that Christ is present in the elements in a virtual sense. We share this view with Calvinists by saying that by the power of the Spirit, our souls are joined with Christ. Since the bodily Christ is in heaven and nowhere else, the Spirit brings Christ to us when we receive the bread and juice.
Christ is most definitely present in our view. But it is because the Spirit of God brings Christ to us and we are united in this sacrament. This gives us hope to always seek to join our souls with Christ. It gives us hope to seek out the sacraments to encounter the grace of God.
Thanks for the great question!
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