The Lord’s Supper or Communion has been one of the most historically debated practices in all of Christianity. For Baptists, this ordinance is a solemn, symbolic remembrance of Christ’s death and a testimony of His promised return. But in contrast, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is not merely symbolic—it is the literal body and blood of Christ through the miracle of transubstantiation. These two views are not simply liturgical preferences; they reflect deep theological convictions about grace, salvation, the nature of the Church, and the role of religious ritual.

In this episode, we’ll explore why traditional Baptists reject the Catholic doctrine of the Eucharist. Whether you’re a student of theology or just curious about the differences between Baptists and Catholic views, today’s discussion will help clarify what’s at stake in how the Church remembers the cross.

For this conversation we have invited Jim Alter, pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Sidney, Ohio. Jim is co-founder and editor of the Ancient Baptist Press. Jim is also the founder, curator and lecturer for a traveling exhibition called “Purified Seven Times” which is devoted to educating people about the history of the English Bible. Jim is also co-author of the book “Why Baptist? The Significance of Baptist Principles in an Ecumenical Age.”

Notes to reference for this episode

Visit https://www.lfbi.org/learnmore