The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

What do Catholics and Protestants believe about the Eucharist/Communion? For Catholics, this may be the most important episode of this season, and it’s certainly one of the most theologically complex. Adam and David discuss the commonalities and disagreements among various church traditions as they explore transubstantiation.

Like many of the topics covered this season, there’s significant agreement between Catholics and Protestants about the Lord’s Supper: both believe that Jesus’ sacrifice transcended space and time, and both believe that Communion has a physical and a spiritual component. But unlike most Protestant denominations, Catholics believe that once the bread and wine of the Eucharist are consecrated, they become both physically and spiritually the body and the blood of Jesus Christ through transubstantiation. 

Listen in on this episode to hear Adam and David dispel myths about how and why the Eucharist is observed. Bonus: don’t miss equally interesting discussions about shampoo and Bible editions.  

About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Jump Through the Conversation:

• [2:00] Intro – “The Catholic bugbear”
• [2:38] Mischaracterizations of the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist
• [3:51] Anamnesis
• [5:00] Disclaimers and discussion of various editions of the Bible
• [7:33] Four main theological positions
  • Communion is a memorial/sign
  • Communion elements are physically bread and wine, spiritually Christ’s body and blood
  • Communion elements exist alongside Christ’s body and blood (consubstantiation)
  • Communion elements are physically and spiritually Christ’s body and blood (transubstantiation)
• [10:16] Explanation of transubstantiation
  • Accidents vs substance before and after consecration
  • Overlap with other traditions/denominations 
• [15:15] The significance of the Last Supper and Jesus’ death being outside of time
• [18:40] Adam’s summary and explanation
• [20:33] Appeal to emphasize Communion as a “means of grace”
• [21:55] Nuances of the memorial perspective and anamnesis
• [24:41] Historical precedents and arguments
• [27:30] Connection between the Eucharist and the priesthood 

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• David Carter’s ministry

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