[nmh]

Maybe I wasn't clear. The thief on the cross was NOT baptized nor did he take communion yet Christ said, you will be with me in paradise. If the words of Christ are not suffient for you, I don't know what to tell you.

Rituals do NOT save anyone. It is you HEART that He evaluates. Rituals are nice but they do NOT save anyone. This thread is an example of a ritual, communion, taken to an extreme and is not the teachings of Christ of the Bible.

[Pyro7480]

Rituals do NOT save anyone. It is you HEART that He evaluates. Rituals are nice but they do NOT save anyone. This thread is an example of a ritual, communion, taken to an extreme and is not the teachings of Christ of the Bible.

You're still ignoring part of my argument. If Christ said, "Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you," then to say that He merely evaluates your heart means you're not looking at the entire picture. It seems very clear that Christ was a stickler on this point.

[broadsword]

Rituals do NOT save anyone.

Then why did Jesus go through the ritual of the last supper?

Then why did Jesus go through the ritual of the crucifixion?

Then why did Jesus go through the ritual of the resurrection?

Then why did Jesus go through the ritual of making the mud paste to put on the blind man's eyes?

Then why did Jesus go through the ritual of the baptism?

Then why did Jesus command us to go through all these rituals and say that we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven or have life in us if we do not?

He was and is God almighty, and could have just done all these things without rituals, BUT HE DIDN'T.

Then why did Jesus not just do it all YOUR way?

Why? Because He was trying to save us from lazy, wretched, human foolishness, and, in SOME CASES, it worked.

[NYer]

This thread is an example of a ritual, communion, taken to an extreme and is not the teachings of Christ of the Bible.

The three Gospel narratives of the Last Supper are absolutely consistent. Matthew: 26:26 "This is My Body." 26:27 "This is My Blood…" Mark: 14:22 "This is My Body." 14:24 "This is My Blood…" Luke: 22:19 "This is My Body." 22:20 "This … is the New Covenant in My Blood." Jesus' next words instituted the Catholic priesthood: Lk 22:19 "Do this in remembrance of Me."

Jesus assured the Apostles that the Holy Eucharist is a reflection of the heavenly banquet. Mt 26:29 "I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

After His resurrection, Jesus walked with two disciples to Emmaus. When they arrived, He celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for them; Lk 24:30 "While He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them."

[Blzbba]

"Rituals do NOT save anyone. It is you HEART that He evaluates. Rituals are nice but they do NOT save anyone. This thread is an example of a ritual, communion, taken to an extreme and is not the teachings of Christ of the Bible. "


Yes, yes - a 1000 times YES. Great example about the thief on the cross, btw.