Replies

It seems to me that the Catholic tradition pays more attention to the complementarity and reconciliation of the physical and spiritual dimensions of human life than the Reformed Church does, which seems to have an almost exclusive concern with the spiritual. That is probably why one typically finds in Catholic churches amazing appeals to sensory experience, through such media as art and architecture, music, the use of incense, the physical aspects of ritual, and so forth. All of these are ultimately appeals to spirit, mediated by bodily experience, intended to unify the Body of Christ and join us to Him through commonly-shared experiences.

But Scripture seems to warn us of what we perceive through the senses. (And this may very well be because what we perceive through the senses always ends up pointing back to us.)

Instead Scripture encourages us to rely on our quickened hearts and our renewed minds which keep the focus on God alone. That's why God regenerates our consciences so that we may know the truth, not just feel the truth.

The method God has chosen to reveal Himself to us is amazing. Since Scripture is written in black and white and enters our mind first in words and concepts, everything that follows works together for God's purpose, according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

And thus the primacy of God's word is revealed and strengthened and affirmed by our minds, in the daylight, through the freedom Christ won for us on the cross. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." -- Romans 12:2

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" -- Titus 3:5

"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." -- 1 John 5:20

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." -- John 6:63

Thank you so very much for sharing your insights and especially those beautiful Scriptures!

And whereas I agree with you strongly about the power of God and the words of God (Matthew 22:29) - that the words of God are spirit and life (John 6:63) and are Spiritually discerned (I Corinthians 2:14) - I am also reminded in the spirit that sanctification is a walk and that God uses "acting out" to teach Spiritual Truth as He did in the washing of the apostle's feet (emphasis mine:)

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head.

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am. If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. - John 13:1-15

The point of the exercise is obviously not merely having clean feet but rather that we should help one another to remove the filth that clings to us because we are still walking in this world.

Likewise the observance of the Lord's Supper is not cannibalistic eating of His flesh and drinking His blood or sacrificing Him again as if the Cross were insufficient in any way. It is an "acting out" of the Spiritual Truth summed up here:

He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this], said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. - John 6:56-63

Therefore, I am not alarmed by such rituals as long as they are rooted in the words of God and are not merely doctrines and traditions of men which might risk injury to one of His own.

To God be the glory!