What the NT church did is not the criteria for Rome. In the NT church there simply was no distinctive sacerdotal class of believers called "priests," which is a distinctive word (hiereus) which the Holy Spirit NEVER uses as a title for NT pastors, nor does presbuteros (elder) or episkopos (overseer) mean that.
The former is made to mean that by way of imposed functional equivalence, supposing that presbuteros engaged in a unique sacrificial function in turning bread and wine into human flesh and blood to be consumed to provide spiritual and eternal life for the flock, as per the ignorant literalism imposed on Jn. 6:53,54. But which NT pastors are never even shown doing, nor is this the means of obtaining spiritual and eternal life.
Nor is it shown that the Lord's supper was the source and summit of their church life, around which all else revolved, and in its sole manifest description of this "feast of charity" then it is the body of Christ as the church which is the "body" that was not being discerned, by ignoring others, so as to "shame them that have not," but not even waiting for them to eat but filling their faces while others had none.
As for hand holding, this is actually consistent with the unity of the body with Christ who bought the church with His own sinless shed blood, (Acts 20:28) and each other who were bought, which a true observance Lord's Supper shows.
But which Catholics turning into a focus on the elements, while for most Prots it has become that of remembering the Lord's with a repentant clear conscience (hopefully), distinct from a emphasis upon the communal nature of the body which "communion" is to show.
And then you have the exhortations this Yankee never even saw in his upbringing in his house, let alone church:
Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. (Romans 16:16) All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. (1 Corinthians 16:20) Greet one another with an holy kiss. (2 Corinthians 13:12) Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. (1 Thessalonians 5:26)
Four times. I am surprised no one has turned this into a sacrament, but which i would feel uncomfortable doing.
That said, what i object to among some Prot pastors is the practice of some pastors telling the people, "say to the person sitting next to you...". But occasional "Amen" or "Preach it" as fitting can be signs of life.
“As for hand holding, this is actually consistent with the unity of the body with Christ who bought the church with His own sinless shed blood”
Holding hands originated at AA meetings 2,000 years after the death of Jesus Christ, then crept over into Evangelical services, now this ridiculous un-biblical practice is practiced during a Catholic Mass by those ignorant of their faith.
PREACH IT!!!
I can't stand that either......
In her effort to conform NT pastors to her erroneous understanding of the Lord's Supper (“Eucharist”), Catholicism came to render presbuteros” as “priests”
Actually *ENGLISH* rendered "presbyteros" as "priests". It's where the word came from!!. See any dictionary.
Nor is it shown that the Lord's supper was the source and summit of their church life
Yeah, God wasted his time on the last night of his earthly life, instituting it in front of his closest friends, because it really wasn't all that important.
Gotcha, thanks.