Now Christianity had sacrifices and altars as well, since the very beginning. The offering was of course not bulls or goats but the Eucharist, but it was still regarded as a true and proper sacrifice. This changed with Martin Luther. The only kind of offering he would admit was the sacrifice of praise and worship. So what happened in Protestantism was a total abandonment of the idea of the Eucharistic sacrifice in favor of personal prayer.
CHRISTIANITY does not have altars and sacrifices. Catholicism does. You ought not to conflate the two.
Christianity is not about sacrifices (present tense) but a done sacrifice. It's about one once for all time, finished, completed, never need to be repeated sacrifice.
What the Reformation got right was getting away from the continuation of sacrifice and focusing on the *It is FINISHED* part.
Communion is the remembrance of the once for all, one time, finished sacrifice. Anyone who teaches that sacrifice is still ongoing and that ongoing is necessary for salvation is wrong. It is not Scriptural.
The book of Hebrews addresses much of the teaching of the Catholic church. Sadly the Catholic church has decided to ignore it and teach contrary.
Hebrews 10
1For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
"Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'"
8When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), 9then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,"
17then he adds,
"I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."
18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
We are forgiven. There is no more need for sacrifice. The penalty for our sin has been completely paid by Christ's death on the cross. That's why He said *It is finished* and the curtain in the Temple was torn in two allowing access into the Holy of Holies.
AMEN, amen,and amen!
I would also add the RCC habit of continually sacrificing Christ is probably not being received well in Heaven. I mean think about it: You die for someone and that person keeps trying to re-kill you over and over again? What would your reaction be??
Its slapping Christ in the face and telling Him His work was not sufficient. That HIS sacrifice was only the beginning and needs to be added to!?!?
I honestly don't understand how anyone doing this practice could not see that this robs God (and Christ) of His majesty, His glory, His power, His authority, His sufficiency, etc. etc. etc. Its the ultimate attack and rebellion against God!