as you know, i am not a computer expert and can’t cut your statements before mine like so many do (i wish i could! ), but i will comment as best i can:
1. when you have the truth of orthodox, historical Christian Faith believed for 2,000 years, you aren’t swayed by 16th century tradition of men.
2. Jesus Christ founded ONE Church, the Catholic Church. it has been here for 2,000 years ( the gates of hell never prevailed aganst it )
3. the doctrine of the Real Presence ( the Eucharist ) has NOT developed over the centuries. NO ONE can point to any controversy over it before the “reformers” came on earth. ( unlike the Trinity, divinity of Christ, the nature of Christ, the Holy Spirit, etc )
4. The Scriptures tell us scoffers will appear in the latter days and the comments about “mysterious” and “special prayers” and “right kind” certainly show scoffing personified.
5. i have shown over and over a consistent belief in the Real Presence from Paul to the Didache to Ignatius to Justin to Irenaeus etc etc up until today. the APOSTOLIC Faith can either be accepted as Christians have for 2,000 years or it can be rejected and replaced by unbelief or Gnosticism, or Arianism, or fill in the blankism.
since you mentioned Athanatius in a prior post, i will show you what he taught the newly baptized on the Eucharist, 1000 years before the 13th century.
6. you say “all we should do and take what the Scriptures say”, I AGREE!!!! what do the Scriptures say? THIS IS MY BODY. Flat out statement, IS not REPRESENTS. Paul received the doctrine of the Eucharist DIRECTLY FROM JESUS. THE BREAD WHICH WE BREAK, IS IT NOT A PARTICIPATION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST? again, we don’t see the word “represents” in this passage or any time the Eucharist is discussed.
finally, as to what you believe or don’t believe, it’s not for me to judge. all i know is Jesus prayed in John 17 that all those who truly believe in Him would be perfectly One, just as He and the Father are One, SO THE WORLD WOULD KNOW THE FATHER SENT HIM. I believe that prayer was heard and i believe that true Christians are obedient to the Faith that proclaims ONE LORD, ONE FAITH AND ONE BAPTISM.
HERE IS THE BONUS ST ATHANASIUS QUOTE:
St. Athanasius was born in Alexandria ca. 295 A.D. He was ordained a deacon in 319 A.D. He accompanied his bishop, Alexander, to the Council of Nicaea, where he served as his secretary. Eventually he succeeded Alexander as Bishop of Alexandria. He is most known for defending Nicene doctrine against Arian disputes.,
“’The great Athanasius in his sermon to the newly baptized says this:’ You shall see the Levites bringing loaves and a cup of wine, and placing them on the table. So long as the prayers of supplication and entreaties have not been made, there is only bread and wine. But after the great and wonderful prayers have been completed, then the bread is become the Body, and the wine the Blood, of our Lord Jesus Christ. ‘And again:’ Let us approach the celebration of the mysteries. This bread and this wine, so long as the prayers and supplications have not taken place, remain simply what they are. But after the great prayers and holy supplications have been sent forth, the Word comes down into the bread and wine - and thus His Body is confected.”,
-”Sermon to the Newly Baptized” ante 373 A.D.,
The “Eucharist” is for pagan sorcers.
The bread that represents the broken body of Yeshua is for his sheep.
That is how it is according to scripture that has not been modified by pagan tongue. Those pagans are the scoffers foretold by the apostles. Scoffers love the magical sorcery of the eucharist. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, and that way is the eucharist.
It is to be a remembrance. The Resurrection is The Celebration. Your man friend ATHANASIUS was not spirit filled and rejected Jesus when HE said REMEMBER ME and It's is Finished and I go to sit at the right Hand of The Father. And He's coming back to get HIS Own/His Bride/His Body and NOT .....the Word comes down into the bread and wine
It is Finished - so get over it! Learn to hear and obey THE Word! He is not coming down at the request of man. LOL!!!!!!! Those who reject the words of JESUS is bringing someone else down - Lucifer - who wanted to be like the most high. Lucifer now has his tribe that rejects Jesus' words, also.