Our church had communion yesterday, shared equally by those in the building and those watching on Zoom – the latter against the counsel of a blogger I normally respect. Except for the one he published judging all traditions by, apparently, his standard, including that “transubstantiation can’t be done over a distance.” Of course, not all traditions believe in transubstantiation.

I wasn’t going to post a comment, especially since others raised some of the issues I would have, but I was so exercised about it that I gave in. My problem is not so much that he and I disagree on a few things, but that he feels a need to, as I said, judge all of us by his standard, something we’re not supposed to do.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? …For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. (Romans 14.10, ESV)

Here’s what I posted:

I appreciate your work even though I sometimes struggle with your view that everything seems to relate to pre-enlightenment or post-enlightenment. But this post is over-the-top, hair-splitting of the first order. I have friends across the Eucharistic spectrum so much so that it’s hard to read the gospel accounts of the first communion without hashing all the different viewpoints in my head. That’s wrong and caused me to formulate a maxim. The first people I shared it with to see if might be a valid idea were both from strong Eucharistic backgrounds: a Lutheran and a Catholic priest. Both agreed with me: “The fact that Jesus died on the cross for my sins is WAY more important than how I choose to remember it.” I know that not everyone agrees. The day I posted this in a blog, a Catholic friend told me that “The Eucharist is meant to divide people.”

“Transubstantiation is not possible over distance” presumes, as others have pointed out, first that ordained clergy of some sort is required to consecrate (or “change”) the elements – something for which there is zero New Testament evidence. Second, that such consecration is not possible over a distance. Why not? Jesus healed from a distance (Matthew 8.5 – 13). Paul claimed to be with the Corinthians in spirit (1 Corinthians 5.3, 4). For that matter, you and I have never met, but I partake of your “substance” every time I read your blog.

Again, I think we are unnecessarily dividing people and splitting hairs. I know you meant well, but this blog was not helpful.

The Apostle Paul was clear on what’s important:

For I have shared with you what I have received and what is of utmost importance:

The Messiah died for our sins,
    fulfilling the prophecies of the Scriptures.
 He was buried in a tomb
    and was raised from the dead after three days,
    as foretold in the Scriptures.
 Then he appeared to Peter the Rock
    and to the twelve apostles. (1 Corinthians 15.3 – 5, TPT)