6/29/14- Right Administration of the Sacraments

That sacraments be rightly ministered, we judge two things requisite: the one, that they be ministered by lawful ministers, whom we affirm to be only they that are appointed to the preaching of the word, or into whose mouths God has put some sermon of exhortation, they being men lawfully chosen thereto by some kirk. The other, that they be ministered in such elements, and in such sort, as God has appointed; else, we affirm that they cease to be right sacraments of Christ Jesus.

... For Christ Jesus said, Take, eat, etc. Do ye this in remembrance of me.[1] By which words and charge he sanctified bread and wine, to be the sacrament of his body and blood, to the end that the one should be eaten, and that all should drink of the other; and not that they should be kept to be worshipped, and honoured as God... stealing from the people the one part of the sacrament: to wit, the blessed cup.

Moreover, that the sacraments be rightly used, it is required that the end and cause why the sacraments were instituted be understood and observed, as well of the minister, as the receivers. For if the opinion be changed in the receiver, the right use ceases: which is most evident by the rejection of the sacrifices; as also if the teacher plainly teaches false doctrine, which were odious and abominable before God (albeit they were his own ordinances), because that wicked men use them to another end than God has ordained.  (Scots Confession Chapter 22)

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord(1 Corinthians 11:23-27)

Thoughts: In Knox's day the sacraments were seen as the main portion of the Roman Catholic Church.  Thus excommunication (taking away of the sacrament) was seen as a sign the person excommunicated would not be able to make the journey to heaven.  In this time of change, everything was up for evaluation.  Some, like the Anabaptists, were saying they did not need the sacraments at all (the Evangelical Church still says this).  The Anabaptists also did away with ordained ministers.  Zwingli, whose followers later united with the Calvinists, was saying the sacraments were only a sign but not a true seal or a sacrament per se- with no extra benefit than remembering the actions of Christ and fulfilling Christ's command to "do this in remembrance of me."  But Knox followed his teacher Calvin in saying that there was a spiritual benefit to the supper- a spiritual but not a physical presence of Christ.  All this seems foreign to secular or even modern theological ears.  Yet, many a person has experienced the presence of God- something special in baptism or the Lord's Supper.
      To make sure it is done right, right teaching should be given about it so that it is not done superstitiously but with heart-mind-soul united in focus.  Thus a trained minister should perform the rite so that no one is distracted by the one leading the service.  Knox also carefully guarded that nothing extra be added to make the sacrament more special- special oil, ornaments, etc.  The sacrament is made special not by our adding anything but by the plain presence of Christ.  This is definitely a Reformed emphasis.  Many Presbyterians, when they go to the Holy Land and see the sites ornaments with gold, tapestry, and candles think that such ornamentation takes away from the site.  They would rather see the walls of the cave Jesus was born in, or the walls of the Holy Sepulchre.  Our ornamentation- though well intentioned- may actually detract from the holy moment. 

Prayer: Lord, may my focus be on you in baptism and communion.  May we handle holy things in holy ways that please you.