Water, Bread, Wine 101

When we Lutherans talk about the “sacraments” we’re very specific about certain things—namely Baptism and Holy Communion.  We call them “means of grace.”  And we only have two (versus the Roman Catholic Church which has seven sacraments).  For us Lutherans, a “sacrament” is something that is commanded or instituted by Christ that we are “to do.”  For Baptism, Jesus on Easter said, “Go, make disciples baptizing them…” (Matthew 28:19).  He didn’t tell us to think about it, that it’s optional; he said do it.  With Holy Communion, Jesus took bread the night he was betrayed and said, “Take and eat… do this in remembrance of me” (I Corinthians 11:24-25).  Jesus gave lots of commands, but these were attached to physical, tangible, material objects:  water, bread, wine.  And a word of promise is also attached—a word of Good News, the Gospel!  For Baptism, it washes away sin, brings the Holy Spirit, joins us to Jesus’ death and resurrection.  For Holy Communion the promise is for the forgiveness of sins.  That’s a sacrament:  Christ’s command, something tangible, and a promise of grace and love.

            By means of the sacraments—Baptism and Holy Communion—the Holy Spirit works faith when and where she wills.  In other words, we Lutherans believe that the Holy Spirit uses words and things to communicate God’s love and grace—by means of water, bread, wine, and God’s word of promise and love.  Of course, the Spirit can and does use more than those, but these are commanded by Christ, and specific promises are attached to them.  So we do them. 

            This Sunday is First Communion Sunday; we’ll also have three baptisms.  I love the fact that our sacraments are “tangible words,” that we can literally touch, smell, and eat.  Bread and water by themselves are just bread and water; but God’s Word attached to them!—a word of grace and love—that’s something special.

Peace,

Pr. Christian