The Top 10 Questions Christians Are Still Debating

This is a really old query that Christians proceed to debate to today. In fact, different views on the eucharist—or communion—are sometimes a trademark of doctrinal difference amongst Christian denominations.

Catholics consider in transubstantiation—that the bread and wine literally transform into Jesus’ body during communion. Denominations similar to Lutherans and Eastern Orthodox consider in consubstantiation—that Christ’s real body and blood are present alongside the bread and wine. Most other Protestant denominations consider that the eucharist is primarily symbolic and a sacrament that serves to remind us of Christ’s sacrifice and atonement for our sins.

It’s also interesting to notice that, after feeding the 5,000, Jesus made the claim, “Very truly I let you know, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I’ll raise them up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood stays in me, and I in them” (John 6:53-56).   

Also noteworthy, after Jesus makes these statements, the Scripture tells us, “On hearing it, lots of his disciples said, ‘This is a tough teaching. Who can accept it?’”

Whatever your or your church’s view on whether Jesus meant for us to literally or symbolically eat his flesh and drink his blood, there’s undoubtedly a component of holy mystery within the sacrament of the eucharist.

What is your view? Read more and join the discussion HERE.

These are 10 much-debated topics amongst Christians from all walks of life today. We’d love to listen to from you on these issues. Please join us on Crosswalk Forums for a discussion of those topics and plenty of others relevant to the Body of Christ. 

Photo credit: Unsplash/JamesColeman

Veronica Olson Neffinger is a Content Editor for Salem Web Network. When she just isn’t writing or editing articles, yow will discover her listening to baseball games, having fun with the outside, reading, or engaged in some type of home or garden care. She lives in Richmond, VA along with her husband and two young sons.