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The Blessings of Weekly Communion
Great spiritual blessings come to Christians who partake of the Lord's Supper on the Lord's Day. They receive a "visible Word" which gives to them the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. Their faith is strengthened. Their inner man is renewed for a life of good works. They are formed in the image of Christ.
In the Apostolic church, communion was celebrated every Sunday. During the period of the Reformation, the Lutheran churches practiced weekly communion. The influence of Protestantism in the United States has suppressed this practice.
Each chapter includes discussion questions to help readers reflect and apply the material to their personal and corporate worship.
The book will help restore this worthy and biblical tradition to our congregations.
In the Apostolic church, communion was celebrated every Sunday. During the period of the Reformation, the Lutheran churches practiced weekly communion. The influence of Protestantism in the United States has suppressed this practice.
Each chapter includes discussion questions to help readers reflect and apply the material to their personal and corporate worship.
The book will help restore this worthy and biblical tradition to our congregations.
306 pages, Paperback
Published June 7, 2011
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November 15, 2011
Kenneth Wieting's plea for weekly communion had many strengths, and also a few weaknesses. Wieting is a pastor, though I think this book was originally some form of a dissertation. At times, Wieting the pastor seemed at odds with Wieting-writing-a-dissertation. Wieting writes from an exclusively Lutheran background, and from the Missouri Synod at that. So, his conservative Lutheran mindset seemed to prevent a more objective account. For instance, to take one of the most obvious examples, John Calvin only receives a mere two pages of treatment, even though Wieting takes on the whole of church history! Calvin and Melanchthon are clearly the bad guys, who corrupted the pure teachings of Luther.
What will keep this book from gaining a wide acceptance is the Wieting's exclusively Lutheran emphasis. Of course, one cannot cover everything in a single book. I'm starting to write a dissertation on the weekly communion debate in the Reformed tradition, and I will blithely leave the Lutherans on the periphery. But, I acknowledge that we Reformed have much to learn from the Lutherans! Wieting repeatedly refers to Luther, and the Lutheran confessions/ catechisms, in terms that make Luther the interpretive standard. Reformed writers can do this with Calvin, which is also problematic. We need to meditate more on how 1 Cor. 12 might apply to denominations, traditions, and our own theological heroes and mentors.
Although Wieting relied extensively on secondary sources in his historical overview, he did conduct a very interesting survey about communion frequency practices in the Missouri Synod. Additionally, he develops a helpful practical theology of communion, which should aid any pastor working through these issues.
What will keep this book from gaining a wide acceptance is the Wieting's exclusively Lutheran emphasis. Of course, one cannot cover everything in a single book. I'm starting to write a dissertation on the weekly communion debate in the Reformed tradition, and I will blithely leave the Lutherans on the periphery. But, I acknowledge that we Reformed have much to learn from the Lutherans! Wieting repeatedly refers to Luther, and the Lutheran confessions/ catechisms, in terms that make Luther the interpretive standard. Reformed writers can do this with Calvin, which is also problematic. We need to meditate more on how 1 Cor. 12 might apply to denominations, traditions, and our own theological heroes and mentors.
Although Wieting relied extensively on secondary sources in his historical overview, he did conduct a very interesting survey about communion frequency practices in the Missouri Synod. Additionally, he develops a helpful practical theology of communion, which should aid any pastor working through these issues.
Displaying 1 of 1 review