# Church sacraments and rituals Most of the conventions that make a "typical" church are borrowed from a few source traditions: 1. The Hebrew temple had many traditions established (many of them from [Levitical law](https://biblehub.com/leviticus/1.htm)). 2. After the Temple fell in [2 Kings 24:10-14](https://biblehub.com/2_kings/24.htm), the Hebrew people maintained their worship by adapting the rituals for synagogue "mini-Temples", which included many rituals *not* in Hebrew law. 3. New followers of Christ [imitated synagogue tradition](history-church.md) (mostly) and added their own adaptations. 4. As Gentiles arrived, some traditions were removed or permuted to accommodate non-Hebrews. 5. By approximately 200 AD, the Catholic Church later codified and standardized those traditions. 6. Within a few centuries, the Catholic traditions were practically the law, and the cultural assimilation meant pagan rituals merged into the practice. 7. Starting in 1517, the Protestant Church *removed* many of those traditions, but didn't add many. The [Bible](theology-bible.md) itself only has a few verses that indicate daily details on how to run a church: - *Some* sacraments (i.e., communion/Eucharist and baptism), though on a more personal level and without many details. - Specific qualifications necessary within people you wish to appoint as [leaders](mgmt-church.md). - Almost every other Bible verse about the church are simply [patterned expansions](symbols.md) into a [corporate culture](groups-small.md) from living among [family and friends](people-family.md). However, across a few thousand years, the Church *has* had some good ideas. - Those ideas may or may not be good for your [culture](people-culture.md), and they're not necessary to run a church. - The things you pick-and-choose should conform to [how that congregation is gifted](spiritual-gifts.md) and [how God designed them](people-identity.md). While [Christian rituals](mgmt-church-worship-rituals.md) are *very* heavily inspired by Jewish and pagan tradition, the [redemption in Christ](https://theologos.site/gospel/) makes the entire experience direct into a different form towards the [unknown](unknown.md). - Further, *how* the rituals are performed can create a dramatic difference in how the congregants interpret it. Each denomination derives a certain form of [meaning](meaning.md) over rituals by *their* interpretation. - Over the centuries, many of the rituals have been expanded *far* beyond the Bible, and the biblical basis is either [nonexistent](theology-solae.md) or only partly applicable. To that end, this is an attempt to indicate all the ways you *could* do church. - You can, however, apply any Bible verses about living well on an individual level to make new rituals and sacraments, which will likely spin into [a different denomination](history-church.md) over time. - A church should develop its own creativity in discovering new ways to live more like Christ ([Hebrews 10:24-25](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/10.htm)). Therefore, while most of the essays here use Bible citations, this page doesn't call for an exhaustive listing. - If a believer has read through the Bible at least once, they should be able to see what the pattern is and why it would make sense. None of the following are technically "necessary" for any salvation-based matters. - The Bible makes it clear that God saves us, not the way we conduct our rituals ([Ephesians 2:8-9](https://biblehub.com/ephesians/2.htm)). - Instead, a ritual's purpose is the same as any other [spiritual exercise](spiritual-exercises.md): to create a [habitual rhythm](habits.md) that fosters [virtuous living](morality.md). - Religious observance also creates a type of [group cohesion](values.md) through a [shared purpose](purpose.md). - However, *not* everyone works the same way, and [each person must travel their own pathway](https://theologos.site/devotion-chaos/) ([1 Corinthians 8](https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/8.htm), [Romans 14:1-12](https://biblehub.com/romans/14.htm)). To make it simpler for the specific rituals, there's a clarification legend throughout this body of text: - C: Catholic in general - R: Roman Catholic tradition - E: Eastern Orthodox tradition - P: Protestant tradition preserved from Catholicism - I: independent tradition outside the Catholic canon, or idea that has been proposed or tried in some churches ## Sacraments Churches often have [ritual](habits.md) ceremonies, also called sacraments. - Almost anything that gives God praise is good, even if it's not specified in the Bible. - It's only natural if the church's sacraments will reflect the good parts of the members' original [culture and traditions](people-culture.md). - These sacraments may or may not dovetail into the rest of a weekly church service. ### Greetings I: Calling each other by familial titles (e.g., brother, sister). C: Deprecated in most uses, but leaders are still referred to as "Father". P: Typically not used in most denominations except [Pentecostal](history-church.md), except with smaller groups of believers among each other. ### Baptism A [symbol](symbols.md) of our spiritual baptism in Christ, and commanded by Scripture ([1 Peter 3:21](https://biblehub.com/1_peter/3-21.htm)). - Water baptism doesn't give salvation, but does show it to the world ([Luke 23:29-43](https://biblehub.com/luke/23.htm)). - Most churches that baptize will stress the significance of baptism. - The water can be by immersion or sprinkling. - Immersion symbolizes the complete end of one's [identity](people-identity.md) as part of this world. - However, sprinkling can imply that we're imperfect and will still sin (and therefore need [God's continued work](https://theologos.site/gospel/)). C: Baptism is at birth (often with circumcision), or possibly during Confirmation. - Along with baptism, many Christians borrow from Hebrew tradition and circumcise infants as well. P: Baptism is only after conversion. ### Confirmation A public declaration of faith in Christ. C: Confirmation is the completion of the water baptism. P: While there's no ritual for Protestants, they honor someone's private prayer to receive Christ ("[the Sinner's Prayer](spiritual-exercises-evangelism.md)") ### Eucharist/communion The elements include a type of bread representing Christ's bodily sacrifice and grape juice or wine to represent covering our sins with His blood. - Irrespective of its meaning, communion is Jesus' command ([John 6:53-58](https://biblehub.com/john/6.htm)). Elements - C: official sacramental bread, made without yeast - P: saltine crackers or any bread made without yeast - P/I: standard bread - C: a cup of wine - P: individual half-shot glasses of grape juice Routine - C: Presentation of the Gifts and Preparation of the Altar - The bread and wine are brought in front of the altar to be blessed. - C: Prayer over the Offerings - Eucharistic/Communion Prayer - C: a highly ordered set of multiple prayers and sayings that converts the bread and wine into Jesus' physical body and blood (transubstantiation). - The timing of *when* this happens differs between Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. - P: a prayer and meditative song. - C: The Lord's Prayer - Reciting the Lord's Prayer ([Matthew 6:9-13](https://www.biblehub.com/matthew/6.htm)). - C: Sign/Rite of Peace - The leader prays for Jesus' peace to fill everywhere. - Fraction Rite/Lamb of God - C: the bread is broken by the leader - P: the bread is broken by the people, or passed around pre-broken on a plate - I: the people go to the bread and break it off themselves - Communion - C: an acknowledgment that nobody is worthy to receive the gift, then the leader takes it, followed by the people - P: a recitation of the Bible verse saying to consume the elements ([Matthew 26:26-28](https://www.biblehub.com/matthew/26.htm)) - C: Prayer after Communion - A request that the benefits of the communion will remain active in daily life later. ### Penance/confession Asking for forgiveness of [sins](theology-sins.md) under Christ's atonement ([James 5:16](https://biblehub.com/james/5-16.htm)). C: Confession is performed by a congregant with a church leader. P: Most don't perform *any* type of confession, but usually imply it can be a prayer conversation with God. ### Marriage Ceremonies are frequently performed in churches. - Marriage ceremonies show a man and woman's union symbolizing how Christ will someday unite with the Church ([Ephesians 5:25-27](https://biblehub.com/ephesians/5.htm), [Revelation 19:6-9](https://biblehub.com/revelation/19.htm)). While all Christians agree with the marriage ceremony, the details vary tremendously. ### Ordination Appointing new church leaders. - C: a set of ceremonies and public declaration to commemorate the event. - P: announcements of the elected vote results. ### Anointing of the Sick Honors people dying and passing on to the next life. - Most Western cultures make the loss of life from this earth a grim and dark affair. - Many Eastern cultures view death as a mixture of sorrow from missing someone and tremendous joy of their spiritual victory and chance to finally see God. Usually represents as a funeral service, often with a wake service before it. ### Laying on of hands Giving blessing, healing, or authority with physical contact. - C: Deprecated for most uses except for confirmation. - P: [Pentecostals](history-church.md) in particular emphasize its importance. ### The Peace A 2-3 hour period of time before the Eucharist/communion for believers to [seek reconciliation](hardship-forgiveness.md). Inspired by Jesus' command to leave your gift at the altar and find closure first ([Matthew 5:23-24](https://biblehub.com/matthew/5.htm)). P: Only practiced occasionally, if at all. - It's the only way to institutionally create a culture of forgiveness. ### Love feasts Spending time in close fellowship with other believers over a meal. - While it was originally an informal matter, it became more formalized by the year 200 AD. - The love feast was historically the original place for Eucharist/communion. P: Only practiced occasionally, if at all, but often expresses through mid-week Bible studies. ## Weekly rituals There's a general flow to traditional church. - Though the order *sometimes* changes, the flow has been relatively fixed throughout history. ### A. Introduction Begin a formalized attendance, with everyone present. Elements - C: altar present to represent Christ's sacrifice - Cross present at the center-rear of the stage to represent the story of Jesus on the cross. - C: Jesus is hanging on the cross to represent His continued sacrifice for our sins. - P: the cross is empty to symbolize His victory over death. Routine - Entrance - a chant/song that triggers everyone to arrive. - C: a procession for all the ministers, who bow or kiss the altar. - Greeting - C: everyone makes the Sign of the Cross and the leader gives a greeting. - P: Entrance and Greeting merged together into an announcement that the service is starting. - Penitential Act - C: acknowledgment of our sins, with a short repetitious prayer saying "have mercy on us, O Lord", then another short prayer where the people respond with a Greek variation of "Lord/Christ, have mercy". - P: maintained only in Lutheranism - C: Collect - Leader offers a brief prayer, then asks the gathered assembly to pray, then gives the prayer of the day. Conditional Routines - Sundays and solemn days - C: Glory to God - After the Penitential Act, everyone sings "Glory to God in the Highest" ([Luke 2:14](https://biblehub.com/luke/2-14.htm)). - Baptism (see below) - C: a separate ritual altogether, with rituals surrounding it. - P: a standalone ritual as part of the Introduction. ### B. Liturgy Public reading of the Bible and music to inspire spiritual thinking. Routine - Bible Reading - C: Read 2 Bible verses, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. - P: Read a selected passage from the Bible in between worship songs. - C: Responsorial Psalm - A song in-between readings directing focus on the reading. - P: Worship music - 2-6 songs in-between the Greeting and Homily directing focus on Jesus. - C: Gospel Acclamation/Gospel - A leader reads the Gospel, and the people respond with a Hebrew variation of "Praise the Lord!" - Homily - C: a leader's [public speech](language-speaking.md) by a leader that starts with a reading, then an explanation of how it shows ways we ought to [live better lives](people-goodlife.md). - P: a leader delivers an [expository](bible-study.md) speech that references Bible verses, then explains how they apply to our lives. - I: the people from the audience come up to the stage and give a few words of insight based on the Bible, often taking turns. - While many of the laity are *definitely* qualified to give a message, most churches only reserve that power to approved clergy. - C: Profession of Faith - A public declaration of a [creed](theology-church-creeds.md), usually Apostles' or Nicene. - C: Universal Prayer, aka Prayer of the Faithful - The people intercede with God on behalf of the Church, world, and themselves. Conditional Routines - Sundays and solemn days - Additional Bible Reading - C: On Easter, a reading from the book of the New Testament church from Acts. - P: On Easter, a reading about Jesus' resurrection and the empty tomb. - C: A final reading from one of the four Gospels. - C: Profession of Faith ### C. Eucharist/communion A sacrament involving eating and drinking to [symbolize](symbols.md) Jesus' sacrifice (see above) ([Luke 22:19-20](https://biblehub.com/luke/22.htm)). - While its basis does vary dramatically, the ritual *must* be distinguished as for believers only. ### D. Concluding rites A final parting word for people to leave with and take into their lives elsewhere. Elements - P: tracts that give a schedule of future church events. Routine - Optional announcements - C: Leader describes the schedule for any upcoming liturgical events. - P: Indicates any events happening right after the current event or [logistical considerations](logistics.md) the people may need to know. - I: Expresses practical needs within the Church and who to contact about them. - C: Greeting and Blessing - A formal blessing that typically refers to the [Trinity](theology-god.md). - P: Altar Call - A meditative song with a simple [Gospel presentation](https://theologos.site/gospel/) that petitions non-believers to follow Jesus. - Dismissal - C: the leader says a Latin translation of "Go, it is the dismissal". - P: the leader formally concludes the meeting, often with a [future call to action](marketing.md) tied to the Homily. ### E. Christians-only fellowship A period of time following the main service for believers to spend more time with each other. - If it happens on the same day as the main service, The Peace will be in-between. P: Practiced on occasion, but typically as a mid-week Bible study.