A Sacrament of Unity

I've just been reading some of the correspondence between Thomas Cranmer and John Calvin. It's fascinating reading - you get a feel for the tensions they were under and the camaraderie they felt in a good cause. I also love the way Calvin calls Cranmer "most accomplished Prelate;" he obviously had no problems with godly bishops.

This statement by Cranmer really hit me, in light of some of the debating going on in Reformed circles: "It cannot escape your prudence, how exceedingly the church of God has been injured by dissensions and varieties of opinion respecting this sacrament of unity...." Wow! Think about it. A sacrament meant for unity is turned into an occasion for discord by sinful men.

Those who want to separate from people who don't see eye-to-eye with them on every jot and tittle of the docrine of the Holy Communion have a spiritual problem. We've got Protestants who sound like they are trying to run their own version of the Council of Trent. If Ephesians 4 means anything, and if Jesus' commands in the farewell discourses of St. John mean anything, we ought to be able to participate in the Supper together while we are still debating one another on what it means. I'm sure our debating would be greatly aided as the Lord works His grace in our hearts, however He does it, through this holy sacrament of unity.