A poorly written opinion. At one point Mr. Gibson quotes Dean Russell Moore as saying "Now, I'm not calling on churches to pick up the common cup and the common loaf in the middle of a swine flu pandemic. That wouldn't be prudent."

And yet, three sentences later Mr. Gibson states "And interesting that a leading Southern Baptist theologian is advocating something -- continuing use of the common cup -- that many Catholic bishops have ordered discontinued until flu season passes."

Obviously Mr. Gibson doesn't read what he writes and any proof reading here is non-existent. Could we all raise our standards?

Ever since it started I have avoided it like the plague,,,,and it could be,god cant save you from stupid,,,

Mediation that All the prophets, including Jesus advocate never spreads germs...

The ignorant hypocrite sinners will elephant everyone else aside as they rampage towards Darwinism instead of embracing disease control through epidemiology.

What would Mr. Gibson had written if he knew about the Eastern Orthodox Christian practice of all communicants receiving the body and blood of Christ FROM THE SAME SPOON? Would he have scratched his head at the fact that Orthodox churches are no more affected by swine flu than the rest of the population? Or would he have researched it further and discovered that there is not a single documented case of any disease being transmitted by this kind of communion practice? Yes, let the "hyper-hygienists" shudder behind their breathing masks at the prospect, let them buy an extra hand-sanitizer or two, but let them also know that those who live by faith will continue in this most ancient intimacy of Holy Communion, knowing that the sacrament is all about grace and has nothing to do with the mechanics of physical contagion.

Greetings:

1). It is prudent for one to begin to rethink the entire issue not only because of the flue season, but also during normal seasons. Lets look the person who has the comon cold, and he goes to take Holy Communion and drinks from the cup, the same cup taht will be shared with others. I have issues with that.

2). Now comes the present health concerns around the world. Will we say taht we must put away preventative safety concerns because we believe that God will take care? I am reminded of taht story where a person home was on fire and he prayed to God for help. The fire people came, the police, the medical people and all friends came to his home and begged him to come outside, but he kept praying to God for Devine intervention. He never was saved and when he got to heaven he asked God why God had not answered his prayers. God said but I sent all those people to you, and you never listened to them. In other words, we must do for ourselves what only we can do, and then when we cannot go no more, we let Go and Let God. It is possible for us to aoid drinking from the same cup and taking the bread without it being touched by the priest etc. There are always ways and means to avoid contamination. Lets say, is the bread and wine more important or is it the Blessing that we receive from God through prayers that is important. Do we say to ourselves, well, although I prayed to God today, unless I have the Bread and Wine I am not worthy of the Love of God?

Just some thoughts.

This is only an issue for churchgoers (both Catholic and Protestant) who believe in transmutation...the belief that the Communion supper is the ACTUAL body and blood of Jesus. Jesus' words at the inaugural Supper were...."Do this in REMEMBRANCE of me." The broken bread *symbolized* His broken body, the cup His shed blood. Every time we take Communion we are remembering His sacrifice for us, humanity, and our acceptance of that. When taken together with other Christians, the Communion is a demonstration of spiritual unity as well as spiritual unity with the Spirit who lives in you. Whether you partake of one cup or partake of your cup in the presence of other Christians who are focused on Jesus at the same time, it is still Communion. You are still eating the *symbol* of His body and drinking the *symbol* of His blood IN REMEMBRANCE of Him and in recognition of what He has done for you and the world. How many people can say they are focused on Jesus' sacrifice while they are taking the bread and cup, whether it's communal or individual? How many people go out and live daily lives remembering Him? I think that's more of an issue to Jesus than whether you don't want to get the swine flu.

Uh, how about if I'm sick I just don't go to church and risk infecting my church family? Seems like common sense as well as common courtesy and makes the whole issue moot.

Uh, how about if I'm sick I just stay home from church for a week and not risk infecting my church family? Seems like common sense as well as common courtesy and makes this entire issue moot.

The organized, heirachical church be it orthodox or the denomination of Roman Catholic, or other protestant denominations, have long departed from the simlicity of the Church being the Community they were chosen to be in the NT. Denominations, became the curse of the reformation and regardless of what is manifest in the West and elseware have long departed from the centrality of Jesus Christ, God's sovereignty and being led by the Holy Spirit.
The insipid practice of communion on Sundays is tied into "individualism" with a little plastic cup and some cookie. This brings upon every one who participates in this profound act, commanded by the Lord of the Church as The New Covenant an attending curse (carefully read the text of 1Cor.11).The Church in the US is dead!!Having lost not only its credibility but true call and witness. To all those reading this, get out now and find a small worshipping, witnessing community close to where you live.(Read the book by Georg Barna and it will help you a lot). There are at this present time and growing, hundreds of small groups, of simple, disciples, loving saints, whose care and sincerity of hearts and lives are powerful local witness.
I am a pastor/servant of such a gracious body of people and we brake bread each Friday night and pass a single cup around, since we are a few. You can dip the broken bread, or drink from the cup, before wiping it and passing it around. During this time, there is the awesome presence of the Lord who brings healing, reconcilliation and Life.
Returning to Asia next month from where I come, we witness the same power and presence of the Lord of His Church, in simple obedience to His word and absolute subjection to His Lordship. We have numbers of small groups and growing in faith, and discipline, walking daily in obedience, under great hardship, depravation and persecution.
You foolish, pathetic Americans, need to repent,"sell all you have, give to the poor, and come and follow Him." Ditch your comfort and security if you have not so far, since Divine Judgment is already upon you and all you trusted in is being wiped out from under you.
God's care on those who trust Him is phenominal, and many of us experience this care daily. We don't defend the faith, we live it and the true faith will defend itself.
Rev.Maxwell Parsons - Sri Lanka.

I must say I am relieved to read that I am not the only one out there who has not lost sight of the true issue here. We are referring to the "Body and Blood Jesus Christ" here.....He is the same now and always, this means that even the H1N1 virus CANNOT diminish this! It is our momentary lapse of faith, that has opened the door to fear and doubt! This is not a religious ceremony that began in recent years. We (we our selves along with our brothers and sisters in Christ) have partaken in this Glorious Mystery for centuries, and I do not recall ever once hearing of anyone, not one participant, who ever became deathly ill as a result of drinking after another in Holy Communion. If I anyone knows of one such case I would be willing to listen. In the mean time, let's take a deep breath and get hold of ourselves here. In my estimation, anyone who shuns this practice may as well be among those sad souls who turned their backs on Christ whilst on that painful journey to Calvary! If you have to question this, I say why are you even there in the first place.....

I agree with Rev. Moore. I understand why people are hesitant to partake of the common cup, but the theological reasons behind the common cup are indisputable. Unfortunately too many of us want to remake the faith tradition to fit our own thinking, which is the opposite of what Jesus taught. Jesus was about God's kin-dom. It is very easy to say, "I'm sure God will forgive me..." But while God forgives, we still have to learn that lesson and so we will have to face it again, in another form, until we are changed...!

I have been a word of faith pastor and evangelists for 27 years. I was reared in the Methodist church, where we never used the commom cup. I still don't use it in my church and never will. The communion is all about what it symbolizes, not the exact method. Same old problem I've had to confront all these years, "religious tradition." Jesus said, "your tradition has made the word of God of no effect. Not much has changed.

What an unfotunate and misleading article! On top of that, Mr. Gibson is adding to the confusion by seemingly implying that the Catholic Bishops are what...non believers in the grace of the power of the Blood of Christ in Holy Communion? Cheap jab, and coming from a Catholic! Holy Communion is Mystery, NOT MAGIC! Grace builds on nature, Catholic theolgy posits.
Thomistic theology(based on Aristotilian philosophy) which coined the term "transubstantiation" refers to the belief that while the substance of the bread and wine is changed into the body and blood of Christ, the accidents(what it looks like, tastes like, etc.) remain as bread and wine.
If wine can carry bacteria, the consecration of the wine to Christ's blood
is not going to affect that. That bacteria or virus does not magically disappear. The bishops are right(for a change) in withdrawing the cup because it can pass germs. God didn't use magic, nor His power to take His only Son down from the cross, so why should we be so presumptive to think that things are different now. Mr. Gibson, you are adding a burden to your brothers and sisters in Christ that you ought to have removed.
Shame on you!

Some Catholic dioceses may be withholding the cup during the flu season, but that is not the recommendation of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Every year at flu season, and not just this year, there are always people who suggest discontinuing use of the common cup. Interestingly, these are often the same people who want the cup reserved to the priest all the time. Be that as it may, the USCCB has commissioned more than one epidemiological study of germ and virus transmission by the common cup. The following are the scientific facts:

1. More germs and viruses are transmitted by hands than by mouth.
2. The alcohol in the Precious Blood kills germs (most anti-microbial gels and such are alcohol-based)
3. Turning the cup and wiping the rim between each communicant further reduces the risk of transmission
4. The way of receiving communion that is MOST prone to transmission of germs and viruses is receiving the host on the tongue.

The USCCB recommends two liturgical precautions during the flu season: to wash your hands and to refrain from the cup if you feel ill. Period.

God did not tell us to be ignorant, if someone is sick you do not share cups with them, since this virus is not seen you do not know who has it. The act of masses drinking from the same cup should have stopped years ago with the rise of diseases. If your a bible reader read what even God and Jesus say about disease and tells people who has them to stay away from society until healed. Leviticus Ch. 13 entire, Matthew Ch 8:2-4, Numbers Ch 12:10-16

buster, get yourself some counseling...better yet, you might want to check yourself in somewhere.

The Eucharist is celebrated in so many different ways throughout Christendom. As for Episcopalians (and I believe Catholics and Lutherans), "communion in one kind" -- that is, the host only -- is considered "full communion", precluding the need for the common cup (if anyone is wary or knows themselves to be sick).

Issue resolved.

IF, however, someone feels the need to "throw caution to the wind" and decides to still receive the common cup, the fact that it is (with the above churches) wine (i.e., alcohol) from usually a silver chalice (with its anti-microbial properties) which is then wiped by the chalice-bearer after each sip further removes risk of infection.

Frankly, it's the churches who use grape juice from a non-silver chalice who are at the highest risk. Many of these churches already use individual cups anyway and only celebrate the Eucharist once a month.

In short, this really isn't that big a deal.