Comments on: Recommendation and Review: Take This Bread by Sara Miles http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:19:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: dumb ox http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles/comment-page-1#comment-356557 dumb ox Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:00:58 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles#comment-356557 Ok, almost a year later, I am now reading Sara's book. I am absolutely amazed. Sara describes communion and its connection to the Christian life in a way that I have longed to hear for years. She uses phrases like "mystified", "speechless", and being reduced to tears. If more evangelicals would get it like she does, I don't think communion would be relegated to a quarterly event or rushed through after the sermon. Is she perfect? You know, in the lifetime I have been a Christian or even during the 29 years since I made a "decision" for Christ, I sure thought I would be a lot closer myself. I sure thought I would be less of a jerk by now. Sara is real. That may be the one thing that pretentious evangelicals will find offensive about her. It is amazing to me that after seeing the darkest side of Christianity that she could still be embraced by Christ. Ok, almost a year later, I am now reading Sara’s book. I am absolutely amazed. Sara describes communion and its connection to the Christian life in a way that I have longed to hear for years. She uses phrases like “mystified”, “speechless”, and being reduced to tears. If more evangelicals would get it like she does, I don’t think communion would be relegated to a quarterly event or rushed through after the sermon.

Is she perfect? You know, in the lifetime I have been a Christian or even during the 29 years since I made a “decision” for Christ, I sure thought I would be a lot closer myself. I sure thought I would be less of a jerk by now. Sara is real. That may be the one thing that pretentious evangelicals will find offensive about her. It is amazing to me that after seeing the darkest side of Christianity that she could still be embraced by Christ.

]]> By: NextReformation » take this bread http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles/comment-page-1#comment-217096 NextReformation » take this bread Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:08:57 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles#comment-217096 [...] Michael Spencer writes, [...] [...] Michael Spencer writes, [...]

]]> By: Mike Morrell http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles/comment-page-1#comment-210043 Mike Morrell Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:42:35 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles#comment-210043 <a href="http://anamchara.com/2008/03/06/quote-for-the-day-48/" rel="nofollow">Here's</a> a good quote summarizing the early Syrian Church's inclusive stance on sharing the Eucharist. I think as we dig through the Gospels, the New Testament, and Church history, we might find that a more authentically conservative retrieval of (the best of) Tradition supports Jesus' scandalous grace and outpoured love. Here’s a good quote summarizing the early Syrian Church’s inclusive stance on sharing the Eucharist. I think as we dig through the Gospels, the New Testament, and Church history, we might find that a more authentically conservative retrieval of (the best of) Tradition supports Jesus’ scandalous grace and outpoured love.

]]> By: Michael Spencer http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles/comment-page-1#comment-209132 Michael Spencer Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:27:15 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles#comment-209132 Jared, Good summary argument, but I am curious if you can articulate how a restricted eucharistic table relates to Jesus' meals during his ministry. Also, I need to research this, but it's my understanding that Jewish passover liturgy includes a call for all to come and eat. I wouldn't argue with you or anyone that Christian practice has been to restrict the table, but I don't have an RC view of tradition :-) peace MS Jared,

Good summary argument, but I am curious if you can articulate how a restricted eucharistic table relates to Jesus’ meals during his ministry.

Also, I need to research this, but it’s my understanding that Jewish passover liturgy includes a call for all to come and eat.

I wouldn’t argue with you or anyone that Christian practice has been to restrict the table, but I don’t have an RC view of tradition :-)

peace

MS

]]> By: Jared Nelson http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles/comment-page-1#comment-209125 Jared Nelson Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:21:29 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles#comment-209125 I think the idea of hospitality in eating with others who are non-Christians is a biblical imperative and I whole-heartedly embrace that. However, The Passover meal was just for circumcised that no outsider was to eat (Exodus 12:43). In the same way, no one should take the Eucharist except those baptized into the community. It is also the instruction of the Didache "But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized into the name of the Lord." (Didache 9) They had a similar policy in Jonathan Edwards church and he tried to change it, and that is part of the reason he was kicked out. It may sound nice, but is dangerous ground as one who does not decern the body "drinks judgment on himself." 1 Cor 11:29 I think there are evangelistic tools out there that do not require us to open the eucharistic table. I think the idea of hospitality in eating with others who are non-Christians is a biblical imperative and I whole-heartedly embrace that. However, The Passover meal was just for circumcised that no outsider was to eat (Exodus 12:43). In the same way, no one should take the Eucharist except those baptized into the community. It is also the instruction of the Didache “But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized into the name of the Lord.” (Didache 9)

They had a similar policy in Jonathan Edwards church and he tried to change it, and that is part of the reason he was kicked out. It may sound nice, but is dangerous ground as one who does not decern the body “drinks judgment on himself.” 1 Cor 11:29

I think there are evangelistic tools out there that do not require us to open the eucharistic table.

]]> By: Michael Spencer http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles/comment-page-1#comment-208796 Michael Spencer Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:47:40 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles#comment-208796 Post titles are permalinks. Post titles are permalinks.

]]> By: Rob Rumfelt http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles/comment-page-1#comment-208650 Rob Rumfelt Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:58:54 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles#comment-208650 Scott M, No, I haven't read "Out of Egypt" yet. Finally getting around to it. By waiting so long, I have the advantage of reading "Road to Cana" right after! Scott M,

No, I haven’t read “Out of Egypt” yet. Finally getting around to it. By waiting so long, I have the advantage of reading “Road to Cana” right after!

]]> By: Aranion http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles/comment-page-1#comment-208499 Aranion Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:25:39 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles#comment-208499 Great review - I'll be getting the book soon. An unrelated request, since I didn't see any other way to leave it: could you look into the possibility of having Permalink functionality with the blog? I would love to share specific posts with friends and family, but there's no easy way to do that right now. I don't like cutting and pasting, because 1) it doesn't encourage people to read more of you and 2) the formatting is always screwed up. Back to reading and lurking... Great review – I’ll be getting the book soon.

An unrelated request, since I didn’t see any other way to leave it: could you look into the possibility of having Permalink functionality with the blog? I would love to share specific posts with friends and family, but there’s no easy way to do that right now. I don’t like cutting and pasting, because 1) it doesn’t encourage people to read more of you and 2) the formatting is always screwed up.

Back to reading and lurking…

]]> By: stamati http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles/comment-page-1#comment-208420 stamati Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:35:06 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles#comment-208420 I agree with accepting those who are marginalized, but I don't think that means we ought to accept people as they are, or rather we should not be content with allowing people stay where they are. God has not left me as a child, he has not left me as a suicidally depressed 7th grader, and he has not left me hopeless. He has challenged me re-think my behaviors and alter my lifestyle in a lot of ways. Some of those ways I have rethought and grown up in as well, knowing that there is a line between holiness and legalism. I suppose my principle gripe with Miles' is that it seems she would be content leaving sin well enough alone, or at least certain sin that masks itself as a "but-this-is-who-I-am" statement. There is a place for messiness, sure, but there's far more room for a vibrant, unmuddled Life. I agree with accepting those who are marginalized, but I don’t think that means we ought to accept people as they are, or rather we should not be content with allowing people stay where they are. God has not left me as a child, he has not left me as a suicidally depressed 7th grader, and he has not left me hopeless. He has challenged me re-think my behaviors and alter my lifestyle in a lot of ways. Some of those ways I have rethought and grown up in as well, knowing that there is a line between holiness and legalism. I suppose my principle gripe with Miles’ is that it seems she would be content leaving sin well enough alone, or at least certain sin that masks itself as a “but-this-is-who-I-am” statement. There is a place for messiness, sure, but there’s far more room for a vibrant, unmuddled Life.

]]> By: theophilusmonk http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles/comment-page-1#comment-208263 theophilusmonk Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:57:08 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-take-this-bread-by-sara-miles#comment-208263 Sounds like a very interesting book and I am going to be getting a copy. Since you seem to be very interested in the meaning and practice behind the Lord's Supper etc. I would like to recommend a book to you that is one of the books I am reading in my Sacraments class in my MA in Catholic Theology program. It is called the "Hidden Manna" 2nd ed. by Fr. James T. O'Connor. Gives a fascinating study of the Eucharist from the beginning through all the arguments throughout history to the present day. Here is one of my favorite quotes from this book, “the Eucharistic appearances are themselves the boundary between the visible and invisible orders of creation, the horizon at which earthly time and the everlasting aeon of the blessed touch. The appearances are the window whose far side holds ‘what God has prepared for those who love him.’ (1 Cor 2:9).” Also if you get a chance check out my new blog at theophilusmonk.wordpress.com, Michael you have been an inspiration to me over the past few years so I wish you nothing but the best and God's Peace to you! Sounds like a very interesting book and I am going to be getting a copy. Since you seem to be very interested in the meaning and practice behind the Lord’s Supper etc. I would like to recommend a book to you that is one of the books I am reading in my Sacraments class in my MA in Catholic Theology program. It is called the “Hidden Manna” 2nd ed. by Fr. James T. O’Connor. Gives a fascinating study of the Eucharist from the beginning through all the arguments throughout history to the present day. Here is one of my favorite quotes from this book, “the Eucharistic appearances are themselves the boundary between the visible and invisible orders of creation, the horizon at which earthly time and the everlasting aeon of the blessed touch. The appearances are the window whose far side holds ‘what God has prepared for those who love him.’ (1 Cor 2:9).” Also if you get a chance check out my new blog at theophilusmonk.wordpress.com, Michael you have been an inspiration to me over the past few years so I wish you nothing but the best and God’s Peace to you!

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