[johngrace]

Hi Alamo-Girl- I think why is because of the real presence. Do you believe the real presence? if you do not it is a big hurdle. Not every christian believes as you proably know.

But you can go up for a blessing just cross your arms like an x and you will get an apostolic blessing.You do it during the line for communion.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for sharing your insights and for your encouragements!

The reason I included all those Scriptures in context is that I do indeed recognize the "real presence" - the body of Christ which entails all of us who are alive in Him:

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. - Colossians 3:3

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. - Romans 8:9

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. - John 15:4-5

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? - I Corinthians 6:19

Of course, by "real presence" I am aware the Catholics and Orthodox mean transubstantiation of the physical cup and bread. And the Lutherans teach consubstantiation.

Both of those are doctrinal terms.

Bottom line to me, whether one embraces transubstantiation, consubstantiation or symbolism (whether a formal Shabbat or other remembrance when assembled together) - what is happening is not strictly physical and there is symbolism to teach us.

For instance, Melchizedek presented both bread and wine to Abraham:

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. – Genesis 14:18

And again:

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. – Matt 4:4

Give us this day our daily bread. – Matt 6:11

I am that bread of life. – John 6:48

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. – John 6:63

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. – John 5:24

God's Name is I AM.