Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org
LETTER SENT TO: IRISH EXAMINER
SUBJECT: THE MASS AND JOHN 6:53
DATE SENT: 4-4-01
Dear Sir,
Mr McGarry (Letters 4th April) rightly concludes that the recent debate
on the nature of Holy Communion should not be considered "trivial" It
goes to the very heart of the Reformation controversy.
Where Mr McGarry does err, however, is when he seeks to support his
belief in the mass from John 6:53 which he takes literally. Augustine,
considered to be a Doctor of the Roman Church, tells us how we
interpret John 6:53. I quote: "If
the sentence is one of command, either forbidding a crime or vice, or
enjoining an act of prudence or benevolence, it is not figurative. If,
however, it seems to enjoin a crime or vice, or to forbid an act of
prudence or benevolence, it is figurative. "Except ye eat the flesh of
the Son of man," says Christ, "and drink His blood, ye have no life in
you." [John 6:53] This seems to enjoin a crime or a vice; it is
therefore a figure…"(Christian Doctrine 3:16)
Yours faithfully,
Colin Maxwell
ARTICLE ON THE CAPERNAUM DISCOURSE IN JOHN 6
Index of other letters on many subjects sent