a sol cafe manifesto: symbols are powerful and necessary, but don't confuse them with what they represent

a sol café manifesto

This is an attempt to capture a bit of what the sol café is all about. It will not capture everything. It won't even come close.

This is not a statement of faith. This is not a statement of vision. It's just a statement.

This is a piece of our manifesto:

symbols are powerful and necessary, but don't confuse them with what they represent

We had a debate once about whether or not we could do communion with white grape juice. Had someone suggest that we should do communion with red wine. Wondered why we don't have the same debates about the bread part of communion -- we've used everything from crackers to hotdog buns to whole French loaves. Interesting discussions, but ultimately the answer was "that's not the point."

In the book of Luke in the Bible, Chapter 22, the story is told of how the symbol of communion came to be: 'And [Jesus] took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."'

He didn't say "do this just for the sake of doing it... and don't forget to fight a whole bunch about the right way to do it." The point is remembering the meaning behind the symbol of communion.

That being said, it's a beauty of a symbol.

contributed by Black Riders

3 response(s):

Joseph Walker says...: I think part of this "use of symbol" stuff has to do with the fact that we did not invent the story, but rather we find ourselves placed in it. Personally, I find the bread/cup to be both the continuation and the transformation of the Passover, and I see Jesus transforming, but not eliminating, the symbols tied to the Exodus.

My thoughts have to do with the nature of symbols - ones which are already part of a story that I find myself in - how do I use/ change/ appropriate such "given" symbols? Do I lose anything if I change the symbols too much/ as opposed to using the strict form of the symbols without considering our own context...
steve the z says...: Actually, I think the opposite of the term "symbol" when it comes to communion. From how I understand it, that Jesus is present in the articles of communion, that actually in some mysterious way the articles are a part of Jesus.

If it was a picture of bread and wine on the wall, then it is a symbol. but since we consume something as prescribed by his instruction we are becoming part of the body of Christ.

This also aludes to my belief that much of the Christian culture has a mathematical faith, 2+2=4. When in reality there is by nature more we don't understand than what we do. How is bread and wine Christ, how do we explain that? how can I even say that, am i a heretic? (maybe), but we can talk about it.
joe says...: ...maybe as we get closer to easter/passover/ the original last supper time, we can make this a conversation focus and communion event...just a thought.

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	antecedents don't do anything just because "we've always done ... our whole life is an act of prayer all of this could be wrong God leads this church, not us church should not be a barrier to people getting t... we don't get why the world is so screwed up we have more questions than we have answers our whole life is an act of love our whole life is an act of service our whole life is an act of worship more manifesto March 2006 April 2006 July 2006 October 2006 January 2007 July 2007 now			a sol café manifesto This is an attempt to capture a bit of what the sol café is all about. It will not capture everything. It won't even come close. This is not a statement of faith. This is not a statement of vision. It's just a statement. This is a piece of our manifesto: symbols are powerful and necessary, but don't confuse them with what they represent We had a debate once about whether or not we could do communion with white grape juice. Had someone suggest that we should do communion with red wine. Wondered why we don't have the same debates about the bread part of communion -- we've used everything from crackers to hotdog buns to whole French loaves. Interesting discussions, but ultimately the answer was "that's not the point." In the book of Luke in the Bible, Chapter 22, the story is told of how the symbol of communion came to be: 'And [Jesus] took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."' He didn't say "do this just for the sake of doing it... and don't forget to fight a whole bunch about the right way to do it." The point is remembering the meaning behind the symbol of communion. That being said, it's a beauty of a symbol. contributed by Black Riders 3 response(s): Joseph Walker says... I think part of this "use of symbol" stuff has to do with the fact that we did not invent the story, but rather we find ourselves placed in it. Personally, I find the bread/cup to be both the continuation and the transformation of the Passover, and I see Jesus transforming, but not eliminating, the symbols tied to the Exodus. My thoughts have to do with the nature of symbols - ones which are already part of a story that I find myself in - how do I use/ change/ appropriate such "given" symbols? Do I lose anything if I change the symbols too much/ as opposed to using the strict form of the symbols without considering our own context... steve the z says... Actually, I think the opposite of the term "symbol" when it comes to communion. From how I understand it, that Jesus is present in the articles of communion, that actually in some mysterious way the articles are a part of Jesus. If it was a picture of bread and wine on the wall, then it is a symbol. but since we consume something as prescribed by his instruction we are becoming part of the body of Christ. This also aludes to my belief that much of the Christian culture has a mathematical faith, 2+2=4. When in reality there is by nature more we don't understand than what we do. How is bread and wine Christ, how do we explain that? how can I even say that, am i a heretic? (maybe), but we can talk about it. joe says... ...maybe as we get closer to easter/passover/ the original last supper time, we can make this a conversation focus and communion event...just a thought. Post a Comment Links to this post: <$BlogBacklinkTitle$> <$BlogBacklinkSnippet$> posted by <$BlogBacklinkAuthor$> @ <$BlogBacklinkDateTime$> Create a Link more manifesto March 2006 April 2006 July 2006 October 2006 January 2007 July 2007 [back to the manifesto main page]