The ancient understanding of Rememberance
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 8:25 pm
Which path do you take concerning the understanding of Rememberance, Via Moderna (modern way) or Via Antiqua (ancient way)?
The modern way, which emerged during the time of the enlightenment and reformation is to Remember something by recalling an event, a simple memorial.
The Ancient way, that which the Jews of the OT and those in the NT, when it came to feasts, was to Remember not just by recalling something but to actually participate in what was being Remembered in the feast. The ancient world of the Apostles viewed time also different then we do today. Sure time passed, but there were Days of the Lord, feast days, in which those days the people would Worship in such a way and feast in such a way that the event was not just a recollection of passed events, but was to partake in the very event that was being recalled. The ancient way means for example, when the Jews ate the passover lamb they were not just remembering it in the modern way, but became participants in the very first passover. This, by the Apostles and Christ Himself and the Church Fathers who came afterwards lead to the view of the Eucharist, being a central part of the Worship of the Church, it was and still is viewed as taken part in the once for all sacrifice in a feast, with bread as the symbol of the Lamb of God and the wine being His Blood (1 Cor 10), but the kicker is that it also meant that to partake in the service was to actually partake of the sacrifice of Christ, to truly receive the Body and Blood of the Lord in the Heavenly offering of Christ Himself. This is also why the Church has had the view of Worship not being here, but more important being in Heaven before the Lords Table with Christ truly leading the Liturgy.
I came from the modern way, but I have switched camps some time ago. Which do believe to be valid? Do you believe that the Apostles traditioned the Ancient way or the modern way?
The modern way, which emerged during the time of the enlightenment and reformation is to Remember something by recalling an event, a simple memorial.
The Ancient way, that which the Jews of the OT and those in the NT, when it came to feasts, was to Remember not just by recalling something but to actually participate in what was being Remembered in the feast. The ancient world of the Apostles viewed time also different then we do today. Sure time passed, but there were Days of the Lord, feast days, in which those days the people would Worship in such a way and feast in such a way that the event was not just a recollection of passed events, but was to partake in the very event that was being recalled. The ancient way means for example, when the Jews ate the passover lamb they were not just remembering it in the modern way, but became participants in the very first passover. This, by the Apostles and Christ Himself and the Church Fathers who came afterwards lead to the view of the Eucharist, being a central part of the Worship of the Church, it was and still is viewed as taken part in the once for all sacrifice in a feast, with bread as the symbol of the Lamb of God and the wine being His Blood (1 Cor 10), but the kicker is that it also meant that to partake in the service was to actually partake of the sacrifice of Christ, to truly receive the Body and Blood of the Lord in the Heavenly offering of Christ Himself. This is also why the Church has had the view of Worship not being here, but more important being in Heaven before the Lords Table with Christ truly leading the Liturgy.
I came from the modern way, but I have switched camps some time ago. Which do believe to be valid? Do you believe that the Apostles traditioned the Ancient way or the modern way?