Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 9
The transcript criticizes “ridiculous extremes” over crumbs (wafers that “no longer look like bread,” placing it in mouths, Orthodox spoon-feeding with a “bib”), while still affirming reverence and quoting early concern (Tertullian) about careful handling; where is the line between reverence and distortion, and what concrete practices would help a church avoid both carelessness and overcorrection?
Another way to ask: How can a church show real reverence for communion without going to extremes, and what specific practices would help avoid both carelessness and overreaction?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
In the transcript, the line is crossed when crumb-avoidance destroys the basic “breaking bread” character of communion, but reverence is upheld when the church handles the bread respectfully and takes practical steps to reduce needless crumbs without turning communion into something unrecognizable.
- He criticizes Western extremes: to ensure unleavened bread, many churches use wafers that “no longer looks like bread,” undermining the sense of “breaking bread.”
- He critiques Catholic methods (placing it in mouths, historically withholding the cup) as driven by fear of “a crumb going astray,” though he says he “appreciate[s]…their respect.”
- He describes Orthodox practice (crumbs in the cup, spoon-feeding, deacon holding a “bib”) and says it looks far from “we broke bread this morning.”
- He still affirms reverence: the bread is “something sacred,” and we should not have crumbs “trampled on.”
- Concrete practices he commends include: experimenting with recipes “that don’t crumble,” leaning toward “a flat bread,” and the ancient practice of holding hands in a way that “you do get the crumbs…not just falling all over the floor.”