Today, I'm going to talk about the Sacraments. Understanding the Sacraments, and having a sacramental worldview in general, is an important aspect of Anglicanism, yet for me, it was initially difficult to accept from an evangelical framework. I'm going to attempt to explain what Sacraments are, the Sacraments themselves, and how they can be reconciled with an evangelical understanding of Christianity.
A Sacrament is an event or action that conveys God's grace to those who believe. There are many other ways that Sacraments are described; probably the most common that I've heard is "an outward sign of an inward and spiritual grace." Sacraments are of great comfort to Christians because they are a physical manifestation of God's grace; they can be seen, touched, and tasted. They are particularly helpful in times when faith is weak, because they are concrete rather than abstract, and they are backed up by the words of Christ.
The Church has traditionally recognized seven Sacraments. Among Anglicans, the two Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist (aka Communion or The Lord's Supper) are considered to have primary significance; the other five (Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination, Confession, and Unction/Healing) are considered to be either "Lesser Sacraments" or not Sacraments at all. But Baptism and Eucharist are special because Christ commanded His followers to baptize those who believe (Matthew 28:19) and to remember Him by practicing the Eucharist (Luke 22:19).
What do we mean when we say that Baptism and Eucharist are Sacraments? I think of it this way: we believe that Sacraments are what they signify. In the case of Baptism, we believe that the washing of water conveys the ultimate reality of sin being washed away. In the Eucharist, we believe that when we partake of the bread and wine, we are really receiving the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us.
I used to compartmentalize. I used to think that Baptism was just a sign of the washing away of sin that happened when I had faith in Christ. I used to think that Communion was just a way to get me to think about Christ, something that was done out of obedience with no deeper meaning. I realized that I had been captivated by a modern mindset: one that keeps a bold line of separation between the physical and the spiritual. This mindset placed emphasis on my inward experience of faith over outward expression. I realized that God did not create life to be this way. He wants our thoughts and actions to have synergy, to convey the same message. I realized that the sacrificial system in the Old Testament and the Sacraments in the New Testament were created by God, because He knows us better than we know ourselves, and because He wants our faith to dictate our actions. This is hard. I'm sure it was hard for people in the Old Testament to make the proper sacrifices and have hearts of contrition. It's hard for me sometimes to receive the Sacraments with my heart in the right place. But God wants my heart and my actions, my faith and my obedience. And He is faithful, even when I am faithless.
So, back to Baptism. How can I believe that Baptism is a literal washing away of sins and still claim sola fide? I was interested to learn that Martin Luther did. As far as I understand, Luther explained it this way: because of Christ's command to baptize, when a minister of the Gospel says, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," Christ Himself is saying those words to you. And because Christ has said those words to you, your sins have been washed away, if you believe Him. Thus your faith is not in the act of Baptism but in Christ. This last part is important: you must believe Christ in order for your Baptism to have been effective in washing away your sin. If you do not believe Christ (i.e. you have no faith), your Baptism accomplishes nothing. This is how we accept the verses in the Bible that seem to be saying that Baptism saves you: your Baptism really does wash away your sin, if you believe in Christ's words. Eucharist works the same way: if you believe in Christ's words, you really do receive His body and blood. But if you do not believe, nothing is gained. This is how Luther got away with believing in Sacramental efficacy and sola fide.
So what if someone has faith in Christ but dies before they can be baptized? It is their faith that saves them. But for most Christians, death before baptism is not inevitable. The point is this: faith, baptism, and salvation can't be neatly compartmentalized. What about a person who has faith in Christ but refuses to be baptized? Most churches I know that don't believe in Baptism as a Sacrament would still consider that at least an act of disobedience to God. Ultimately, God is the judge. And though we obey His commands, our faith is in Him and in His word, not in our own effort.
I have a lot more to say on the Sacraments, but I hope this serves as an introduction. This is not the only way to think about the Sacraments, but it is a way of thinking that was helpful to me as I considered these things.
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