“Communion table”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

The use of a simple table, generally built of wood, instead of an altar made of stone reflects these churches' rejection of the suggestion of sacrifice in the rite: they believe that the Passion of Jesus Christ was a perfect sacrifice for sins made once for all ({{bibleverse||Hebrews|9:25|NIV}}-10:4).

Many Protestant churches that choose not to use the term "altar" may still have an "altar call", in which visitors wish to make a new spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ are invited to come forward to the front of the church.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Having or not having a Communion table was a subject of dispute within Scottish Presbyterianism in the 17th century, with the Independents opposing its use.^[5]

The United Methodist Church states that the term "altar" is often used but the correct (traditional) terms are "Lord's table" and "Communion table" for the table upon which the elements are placed during Holy Communion.^[6] High church Methodists may use the term "altar" exclusively, copying the Anglican usage.

Location and adornment

The table may be very simple, adorned perhaps with only a linen cloth, or with an open Bible or some receptacle to collect an offering. In modern use many Protestants adorn their tables with candles, though the use of candles was historically rejected among most Protestants. Some Communion tables often bear the inscription Do This in Remembrance of Me from the Last Supper ({{bibleverse||Luke|22:19|KJV}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|11:24|KJV}}), indicating the belief in Holy Communion being a memorial rather than a sacrifice, or the words Holy, Holy, Holy as a recollection of the union between the whole of creation in worship.

Such a table may be temporary, being moved into place when there is a Communion Service, but generally holds a permanent (or semi-permanent) position of some prominence in the worship space. Instead of a high altar, the sanctuary may be dominated only by a large, centralized pulpit,^[7] or there may be no pulpit as in old Quaker meeting houses.^[8]^[9] Some bring in a Communion table when needed.^[10]

For example, St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral in Sydney does not have a prominent Communion table.^[11]^[12] The strongly Evangelical church leadership decided that the table should be placed in a more forward position in the chancel and that it should be easily portable in order that it might be removed when not required for Holy Communion, to clear a space for presentations and musical performances.

References

1. ^[https://books.google.com/books?id=DG8cm43l7jIC&pg=PA58 Michael Keene, Christian Churches] Nelson Thornes 2001 {{ISBN|978-0-7487-5288-1}}, p. 58
2. ^[https://books.google.com/books?id=rIQO6nnUbhkC&pg=PA274&dq=Cox+%22no+altar+of+any+kind%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=dr_XUd3EOumf7Aagn4CQDw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Cox%20%22no%20altar%20of%20any%20kind%22&f=false Harvey Cox, Fire from Heaven] (Da Capo Press 2001 {{ISBN|978-0-7867-3134-3}}), p. 274
3. ^[https://books.google.com/books?id=60oHksliJYEC&pg=PA57 Elaine J. Lawless, God's Peculiar People] (University of Kentucky 2005 {{ISBN|978-0-8131-9141-6}}), p. 57
4. ^[https://books.google.com/books?id=BVhLNYT732AC&pg=PA95 Gary Bouma, Australian Soul] (Cambridge University Press 2006 {{ISBN|978-1-139-45938-9}}), p. 95
5. ^James Begg, "A Treatise on the Use of the Communion Table, in Celebrating the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper"
6. ^{{cite web|title=Glossary: altar - The United Methodist Church|url=http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/glossary-altar|publisher=United Methodist Communications}}
7. ^Huldrich Zwingli's minister church in Basel
8. ^[https://books.google.com/books?id=49sX6LzaE_oC&pg=PA45 Hugh Barbour, Quaker Crosscurrents] (Syracuse University Press 1995 {{ISBN|978-0-8156-2664-0}}), p. 45
9. ^[Laurie DeMott, "Marketing Christianity"]
10. ^Trinity Baptist Church
11. ^{{cite web|title=The Mystery Worshipper: St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, Australia|url=http://shipoffools.com/mystery/2003/708Mystery.html|publisher=Ship of Fools|accessdate=15 January 2017|date=2007}}
12. ^{{cite web|title=How great thou aren't - Elizabeth Farrelly - www.smh.com.au|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Elizabeth-Farrelly/How-great-thou-arent/2004/12/21/1103391752137.html|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=15 January 2017|date=21 December 2004}}

Terminology

Location and adornment

References