Sound or picture?

As churches seek to facilitate worship during the COVID-19 outbreak many have provided services online. When doing so, the question arises - do we go MP3 and just use sound? Or should we go full video?

Without entering that specific debate, our catechism question today shows us that Jesus gave his church sound and picture, in full HD.

Q43. What are the sacraments or ordinances?A. The sacraments or ordinances given by God and instituted by Christ, namely baptism and the Lords Supper, are visible signs and seals that we are bound together as a community of faith by his death and resurrection. By our use of them the Holy Spirit more fully declares and seals the promises of the gospel to us.

There is a big difference between the long and short answers today! But it is worth pondering the long answer, as it helps deepen our understanding of two very familiar 'rituals' of the church. Here's a couple of things to note.

The gospel isn't just something to KNOW, we must EXPERIENCE it. If the gospel was simply to be known, understood and believed, then words in a book would be enough. God does give us words in a book. Through the bible he speaks to our minds. There is content and logic in the gospel. But there is more too. That's why he gives us sacraments - which use water, bread and wine. Things we touch. Things which we eat, taste and experience. Every day things, which the Holy Spirit takes and uses to seal the promises of the gospel on us. That means as we experience these sacraments, he impresses the truth we know in our heads, into our hearts - so we are assured of the promises, and transformed by them.

These pictures reveal what we need. Who doesn't need to wash? Who can make it through a day without eating? Or even without snacking! The pictures God choose to give his church use ordinary, everyday experiences. Things which we can't go without. And so they show us - this gospel, is something which you need. Specifically they say, you cannot do without the person these pictures show to you.

These pictures reveal what has been provided. What we need has been provided in Jesus Christ. And we are called to RECEIVE him. We will not find what we need anywhere else. Or from anyone else. We cannot find it within ourselves. These are pictures of receiving. In baptism, the one being baptised is washed - they do not wash themselves. In communion, the bread and wine are given to us, even as we take, eat and drink. So these pictures point us away from ourselves, to the one who provides what we need.

These pictures display our unity. As members of his church we are all baptised into Christ. When we take communion, we all take the same bread and wine. This shows we are equal. This displays our unity. This reveal our ongoing need to Jesus. This encourages us to love, forgive and encourage each other.

We'll see more as we look at each sacrament over the coming questions. As we do so, lets remember how much richer the church is, as God did not just give us words, he gave us pictures in full HD. More, he gave us them in 4D - fully immersive experiences which reveal his son Jesus and seal the gospel on our hearts.