On the Eucharist, Reassurance from Isaiah, and a Question about Purgatory

Welcome to The Think Institute’s weekly Newsletter. I’m Joel Settecase, TTI President. Every week I send you and 1600+ other subscribers one idea from me, one quote from somebody else, and something to think about. It’s my prayer that you will find this edifying, encouraging, and inspiring in your spiritual and theological journey. And speaking of theology, the Purgatory Debate is happening this Monday, March 17, at 5 p.m. CDT. It will be an audio debate, and you can listen on X or watch my feed on YouTube. Now let’s dig in. 

AN IDEA FROM ME

 When you all eat the same bread together, you become the same thing. It's so symbolic of how the Lord Jesus, his body was killed for us. And that death is our spiritual nourishment, our justification, our sanctification. 

And then the church comes together and unites around that body, and through faith in Jesus Christ, we become the body of Christ. And we are the body of Christ as we gather together to take Communion, to take the Eucharist. 

—From today’s Livestream Q&A, Is the Eucharist DIRT? And How Did Our Atheist - Christian Debate Go?

A QUOTE FROM SOMEBODY ELSE

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.”

—Isaiah 43:1–2
(I don’t normally include Bible passages in this section, but this one came up in my Purgatory Debate prep, and I thought it was too perfect not to share. Can you see why I found it relevant?) 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Purgatory is the Roman Catholic dogma that states that a person who dies still having attachment to sin needs to be purged of that attachment. In Purgatory a person undergoes “satispassion,” a passive suffering of temporal punishment for sin that wasn’t completed in this life. Do you agree with many Protestant theologians that the idea of Purgatory undermines the finished work of Jesus Christ? If so, why? If not, why not?