A sacrament is a
religious sign or symbol, especially associated with Christian churches,
in which a sacred or spiritual power is believed to be transmitted through
material elements viewed as channels of divine grace of God. It comes from
the Latin
word 'sacramentum', which etymologically
is an ambiguous.theological.term
used in Roman law.
The sacrament later became
an oath of allegiance taken by soldiers to their commander when embarking
on a new campaign and was sworn in some sacred place using words having
religious connotation. It was
adopted by the early religionists in the 3rd century, some 300 years after
Christ came and died.
The Latin word 'sacer' meaning
'holy' was brought into conjunction by those deciding to use it in the
way they wanted, with the Greek word 'mysterion' meaning 'secret
rite'. 'Sacramentum' was thus given a sacred mysterious significance that
indicated some kind of a spiritual potency,
supposedly transmitted through material instruments viewed as channels
of divine grace.
The Roman Catholic Saint
Augustine defined 'sacrament' as "the visible form of an invisible grace"
or "a sign of a sacred thing". Similarly, The Roman Catholic Saint Thomas
Aquinas wrote that anything that is called sacred
may be called 'sacramentum', a sacrament. Is 'mass' sacred? Is that why
the word 'massacre' refers to much cruel murder? It is sacred
to satanists having to do with anything satanic, such as child
sacrifice as practiced by the Catholic, Anglican and United churches?
And just who is it that decides what something is to be regarded as worthy
of becoming sacrimental? These
religiots
it seems.
True Christians and other
good people should avoid things that allude
to Satan and evil.
The word 'sacrament' has
been made efficacious by tying
it to Christ in order to establish some outward appearing bond of union
to the god of
those involved. Another hijack, like all the
rest.
The word sacrament is a sign
or symbol conveying something 'hidden' and 'mysterious', hidden so most
good people would not find its true meaning and mysterious so that those
who may come across it, wouldn't discover its significance.
In the 12th century the number
of sacraments of the Western churches was narrowed by the theologian and
bishop Peter Lombard to seven: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist (the
Lord's Supper), penance, holy orders, matrimony and extreme unction. This
enumeration was accepted by St. Thomas Aquinas, the Council of Florence
(1439) and the Council of Trent (1545–63).
These rites were thus affirmed
by the Roman Catholic Church as sacraments that were instituted by Christ.
Protestant reformers of the 16th century accepted two or three sacraments
as valid: baptism, the Lord's Supper and in some fashion, penance. Eastern
Orthodoxy also accepts the sevenfold enumeration. In addition to these,
any ceremonial actions and objects related to sacraments include the use
of holy water, incense, vestments, candles, exorcisms, anointing and making
the sign of the cross, fasting, abstinence and almsgiving.
With the development by the
established churches of the time, infant baptism and a laying on of hands
were added.
What about today? Should
the sacrament be taken? From a historical perspective, no. From a religious
perspective, it depends on what you know and what you do with what you
know. It's always one's choice.
Ask yourself regarding anything
like thisthat is created on the opinions of man, if they come close to
the following scriptures:.Ephesians
4:13; Hebrews 2:10; 6:1,2.