Introduction to Christian Worship by James F. White

I am slowly reading through Introduction of Christian Worship. He writes well but non-fiction is slow going.

I really like what he says about the sacraments.

I am going to summarize a little.

The number of sacraments is indeterminate. This is because a sacrament is anything God uses to reveal himself to us and work in our lives. There are not just seven as the Catholics say nor two as more Protestants say.

God is actively working through the sacraments to make changes in us. We experience the sacraments emotionally as well as mentally. Our whole being in involved. Sacraments are not just ways of remembering the past. So communion is not just a remembrance. God comes to us when we partake of communion.

We can probably think of person ways God touched us through a physical action. That can be a sacrament for us.

The sacraments are a third testament. It is another way to knowing God's self giving. The Old and New Testaments tell of God's giving to us in the past. In these writings God shows how he has given to us humans in the past. We learn of him nature. He reveals himself. It is also true in sacraments. He reveals himself, he gives himself. When he touches us he expects that touch to make a change.

I'm not doing White's discussion justice. But I wanted to try.