The means of grace (things like preaching and sacraments) are meant to be just that. Means by which the grace of God reaches down to us. I've been reflecting recently that often we try to absolutize the means of grace so that they become not means but ends in themselves, and not grace (i.e. His initiative) but works (i.e. ours!).
And then we divide over whatever our chosen 'means of grace' might be.
So the danger for the catholic is to see the eucharist not as a means of God's encounter with man but rather the moment in which they make God manifest (ex opere operato - by doing it, it is done). When the ritual is performed well/reverently/at all, Christ's presence is enjoyed. Christ is not present through the sacrament but rather the performance of the mass is Christ's presence. The mass becomes the point.
The danger for the charismatic is to view the singing of spiritual songs in the midst of the congregation not as a means of grace but as the time when ‘God's in the house'. When the band are playing well, God shows up - ex opere operato. In that case God is not present in and through ‘worship' but ‘worship' is equated with the divine presence. Worship becomes the point.
The danger for the evangelical is to see preaching not as a means of grace but as the action we perform whereby we guarantee a divine speech act. The Proclamation Trust states ‘When the bible is taught, God himself speaks.' Now I totally believe that the preaching of the word of God is the word of God (see Theology Network paper here) but let's get the order right. He graciously speaks through our preaching, we cannot bring Him down through our correct exposition. The danger is that simple exposition of a biblical passage or theme is itself the encounter with God - ex opere operato. Preaching becomes the point.
Yet surely, Christ is the point. And the Lord's supper and worship and preaching are ways that Jesus can and does make Himself known to us, among us and in us. Yet He will not be brought down by our performance of these acts. They are His means (note means) of grace (note: grace!). He always remains free in His self-giving - in the bread and wine, in our corporate life, in His word.
That's why it's often great to hear a catholic preaching well, or an evangelical leading ‘worship' or a charismatic presiding at the Lord's table. For then, they are less tempted to see the simple operation of this act as the point but as a means of making Christ known - He is the point.
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