Ordinance (Christianity)

This article is about the term "ordinance" as used by some Protestants for religious rituals. For the term in the canon law of some Christian faiths, see Ordinance (canon law).

Ordinance is a Protestant Christian term for baptism, communion and other religious rituals. Some Protestants, such as Baptists, Churches of Christ, Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and Mennonites,[1] do not call them "sacraments" because they believe these rituals are outward expressions of faith, rather than impartations of God's grace.

While a sacrament is seen as something in and of itself sacred, an ordinance is a practice that merely demonstrates the participants' faith. The ordinances are observed in remembrance of Jesus, primarily his baptism and the last supper (communion or eucharist).

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Third Way Café: Sacraments/ordinances


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