The concept of containing the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, within a small, man-made wafer is an idea that invites deep reflection. It raises profound questions about the nature of God’s greatness and the limitations of human understanding. Throughout Scripture, we are shown that God is beyond measure, beyond time, and beyond space. He is not confined to a physical form, nor can He be contained in any object made by human hands. And yet, the belief that Christ's body, soul, flesh, and blood can be encapsulated within a piece of bread, no matter how reverent the intention, seems to be in direct contradiction to the very nature of God as revealed in His Word.
In this post, we will explore several verses that emphasize God's immeasurable greatness, His omnipresence, and His transcendence. These passages from Scripture challenge the notion that the Creator of the universe, who cannot be contained by the heavens or the earth, could somehow be reduced to the confines of a wafer. Let us reflect on what the Bible truly says about the nature of God and His relationship to His creation, and consider whether such a belief aligns with the Scriptures.
2 Chronicles 6:18 states, “heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!”
This verse emphasizes that God, who fills the vast heavens, cannot be contained by any physical space. If the heavens themselves cannot contain God, how could a small, man-made wafer possibly hold His infinite presence?The idea that sinners can call down Christ, who is part of the Trinity, to dwell in a wafer contradicts the vastness of His divine nature. Scripture reveals that God’s presence is limitless and cannot be contained or controlled by humans. Therefore, the concept of containing Christ in a wafer is impossible, as it diminishes His infinite nature.
2 Chronicles 7:2 says, “And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.”
This verse shows that God's glory is so overwhelming and all-encompassing that even the priests were unable to enter the temple because of His presence. If God's glory is so immense that it fills the entire temple, how could He be confined to a small wafer? This highlights the absurdity of trying to limit the infinite God to any physical object or space, including a wafer, no matter the ritual.
1 Kings 8:27 says, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?”
This verse emphasizes that even the vast heavens cannot contain God. If God’s presence is so great and limitless that He cannot be contained by the heavens or any earthly dwelling, how then could a small wafer, created by human hands, hold Him? Furthermore, how are humans—mere mortals, no less—to consume or "eat" God, who is beyond all comprehension and containment? The idea that we can physically take in the Almighty contradicts the nature of God's infinite presence, as described in Scripture.
Isaiah 66:1-2 says, “The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?”
This passage emphasizes that God is so great that the entire universe, including the heavens and earth, is His throne and footstool. If the Creator of all things is too immense to be contained by anything in creation, how could He be confined to a wafer? Moreover, how can mere humans think they can "consume" God, when He is infinitely greater than anything we could offer? The idea that we can physically partake in God's essence by eating a wafer is in direct conflict with the awe and majesty of God as described here.
Psalm 139:7-10 says, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”
This passage reminds us that God's presence is everywhere—He is not confined to any one place. If God is present in heaven, hell, and the farthest corners of the earth, how can He be contained in a wafer? The idea that God can be physically consumed in such a limited way contradicts His omnipresence as described here. He cannot be bound to a small piece of bread, and His presence cannot be restricted to any one place or object.
Jeremiah 23:23-24 says, “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
This emphasizes that God’s presence extends across the entire universe—He is not limited by space or time. If God fills all of heaven and earth, how could He possibly be confined to a wafer, something so small and finite? This passage highlights the absurdity of claiming that God can be physically contained in something created by human hands. His vastness and omnipresence make the concept of His physical containment unthinkable.
Acts 17:24-25 says, “God that made the world and all things therein...dwelleth not in temples made with hands.”
This makes it clear that God, as the Creator of all, cannot be confined to human-made structures or objects. If He doesn’t dwell in physical temples or need anything created by mankind, how could He be contained in a wafer? The notion that God could be confined to something so small and made by human hands contradicts His nature as the Creator of all things.
Acts 17:24 says, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.”
If God, who created all things, does not dwell in man-made temples, how then can His body, soul, flesh, and blood be contained in a wafer—a man-made object? This verse underscores the impossibility of confining the infinite God to something as small and created by human hands as a wafer, highlighting the contrast between His transcendent nature and the idea of physically containing Him in any form.
Jeremiah 23:24 says, “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
This verse emphasizes God's omnipresence—He fills the entire universe, and nothing is hidden from Him. If God fills heaven and earth, how can anyone, especially sinners, claim to contain Him in a wafer? Not just one wafer, but thousands are supposedly made and consumed daily. This idea directly contradicts God’s boundless nature. It is inconceivable that the Creator of the universe, who is everywhere at once, could be confined to something as small and human-made as a wafer.
Job 11:7-9 says, “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.”
This passage highlights the vastness and incomprehensibility of God. If God's nature is beyond human understanding, deeper than hell and broader than the seas, how can anyone—especially fallible, prideful, self-exalting humans—claim to contain Him in a wafer? The attempt to limit the Almighty to something so small and tangible is not only absurd but also disregards the profound truth that God is beyond our grasp and cannot be confined by human constructs or philosophies, no matter how advanced they may seem.
In light of the Scriptures, we are called to reflect deeply on the immense and unfathomable nature of God. The idea that mere mortals—sinners no less—could contain the infinite God of the universe in a wafer is not only absurd but contradicts the very essence of who God is as revealed in the Bible. From the vastness of creation to His omnipresence, Scripture shows us a God who cannot be confined by human hands or earthly limitations. Furthermore, Christ, in His glorified state, now sits at the right hand of God, no longer in flesh and blood, but in His exalted, eternal form. The claim that His body, soul, flesh, and blood can be contained in a wafer diminishes the reality of His current glorified position. It is essential that we approach such claims with discernment, grounding ourselves in the truth of God’s Word. Let us not be swayed by traditions or man-made doctrines, but instead, let us humbly seek the truth in the Scriptures, which testify to the greatness of our God—who is far beyond anything we can fully comprehend or contain.
The most astonishing thing I encountered recently during a debate with a member of the Catholic Church was when I asked how a priest can call Christ down in flesh and blood, now that He resides in His glorified state. The response I received was truly baffling. I was told, “Yes, the elements remain, yet the substance changes. Yet there are times when the elements of bread and wine have changed into literal flesh and blood, these are called Eucharistic miracles and have been scientifically tested.”
Logically, this explanation raises several problems. First, if the bread and wine truly become Christ's literal flesh and blood, as they claim, then this contradicts the nature of Christ's current glorified state. After His resurrection, Christ ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father, no longer in flesh and blood, but in a glorified, eternal form (Luke 24:39, Acts 1:9).
Furthermore, the argument about "Eucharistic miracles" being scientifically tested doesn't solve the issue either. It is impossible to scientifically test whether a wafer truly contains the body, soul, flesh, and blood of Christ for several reasons, both from a scientific and theological standpoint.
First, science deals with the observable, measurable, and repeatable. The process of testing a wafer under a microscope or with other scientific methods cannot reveal anything beyond the physical properties of the wafer itself—such as its size, texture, and composition. Even if a wafer were to be tested and appear to undergo some physical change, that change would be superficial, not supernatural. The essence of the wafer—the core substance—would still be that of wheat and water, the ingredients used in its making. There is no scientific equipment that can detect the spiritual or divine essence of Christ’s body or soul. Such an essence cannot be measured, quantified, or observed under any microscope or laboratory condition.
Moreover, the concept of "substance" and "accidents" in Aristotelian metaphysics (which Catholic doctrine relies on) doesn't correspond with how science works. The doctrine of transubstantiation claims that the "substance" of the bread and wine changes, while the "accidents" (the appearance, taste, and texture) remain the same. Science, however, can only measure the "accidents"—the observable, physical traits. It cannot access or verify a change in the "substance," because that is a theological concept, not a physical one. So while the wafer may seem to undergo some change in appearance or texture (in some reported Eucharistic miracles), science cannot prove that this change is anything more than a natural process.
Furthermore, even when the wafer is scientifically tested after a reported Eucharistic miracle (where the bread allegedly transforms into human tissue or blood), the evidence always points to natural explanations. For example, the "blood" might be identified as human blood type, but this still does not confirm that it is actually the blood of Christ. Science cannot prove or disprove spiritual claims or verify the divine presence within any physical object. It cannot reveal the metaphysical reality that Catholic theology suggests is present in the wafer. Scientific tests measure what is visible to the senses, but the claim about Christ being present in the Eucharist is about something beyond the physical realm. It is a claim rooted in faith and theology, not something that can be scientifically observed or measured.
When I asked about what happens to the leftover wafers—supposedly containing Christ in all His glory—whether they are discarded or if they revert back to their original form, her response was, “There is a proper way to dispose of the consecrated elements, to be treated with the utmost reverence and respect.”
While I didn’t press her further to avoid embarrassment, the underlying insult here is profound.
The idea that the wafer, which is considered by the Catholic Church to be the actual body of Christ, must be handled with such reverence implies that it retains the fullness of Christ’s divinity in a mere physical object, something that is beyond the boundaries of logic. If Christ is truly present in this form, how is it that the wafer can be left behind, treated like any other leftover food, yet still be "Christ"? The idea that the glorified body of Jesus, now residing in heaven, can be treated with such reverence only to be left on a table or thrown away in a bin, speaks to the absurdity of this doctrine.
This mindset also fails to acknowledge the fact that Christ is now in a glorified state and no longer bound by physicality, making the notion of "disposing" of Him in any form a contradiction to His current, eternal reality. The reverence placed on these physical elements highlights the unfortunate mixing of sacred and profane, turning something that should be a divine, spiritual relationship with Christ into a mere object of ritual.
Just because something is claimed to have physically changed doesn’t necessarily confirm the theological assertions behind it. The Bible itself teaches that Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all, and we are no longer to repeatedly offer Christ’s body (Hebrews 10:10). The notion of calling Christ down repeatedly through human ritual flies in the face of this biblical truth. It’s not a matter of scientific evidence, but of the unchangeable truth of God’s Word, which does not support the idea of Christ being contained in a wafer.
In the end, this argument only reinforces the logical inconsistency of the Catholic doctrine when viewed in light of Scripture.
And to end......
For those who are still not convinced that praying to deceased humans is not supported by Scripture, I leave you with the words of 2 Chronicles 6:39 KJB: "Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause."
This verse clearly shows that God hears our prayers directly from His dwelling place in heaven. There is no need to pray to dead humans who have no power or authority, as they are not divine. Our prayers are mediated through His Son, who now sits at the right hand of the Father. Only God, in His sovereign power, can answer our prayers.
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