Sacrament or Ordinance? Why Not Both?

Sacrament or Ordinance?

Should we use the word “sacrament” or the word “ordinance”? Can we use them interchangeably? As people shaped by the Reformation, it’s worth asking why we might consider using both.

When we think about the words sacrament and ordinance, we don’t need to view them as in opposition terms. Rather, they are complementary. Both of these words are seeking to describe the same God-given realities, though they do so with different emphases. The issue here is not the mere vocabulary we choose, but to know the meaning behind the words. To appreciate why both are valuable, we need to take a closer look at how each term has been understood.

Defining the Terms

Sacraments according to the Westminster Confession of Faith are “holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God to represent Christ, and His benefits; and to confirm our interest in Him.” Ordinances according to Augustus H. Strong are “the outward rites which Christ has appointed to be administrated in His church as visible signs of the saving truth of the gospel.” The word rite here refers to a symbol employed with regularity and sacred intent, marking an act that is both meaningful and set apart.

In light of this, these terms have strengths and weaknesses; if we use only one, we could be at risk of misunderstanding the richness of what Christ has given His church. Rather than choosing one term over the other, we should be able to use both freely and boldly.

Why Some Hesitate

Before I explain why I think we should embrace both terms, it’s helpful to understand why some hesitate to use them. Some might squirm when we hear the word “sacrament”. For some, it carries a lot of baggage especially because of its connection with the Roman Catholic Church, which recognizes seven sacraments. Understandably, Protestants have reacted to that by being cautious, and even suspicious of the term.

On the other hand, when we use the word “ordinance” though it is accurate in highlighting that these practices were ordained by Christ Himself it can sometimes feel too bare. The risk is that the ordinances might be reduced to nothing more than rituals we perform, or memorials we simply remember, without sensing the rich spiritual depth and grace that God has attached to them.

If we are clear in our understanding of what baptism and the Lord’s Supper are, and what God intends them to signify, then whether we call them sacraments or ordinances should not divide us. To quarrel endlessly over terminology is to fall into what the Bible warns against “logomachy,” fighting about mere words (1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:14). Such disputes distract from the substance of the gospel and the grace signified in these practices. As Paul himself said when the Jews pressed him into a word-debate, “I was unwilling to be a judge of such matters” (Acts 18:15). Instead of trying to win the debate, we should labor to receive the gift that Baptism and the Lord’s Table are to Christ’s church. Let these signs deepen the fellowship and unity we have with one another. What unites us is far greater than what divides us our one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, and one God and Father of all.

The Two Sacraments/Ordinances

With those concerns in mind, it’s good to remember what exactly Christ has given us. Scripture shows that as Protestants with humble confidence we affirm there are only two sacraments/ordinances: Baptism (Matthew 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23–26). In these sacraments or ordinances, we are spiritually nourished and refreshed by the gospel as we come to the waters of baptism and the table of Christ in faith. These alone were instituted by Jesus, given to the whole church, and commanded for ongoing practice until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:26). Baptism marks our entrance into the visible church, displaying our union with Christ’s death and resurrection, and proclaiming that we have died to sin and are alive to righteousness (Romans 6:3–4). The Lord’s Supper sustains us along the way as we remember and proclaim His death, examine our hearts, and partake by faith in real spiritual communion with the risen Christ until He comes again (1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 11:27–29).

Holding Both Terms Together

So together, the terms sacrament and ordinance paint a beautiful picture. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are both divine gifts to Christ’s church and holy commands. They are not empty rituals or magical ceremonies but God’s gracious provisions that invite our faithful response. These sacraments/ordinances do not present themselves as sources of salvation; rather, they continually point us back to the Source of our salvation, Jesus Christ who bore our sins in His body on the cross. By embracing both terms, we hold in tension the beautiful reality of the Christian life: God acts first, and our obedience follows not to earn His favor, but to partake in it.