communion issue?

Question

My boyfriend and I have strong opinions on the use of wine in communion. He thinks it's ok and I don't. It sickens me to go to a church where they serve wine at communion every week and see kids doing it. How is this not wrong? When they do communion I just stay in my seat and don't partake. And I could really care less about what anyone in the church thinks, because I know the reason for it, and so does God, and he's the only one I should be concerned about doing right by.
What are some credible sources that discuss this issue? I don't know how to talk to him about this (it's caused a huge fight) and I don't want to talk about it uninformed.

I will partake if it's juice...not wine. I have never had a drop of alcohol and will not start now. They don't give a choice...just wine. And yes they give it to all kids...no wonder there are so many alcoholics out there.

Answer 1

I never understood why some do it each week. I think doing it each week would make people forget why one should do it. I am a Baptist and we only do it when the Pastor feels the Lord is leading him to do it, and then we only use juice. People should not take communion when there hearts are not right with God, or with someone. To me communion is a holy thing, and if we come in this communion with sin in our hearts is the communion still holy. I dont think it is. If you have you reason for not taking communion then you are right for not taking it. The bible is the only place to study about the communion.

Here is the places that talk on communion. Read serveral of the verses to get a feel of what he is saying on the subject.
1 Corinthians 10:16-22-Read all this. Hope this helps.

Edit: If you are looking for scripture that talks on it being wrong to have strong drink. Here is some verses that may help.
Proverbs 20:1, Isaiah 5:11. You can also use this one verse as well.
1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Alcohol has a evil apperance. I dont care if one plans to use it for good to me it has a evil apperance. Also the bible says come out from among them and be ye sperate saith the Lord. We shouldnt be like the world and be apart of the things they do. Do a study on what a Nazarite is in the bible, and how they was seperate from the world. There was only I think 5 mentioned who was a nazarite. Judges 13:5-7 talks about Samson being a Nazarite. Hope all this helps.

Answer 2

Now, it really doesn't matter, that is between you and Christ. Depending on what Bible you use it actually says they used wine and some just calls it the cup. Now as for kids taking communion they shouldn't be unless they are saved! And you can't be saved unless you are old enough to understand, which means you have passed the age of innocence. As for the amount of wine or juice you take w/ the communion it isn't even enough to have any affect on you...at least it shouldn't. Why does it upset you so badly? You should look at the reason for it, not what exactly you are drinking. I go to a church that offers both, wine and juice, because there are those who have had problems in the past w/ alcohol and don't feel like they can use wine. Now it is up to you and God, but it couldn't have been too bad considering Jesus himself made water into wine. Why would he do that if it was wrong? He wouldn't have! Its not what you take communion with, its who you take it for! Remember that when you are in the situation again. Are you gonna refuse the Body and Blood of Christ because they are not adhering to your standards? Please think before you answer that.

Answer 3

You obviously have some issues that go along with the consumption of alcohol. My husband I and I are both alcoholics in recovery and we both attend the same church where we both take communion. I take the wine ,it is the blood of Christ. my husband asked the pastor for grape juice. Having the wine does not make one an alcoholic, I started communing in 8th grade and never started overindulging until early 20's my husband on the other hand never took communion until 25 and was already in recovery at the age of 16. Alcoholism is a disease. It is not something that happens if you take part in the lords supper as a child. Jesus says do this often in rememberance of me, are we not suppose to follow Christ? If you don't feel comfortable with taking the wine why not try to speak with someone in your church about it, If someone else decides to let their children partake in the Lords supper do you need to make it your own personal crusade, that is their decision. When and if you have children then it will be your decision and if you feel that strongly about it I would think your boyfriend would agree. If that is not enough maybe you should think about changing churches.

Answer 4

All depends on the meaning of wine in communion in your church.
No I give you my opinion:
First, there is no reason to create an obligation to drink wine at communion. If there is alcohol in wine - it is not grape juice - kids can take only bread. If someone can't drink, there is no reason to force to drink it at communion. There is no prejudice of the ritual.

Second, communion is a symbol of Love. And Love it is the other name of God. So, why are you fighting about this issue? You can just pray to recognize you have different opinions, and God will love you with your different opinions, anyway.

When you take the wine (or not) and bread (or not) just remember your faith in Jesus, *why* He made that at the first time. That is it.

I'm not christian today, but that is I remember from that old and good days with my friends :) Stay in peace :)

Answer 5

All I can offer you is my respect and admiration for standing firm in what you believe and not being a "cookie-cutter" Christian. I am no longer religious, after 25 years in various Protestant churches. I have quite a lot of Bible education. It was the hypocrisies that wore me down, personally. If you feel convicted about the wine in church, you should not partake: This is the lesson I was always taught in church, about drinking, gambling, etc. I agree that children should not be accustomed to the taste of alcohol, especially when it's illegal for them to have it outside of church. It seems like anyone can become a "church (Westborough Baptists, hello!)" and any church can make exceptions to laws. And BTW: Some people are VERY sensitive to alcohol. My mom and I feel the effects after the first sip or two. Children aren't even supposed to have Nyquil because, yes, a small amount can affect them.

Do they still share a cup in the Catholic church? If so, that's unsanitary.

Answer 6

Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, ... (John 2:7-9)

Wine is used throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The first recorded miracle of Jesus was to turn water in wine at the wedding in Cana.

It is true that we should not become drunk but used in moderation, wine is a biblically acceptable beverage.

Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, because it is now that God favors your works. (Ecclesiastes 9:7)

WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus had a cup of wine with dinner.

If some people wish to totally forego alcohol to eliminate the temptation to over indulge, that's fine. But I don't think they should force that unbiblical teaching onto others.

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

in the Bible, wine is usually just grape juice. PROVERBS 4:17(fermented) calls it the wine of violence. the wine that is ok to drink is(Exodus 22:29) The use of wine at the paschal feast was not enjoined by the law, but had become an established custom, at all events in the post-Babylonian period. The wine was mixed with warm water on these occasions. Hence in the early Christian Church it was usual to mix the sacramental wine with water. (The simple wines of antiquity were incomparably less deadly than the stupefying and ardent beverages of our western nations. The wines of antiquity were more like sirups; many of them were not intoxicant; many more intoxicant in a small degree; and all of them, as a rule, taken only when largely diluted with water. They contained, even undiluted, but 4 or 5 percent of alcohol.--Cannon Farrar.) At my church we just use grape juice.

Answer 8

I don't think that's wine they're giving the kiddies. And every mass I"ve ever gone to, only one or two had wine presented to the parents and you can refuse. Though, I"m Catholic, and honestly, besides twice in Germany, I've never seen wine, juice or any drink handed out with communion. Different strokes for different churches.

Answer 9

Could you please read the story of the Wedding at Cana, John 2:1-11? Jesus went to a feast and turned water into wine. Do you think he disapproved of wine? Look at Matthew 11:19 -- the context makes it clear that Jesus was being accused of being a drunkard because he drank alcohol (would anyone accuse him of being a drunkard for drinking water?). And finally -- the Last Supper was a Passover meal. Wine is and always was drunk in the Passover meal.

Get off your high horse. Alcohol is not a sin. Overindulgence is.

Answer 10

Ounus----- the word for wine could and did man fresh grape juice.

BIG DEBATE what was served at the FIRST Biblical event.

Fresh grape juice was TERRIBLY expensive and hard to find much of the time in Israel.

A bit of DILUTED JUICE is not that bad for kids........... tiny tots do not partake....I hope.