Mode of Communion
photo credit: Lance McCord
Baptists are going to insist that the proper mode of baptism is immersion; however, when it comes to the taking of communion, we are not equally insistent on the mode. Grape juice is often taken in place of wine despite the biblical usage of wine.
I guess one could argue, as is often done in matters of teetotalism, that first century “wine” was more akin to juice anyways, but I don’t really wish to go that route and honestly find that apologia silly. Juice doesn’t inebriate. Wine watered down is still wine. (On an interesting note, Justin Martyr points to a tradition of diluting the wine with water representing God, the pure wine, mixing/having communion with the faithful, the water.)
Concerning communion, have we baptists trumped a scriptural precedence of a communion with the fermented fruit of the vine with communion of fermented tradition? Does a cultural prohibition-driven aversion to alcohol prevent biblical communion? Does it even matter? Or should we, more consistently it seems, insist on a scriptural mode of communion as we insist on a scriptural mode of baptism? Or is juice scriptural and this string of questions silly?
Or, shall we just stick with the Welch’s? Welch’s is cheaper after all, isn’t it? But so might be sprinking or pouring compared with filling up a baptistry.
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August 16th, 2008 at 09:46
Drew,
I’d go a step further. According to Scripture, the proper “mode” for the Lord’s Supper is a meal. Everytime the Lord’s Supper is mentioned in Scripture, it is mentioned as a meal. Whether grape juice can substitute for wine is one question, but for me a bigger question is this: “Can a little piece of bread and a little sip of juice substitute for a full meal?” Of course, most baptists would say that a little bit of water would not substitute for full submersion.
-Alan
August 30th, 2008 at 16:14
Greetings! Saw your post in Google Blogsearch and came to visit.
>”Does it even matter?”
As Baptists lack the Eucharist, a good arguement could be made for it doesn’t matter. Baptists claim that communion is only symbolic as opposed to the early Christians who believed the Eucharist was the body and blood of Christ. Since Baptists have lost the Apostolic authority to confect the Eucharist and now desire only to have a symbolic spiritual communion, then it really shouldn’t matter. Anything can be a symbol. Go get some Ho-Ho’s and Nehi Grape soda. Heck, sharing french fries and catsup creates the same warm feeling of communion.
>Alan: “the proper “mode” for the Lord’s Supper is a meal.”
Not just any meal, but a specific ritual meal with specific foods made to specific specifications. The meal was a Passover seder and consisted of wine, unleavened bread, herbs, etc.
While historical Christian writings from the later 1st and second centuries do mention communal meals, the “communion” ritual (Eucharist) was always a distinct ritual apart from the common meal.
God bless…
+Timothy
September 2nd, 2008 at 02:46
I was in a New Zealand Maori gospel singing & performing group, doing various churches at Easter, when I went up front to communion after singing in a Catholic Church, i was refused as I was not Catholic?? Far out, is it ‘trademarked’ or something..their property only???
Communion is symbolic to me. Red coloured: Wine, Grape juice or even cordial, represents the blood of Christ. Simple..that is all I worry about..colour… ^_* Could even be red Gatoraide…heh.
October 12th, 2008 at 02:18
>phillip: “Communion is symbolic to me”
That’s exactly why you were declined. You don’t believe as Catholics do. You are not in communion. Are you not aware that receiving communion is a public profession of faith, that you beilive as Catholics do. Why present youself for communion when you don’t believe what Catholics believe.
>Phillip: “Far out,is it ‘trademarked’ or something..their property only???”
Yes, or something. Its not a property thing as much as a responsibility thing.
God bless…
+Timothy