Grape Juice for Communion, What countries?

[Syele]

I know that Protestants in the US began using Grape Juice instead of wine in communion around the time of Prohibition.

I’m curious if protestants in other countries use grape juice instead of wine? I have seen where some people said nowhere else does, but no references or anything were included so I could verify it.

 

[VivienneJ]

I know that in South Africa many (maybe even most, with Anglicans being the exception to this) Protestant denominations use grape juice instead of wine, because of their interpretation that the Bible forbids any consumption of alcohol - don’t know what they think the wine at the Last Supper contained, nor the wine at the wedding in Cana.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I think Protestant denominations that use grape juice instead of wine do so because it is their belief that the consumption of alcohol is wrong.

 

[Roy5]

My understanding is that many Protestants (not Anglicans or Lutherans) use grape juice.

Why? They developed a strong temperance tradition over the years, in large measure because they saw alcohol as a major destructive force in society. Many of these Protestant groups also have condemned tobacco for the same reason. This was especially true such denominations as the Baptists and Methodists. 

 I was watching some TV program yesterday which said that 1700 college students die each year in the USA because of alcohol-related causes - maybe binge drinking, drunken driving, other accidents resulting from alcohol, alcohol-escalated arguments that lead to fatal fights, etc. 

There are so many negative effects, everything from broken marriages to lost jobs to severe poverty to premature deaths through accidents or diseases.. 

 The concept is that even a thimbleful of wine can throw an alcoholic off the wagon - so to speak. So, the simplest and safest policy is to abstain from all alcohol and serve grapejuice at communion. By the way, it has the same positive effects as red wine.

 Since Protestants do not believe in transubstantiation, the elements are not viewed as so essential. This applies equally to the bread used as well as the 'wine' served. Many Protestants consider grapejuice unfermented wine - the unfermented 'fruit of the vine' -  and some would argue that much wine in the time of Jesus (even most) probably was unfermented - consumed before it had time to ferment. 

 Take John Wesley, for example. He looked around and saw what enormous damage alcohol was doing in England, especially among the poor, who could least afford it. In many cases they drank excessively to escape their problems, making those problems even worse. Whenever and wherever Wesley preached the pub owners condemned him. One of the General Rules he passed along to early Methodists was abstaining from alcohol beverages. To him it was a pressing social issue to be faced, just as he condemned slavery and other societal evils.

 One other thing. When people eat out, alcohol always adds enormously to their bill. A $10-15 meal is one thing. Add even a glass of wine and that bill goes up another $5-7. So, one can look at the matter from the economic point of view as well.

  No problem with social drinking, if it is just that. Sadly, millions start out that way and end up as addicts. For millions alcohol - yes, even wine - becomes a drug, little different in its impact on some than heroin or cocaine. Winos are alcoholics, too. The safest course is to abstain.

 On the other hand, thank God we don't have Prohibition. However, I am sympathetic to teetollers. Did I spell that right? I don't think so, Then, of course, the Mormons condemn tea, coffee and other hot drinks ala Joseph Smith. But Mormons are not Protestants. 

  God bless all people, of whatever faith, who seek to live lives that reflect the love commanded and commended to us by Christ. That is the core of our Christian faith, not the tribal trivia that divides us.

 

[liturgyluver]

I know that Protestants in the US began using Grape Juice instead of wine in communion around the time of Prohibition.

I’m curious if protestants in other countries use grape juice instead of wine? I have seen where some people said nowhere else does, but no references or anything were included so I could verify it.

The Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) generally uses wine rather than juice.

 

[anruari]

The Church suppliers in the UK sell a range of products for use a communion “wine” which do not contain alcohol.

I’ve even known a priest to use it for mass - not realising he was invalidating the mass.

 

[choliks]

I live in the Philippines. My brother-in-law Baptist pastor uses grape juice or non-alcoholic red wine in their services.

 

[Syele]

Thanks for all the (name removed by moderator)ut everyone!

I have been doing a bit of research and ran across several people saying that it was ONLY US protestants that use grape juice, so I wanted to see it that was true, seems its not. Probably people who didn’t check very thoroughly.

 

[TrueLight]

Protestants also use grape juice so as not to create a nea occasion of sin for alcoholics or others who have problems with alcohol.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I have been doing a bit of research and ran across several people saying that it was ONLY US protestants that use grape juice, so I wanted to see it that was true, seems its not.

Who else uses it?

 

[Syele]

Who else uses it?

Well so far, based on this thread, we see posts reporting its use in South Africa, UK, Scotland, and the Philippines.

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As for those of you pointing out why some protestants use it, I’m debating weather to make a new thread for that. Casue Id rather not derail my little study to see what other countries report grape juice usage.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Well so far, based on this thread, we see posts reporting its use in South Africa, UK, Scotland, and the Philippines.

I find I must be missing the point that you are trying to make. You said that it is not only Protestants who use grape juice. Therefore, I asked you who else uses it. Your response is a list of countries not other Christian communities. If you say Christians other than Protestants use grape juice please state who they are.

 

[Syele]

I find I must be missing the point that you are trying to make. You said that it is not only Protestants who use grape juice. Therefore, I asked you who else uses it. Your response is a list of countries not other Christian communities. If you say Christians other than Protestants use grape juice please state who they are.

Yes, you have misunderstood, I said US protestants, Meaning United States protestants. Someone had claimed to me that grape juice in communion was an anomaly only found in the United States of America. This thread shows me at least in anecdotal evidence that that person was incorrect.

I was not really trying to make a point, just trying to get some information.

 

[Dave_Noonan]

Yes, you have misunderstood, I said US protestants, Meaning United States protestants. Someone had claimed to me that grape juice in communion was an anomaly only found in the United States of America. This thread shows me at least in anecdotal evidence that that person was incorrect.

I was not really trying to make a point, just trying to get some information.

I’ve visited quite a few Lutheran Churches in Germany and most of the churches there offered the option of grape juice. To receive grape juice instead of wine, you were instructed to wait until the end of communion and come up with the final group to kneel around the altar and receive. (Instead of using a “communion line,” one receives communion in groups–I’m sure there’s a better term for this, but I don’t know it. Anyway, one group comes up to the altar, kneels, receives, is blessed and then the next group comes up, etc.)

 

[Alix1912]

I’ve visited quite a few Lutheran Churches in Germany and most of the churches there offered the option of grape juice. To receive grape juice instead of wine, you were instructed to wait until the end of communion and come up with the final group to kneel around the altar and receive. (Instead of using a “communion line,” one receives communion in groups–I’m sure there’s a better term for this, but I don’t know it. Anyway, one group comes up to the altar, kneels, receives, is blessed and then the next group comes up, etc.)

Total side note: I much prefer going to the communion rail and recieving communion. Kneeling before the altar is shows more reverance in my opinion than, what we in my family call running communion.

I am Lutheran MS and every Lutheran Chuch I have been to primarily uses wine, with the option of either grape juice or more often non acholic wine. It was an option for either recovering alcholics or people who were allergic.