SPLIT: My church uses grape juice--am I bad for receiving it?

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Indeed, without refrigeration and pasteurization, the life of grape juice was only a few hours. Not only that, but the context of the Last Supper where Jesus made reference to the “fruit of the vine” is the Passover, which called for four cups of wine (not grape juice). the feast was designed to leave the participants a bit under the influence. 😃
 
It’s definitely not a sin to use grape juice and I am sure that choice won’t send anybody to hell who partakes.
 
You also must remember that this is all tied to the Passover. It is why we use only unleavened bread and wine as these were the elements that Jesus used. The Jews, including Jesus, would never use something in place of those elements prescribed to be used at the Passover. Not only that, but He commanded us to do as He did, not whatever might be convenient at the moment.

One of the commands of Moses was that the lamb must be eaten. If one of the children didn’t like lamb and asked his mom to make little cookies in the shape of a lamb instead, he would have woken the next morning to find his big brother dead.

Christ is the Paschal Lamb and His glorified flesh must be eaten. He chose the Passover elements of unleavened bread and wine to become His body and blood. We must do the same.
So what I’m reading is in order to have a valid sacrament that there must be three items: 1) A validly ordained member of the clergy, 2) Wine (color or varietal doesn’t matter?) 3) Unleavened bread.
 
No, Jesus can be present however He chooses. He chose to use wine, and commanded that we do so.

His Supper has it’s roots in the Passover, which uses wine. The NT is the fulfillment of the OT.

He can be. He chooses to be more present at certain times and places. He commanded us to eat His Body and Drink His blood, then at the last supper, He took the cup (wine) blessed it and said “this is my Blood, which is poured out for you”. He did not pour out grape juice for the sins of the world, but His Blood.

This is the way He set things up. A valid Eucharist is one at which the bishop (or his representative) is present.

The HS is the one who transforms the elements, rev kev. It would be disobedient and sacriligious for a priest to desecrate the sacrament by using improper matter such as grape juice. The presbyter is to conduct the anamnesis according to the manner that Christ prescribed.

No. He is always present in the sacrament. that does not mean He is not present at other times. The sacraments are channels of grace through which He works to touch our lives, and draw us closer to Himself. He can use other methods as well.
Christ is OMNIPRESENT/OMNIPRENENCE meaning he is present everywhere or everywhere present. I don’t see anywhere where it says you MUST use wine. Jesus used wine/w alcohol back then because water was not safe to drink becasue of bacteria and the alcohol would kill bacteria. Sure Christ can be present more in one place than another. Jesus was more present where he was then where he was not but the point is he is present everywhere. The wine v. grape juice personally I don’t think or believe that it really matters to Christ what we use as long as we are remembering the reason behind it and that is he shed his blood for us, for our sins, to remember the sacrafice he made for us. to me that is more important then should we use wine or grape juice. Both come from grapes.
 
No, that is not true. If one rejects God, He also will reject you. No, your assumption is wrong.
I beg to differ. Its us that rejects God, God don’t reject us. He is always willing to accept us no matter what we have done or said. Remember the story about Saul? Did God/Jesus reject him because of what he has done to Christians? No. So like I said it us that reject him not him rejecting us.
 
Christ is OMNIPRESENT/OMNIPRENENCE meaning he is present everywhere or everywhere present. I don’t see anywhere where it says you MUST use wine. Jesus used wine/w alcohol back then because water was not safe to drink becasue of bacteria and the alcohol would kill bacteria. Sure Christ can be present more in one place than another. Jesus was more present where he was then where he was not but the point is he is present everywhere. The wine v. grape juice personally I don’t think or believe that it really matters to Christ what we use as long as we are remembering the reason behind it and that is he shed his blood for us, for our sins, to remember the sacrafice he made for us. to me that is more important then should we use wine or grape juice. Both come from grapes.
the problem here is that you want to believe whatever about God, then expect God to conform with your belief. it is not so. God is the One who gives us what to believe.
that is a problem with people who thinks that the Bible is enterprets itself. all say the same thing: I dont think God minds about this or that. Yes He does, if He didnt, He would not have giving us instructions and found a Church to teach all men.
 
I beg to differ. Its us that rejects God, God don’t reject us. He is always willing to accept us no matter what we have done or said. Remember the story about Saul? Did God/Jesus reject him because of what he has done to Christians? No. So like I said it us that reject him not him rejecting us.
I have heard the expression, “God hates the sin, but loves the sinner.” Though it is not a biblical statement per se it is widely accepted…

What then, do we do with the following passages?

Psalm 5:5
“The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.”

Psalm 11:5
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Proverbs 16:5
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 17:15
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

These verses all express God’s hatred for sin, but in these cases also for the sinner.
This question has been bothering me for quite a while and I trust that you might be able to give me an answer…
 
[edited]

They use grape juice at my church and I don’t know why. It’s a Presbyterian church. I hope God loves me anyway…
Catholic and Presbyterian understanding is different.

If you dont see them as the same and receive the Juice with the intention to glorify G-d i cant see any problem but best you pray about it to Our Father and ask His guidance.

He is the best of guides thats why Jesus (pbwh) told us to pray to Him.

I can only answer from my understanding G-d knows you better than any of us at CAF.

Catholics use wine, it was pre-ordained to do so and held sacred by the Jewish people.

Wine has many symbolic meanings to us as a people that juice does not.

G-d really knows what He was and is doing, the transforming of the gifts is of faith, some dont have it. We all drink from one cup, if we used juice those with little faith would not be protected from some germs as they are by wine.

I pray the Church stays strong and continues wine and the challis / s.

Our Father will always love you regardless to even you getting it wrong, your intention to do the right thing is the heart like of Yeshua (pbwh) growing inside you.

Be still and listen in great patience Our Father will tell / inspire in you best for you in His will.
 
Catholic and Presbyterian understanding is different.

If you dont see them as the same and receive the Juice with the intention to glorify G-d i cant see any problem but best you pray about it to Our Father and ask His guidance.

He is the best of guides thats why Jesus (pbwh) told us to pray to Him.

I can only answer from my understanding G-d knows you better than any of us at CAF.

Catholics use wine, it was pre-ordained to do so and held sacred by the Jewish people.

Wine has many symbolic meanings to us as a people that juice does not.

G-d really knows what He was and is doing, the transforming of the gifts is of faith, some dont have it. We all drink from one cup, if we used juice those with little faith would not be protected from some germs as they are by wine.

I pray the Church stays strong and continues wine and the challis / s.

Our Father will always love you regardless to even you getting it wrong, your intention to do the right thing is the heart like of Yeshua (pbwh) growing inside you.

Be still and listen in great patience Our Father will tell / inspire in you best for you in His will.
What is best for us our Lord has already determined. He found a Church so that all be tought by her. those who dont believe in the Church cannot be pleasing to God.
 
I don’t think you could lose the love of the Lord, just because your church uses grape juice…
It’s just a fact: Some churches use wine and some use grape juice…
My church uses grape juice as well.

**Matthew 26:27-29 [/QUOTE] said:
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

**Mark 14:23-25 [/quote] said:
23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

**Luke 22:17-18 [/quote] said:
17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

The question is whether this fruit of the vine (a.k.a. grape juice) was fermented or not. That is an ongoing debate, but I don’t see the problem with taking it either way.
Grape juice is the fruit of the vine, whether it’s fermented or not.

Matthew 26:17
Now the first day of the feast of **unleavened **bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

Mark 14:12
And the first day of **unleavened **bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

Luke 22:7-8
Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

Exodus 12:14
"This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD - a lasting ordinance.

How long would grape juice have kept – without refrigeration – in Jesus’ time, between the fall (when the grapes would have been harvested) and the spring (when the Passover would have been celebrated)?
 
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wisdomseeker:
What is best for us our Lord has already determined. He found a Church so that all be tought by her. those who dont believe in the Church cannot be pleasing to God.

I assume you
Be still and listen in great patience Our Father will tell / inspire in you best for you in His will.
and did not just take a mans word for what you offer or how would you know which claim to be the True Church is correct? There are many who will seek you to follow men and not G-d.

If G-d is over the Church and one seeks His guidance where would He guide them to?

If you ask Our Father for an egg He would not give you a stone.

Bless you and yours
 
the problem here is that you want to believe whatever about God, then expect God to conform with your belief. it is not so. God is the One who gives us what to believe.
that is a problem with people who thinks that the Bible is enterprets itself. all say the same thing: I dont think God minds about this or that. Yes He does, if He didnt, He would not have giving us instructions and found a Church to teach all men.
So God is everywhere correct?

Are we being testy? I don’t expect God to conform to my beliefs I conform to his but on the other hand, you want us to conform to your belief but then again, you say yours is the true religion. Well here I go again, I don’t think God minds because I don’t believe God to be so petty.
 
I assume you

and did not just take a mans word for what you offer or how would you know which claim to be the True Church is correct? There are many who will seek you to follow men and not G-d.

If G-d is over the Church and one seeks His guidance where would He guide them to?

If you ask Our Father for an egg He would not give you a stone.

Bless you and yours
It is obviously that He would guide him into His Church, what would be the point of Him finding His Church, the Pillar and Bullwark of the Truth, if not to guide His people, His chosen ones? just like He did in the beginning when He chose one people to form one nation. when He said, “and thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” and He said, the Holy Spirit will guide you into all Truth. do you see the Church is protected by the HS, no one else is. Mind you that he never said that each invidual can decide for themselves what is Truth. the Church is the One to guide His people into the Truth. it is reather desigeneous to think that because the Bible came into existence that the people is to abandon the Church and use the Bible is their guidance instead of the Church Jesus Himself found to guide His people.
 
So God is everywhere correct?

Are we being testy? I don’t expect God to conform to my beliefs I conform to his but on the other hand, you want us to conform to your belief but then again, you say yours is the true religion. Well here I go again, I don’t think God minds because I don’t believe God to be so petty.
that is exactly what i am talking about. you keep saying: i dont think that God is this or that. the reason you are not sure is because you are not in the Truth. if you read the Bible, you will find written about the Church and what we are supposed to do. we are to be guided by the Church in all things. if your congregation is not 2000 yrs old, then your congregation is not the one commanded by Christ to go into the world and teach all man, batizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the HS. you cant even know or understand what heresy is. you are alone cannot decide what is true and what is not.
 
It is obviously that He would guide him into His Church, what would be the point of Him finding His Church, the Pillar and Bullwark of the Truth, if not to guide His people, His chosen ones? just like He did in the beginning when He chose one people to form one nation. when He said, “and thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” and He said, the Holy Spirit will guide you into all Truth. do you see the Church is protected by the HS, no one else is. Mind you that he never said that each invidual can decide for themselves what is Truth. the Church is the One to guide His people into the Truth. it is reather desigeneous to think that because the Bible came into existence that the people is to abandon the Church and use the Bible is their guidance instead of the Church Jesus Himself found to guide His people.
Br what is your point in regards to what i posted. First you seem to want to argue me encouraging our Brethren to pray for guidance to Our Father now you say people have a right to seek His guidance.

Where is the wisdom in making argument for what you now say you believe?

A kingdom divide will fall, we need only look at history to know that.

If you want to divide your self from me, you need not speak any words quoting my post. Its your right to do so.

The contradiction in your posts best i can see is division in your self. I say best i can see as it is hard for us to write our hearts into a post on a forum so i may not get your point that should be relevant to my posts.

From what you have written first post go ask The Church who I was, am and I will be from what you have written second post go ask Our Father in prayer.

If the Church or G-d inspires you revelation about what is good for me that is not in my spirit i am all ears.
If it is relevant to my posts here post it here, if it is outside pm me.

I will be who I will be, you have free will so choose who you see
 
I have heard the expression, “God hates the sin, but loves the sinner.” Though it is not a biblical statement per se it is widely accepted…

What then, do we do with the following passages?

Psalm 5:5
“The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.”

Psalm 11:5
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Proverbs 16:5
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 17:15
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

These verses all express God’s hatred for sin, but in these cases also for the sinner.
This question has been bothering me for quite a while and I trust that you might be able to give me an answer…
Keep in mind that that is the OT not the NT. In Mark 2 verses 13-17 is the story of when Jesus eats with sinners. Now here Jesus calls a sinner Levi or Matthew to be one of his disciples. To me this don’t sound like God hates the sinner, if God hates sinners then why would He want someone who he hates to be one of his Sons disciples? Its the sin that God don’t like not the sinner. Then Jesus goes on to eat at Levi’s house with other tax collectors and sinners. Once again this don’t sound like God hates the sinner. If he hated the sinner he would not allow his Son to go to a sinners house and dine with them. Now even the Pharisees objected to him eating with sinners by saying to his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?” Now what was Jesus’ reply to this? “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.” If God hated the sinner why would he have his Son save the sinner.

See he don’t hate the sinner its the sin he hates and that is what he came to save us from. If God hated the sinner he would have not sent his Son to die on the cross for our sins. Notice the word OUR, meaning us, meaning the sinner. That is love for the sinner. To offer his Son to a sinner so his sins may be forgiven is pure love not hate. While dying on the cross one of the criminals, sinner, asked for Jesus to remember him when he went to heaven and Jesus told him you will be with me in paradise. Does that sound like someone who hates the sinner? Even when he was being mocked while dying on the cross Jesus said to God Forgive them because they don’t know what they do. Once again there is no hate for the sinner but for the sin. If there was hate for the sinner Jesus would not have said that instead he would have said Father curse these sinful people for what they have done to me. But he didn’t he showed love and mercy on them.

One other thing, we are all sinners, so to say that God hates the sinner is saying he hates everyone. Its the sin not the sinner that God hates.
 
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 Christ is  OMNIPRESENT/OMNIPRENENCE meaning he is present everywhere or everywhere present. I don't see anywhere where it says you MUST use wine.
The commandment He gave at the Last Supper to “do this” in His memory only applies to those who were in communion with Him at that time, and those who would be in communion with HIm through their Word. Those who seek to obey His commandments out of Love for Him (they are not burdensom) do not look for ways to avoid doing exactly what He commanded by substituting ideas they think are as good, or better.

It is not necessary that you follow Jesus’ commandments in this regard. When He said “unless you eat my Body and drink my Blood, you will have no life in you”, He was talking only to His disciples. This is the manner He set up to connect them to Himself, the Vine.
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  I don't see anywhere where it says you MUST ....
The pattern of this is reminiscent of what the Serpent said in the Garden to Eve. “Did God really say…?”

“Oh, He did not REALLY mean THAT! He just knows if you do it your way…”
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  Jesus used wine/w alcohol back then because water was not safe to drink becasue of bacteria and the alcohol would kill bacteria.
Yes, but if you think it is not possible for Him to consecrate any matter He wished, you are wrong. He could have used goat’s milk if He wanted. He used the Passover meal, because He is the Lamb that was to be slain for the sins of the world. He fulfilled the Passover in His own flesh. The Passover calls for wine, and the Apostles understood this, and followed this.

Modern American Evangelicals seem to think they have the perogative to change that which God set up. Catholics do not see themselves with that perogative. When deviation from what we received from the Apostles occurs, we consider that to be “a different Gospel”. If we fall for it, then we are anathema.
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  The wine v. grape juice personally I don't think or believe that it really matters to Christ what we use as long as we are remembering the reason behind it and that is he shed his blood for us, for our sins, to remember the sacrafice he made for us. to me that is more important then should we use wine or grape juice. Both come from grapes.
You can worship God in the way you see most fit. This is what religious freedom is all about.

Catholics are bound to worship Him in the way HE sees fit. This is what it means to worship in Spirit and in Truth.
 
that is exactly what i am talking about. you keep saying: i dont think that God is this or that. the reason you are not sure is because you are not in the Truth. if you read the Bible, you will find written about the Church and what we are supposed to do. we are to be guided by the Church in all things. if your congregation is not 2000 yrs old, then your congregation is not the one commanded by Christ to go into the world and teach all man, batizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the HS. you cant even know or understand what heresy is. you are alone cannot decide what is true and what is not.
Look I’m not going to sit here and argue with you on this. Now I do commend you on your strong faith but the Church is Christ and he can guide anyone he wants to guide. Now it seems to me you want to start some kind of back and forth arguement on this, so if thats what you want then find someone else because God didn’t only give the CC to spread his good news, to spread his word, he gave it to others as well, he just gave it to us a little later on. Could be because he is not pleased with the way things have been done.
 
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