Why do many Protestant Churches use grape juice instead of wine for communion?

[Roy5]

Just a quick PS… Prohibition was bad and ineffective, leading to considerable crime.

However, temperance is a good thing. How many millions have had their lives severely injured - marital splits, economic woes, highway deaths, etc. - because they or someone else over-drank. And I have saved thousands of dollars over my lifetime abstaining from alcohol, some of which (money) I could share with others.

I don't stand in judgement of those who do imbibe, of course, and moderate drinking is fine - as long as it remains moderate. The problem develops when it escalates into an addiction, which it too often does. I've read that the USA has between 20-30 million alcoholics??? Maybe more. 

One reason Methodists (and others) use grapejuice is to make communion available to all. There are those who try to remain 'on the wagon' but can revert to active alcoholism with even a thimble full of alcohol. 

 God bless everybody.

 

[Genovefa]

I agree. For all those who wonder why Protestants don’t offer wine for communion, it does have a considerable amount to do with the temperance movement which many (especially Methodists) were very active in. Prohibition was sort of the culmination of this, but that was bad, of course.

These early congregations meant well, but unfortunately, like many things that begin with good intentions, it has become something else. Some churches now shun any type of alcohol and consider it a sin to partake at all. Verses that talk of wine in the Bible are interpreted as being “new” wine (grape juice that has not fermented). I personally have a big problem with this interpretation, especially where the wedding feast is concerned.

But I do wonder about those who are recovering alcoholics and whether having wine is too great a temptation for them. The wine at the Anglican churches is very sweet and would guess has a very low alcohol content. I don’t see how anyone could have an issue with it.

Also some Protestant churches offer communion through small cups instead of using a common cup. So, one could get quite a bit more wine that way. I have never seen a Baptist church offer Lord’s Supper in any other manner. And they usually pass the trays down the rows instead of going to the altar. I could never be a Baptist.

This is a personal interest of mine. I teach at a religious school who has students from all sort of church backgrounds and quite a bit of exposure to different beliefs about communion.

I might add that I used to routinely see the church secretary throwing the left over grape juice out the back door onto the dirt after communion. This is one reason I am no longer Methodist.

 

[Genovefa]

I just went back and read the thread. Most of what I posted was already stated. Sorry I was redundant.

The Methodist pastor who taught my “Book of Discipline” class was raised Catholic. And I actually went away from the class believing in transubstantiation (which is not the Protestant belief of course). He had to correct me later when it became apparent to him that I misunderstood.

But I think he had told us originally that the bread and wine became Jesus’ body and blood during the service and then ceased to be afterwards.

I am still confused about what the view is in the Methodist church. But it is no matter.

I was once at an Anglican church where the priest chastised us all before Eucharist because people had been dropping bread on the floor and walking on it. He explained that the bread was Christ and we should be more respectful. He was very upset. So, it seems to me that they see it as more than symbolic.

Anyway, I would just beware of grouping all Protestants together.

I’ll shut up now.

 

[Roy5]

The Methodist Discipline contains 25 articles, borrowed from the 39 articles of the Anglicans. One of them strongly condemns transubstantiation. I don’t have it at hand, but trust me on this one.

The Methodists, like Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, etc., use little glasses for the distribution of the cup at communion. This avoids both denying the cup to the laity (as Catholicism formerly did) and also avoids the common cup which Anglican churches usually use. To many, use of the common chalice - everybody drinking, yes, even wine from the same chalice - is troublesome. 

Methodists usually go to the altar rail to receive communion, though today intinction has become widespread among Methodists. (I am not favorable to that because I have seen people dip the bread into the chalice, and their fingers go in too far! Sorry!) Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians, etc., usually commune in the pews. I have witnessed both ways that there are benefits to both. I'm quite sure Jesus doesn't care which way. It's our hearts that he looks at, not our rituals.

 As for disposing of the bread, it can be eaten. Often ministers 'toss it outside' for the birds or other wandering wildlife. I see no problem with that. In fact, I regard it as good.

 Methodists vary - somewhat like Episcopalians do - from those who resemble Episcopalians to those who resemble Baptists. In places like Canada and Australia, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians have merged. 

 I try to love them all. I do have a little problem, frankly, with any church which claims that it alone teaches the truth, and everyone else is in error. I suspect that we all are in error because this miraculous universe is far beyond our human understanding. The Bible tells us to walk by faith and not sight, and I try my best to do that. I suspect heaven will be full of people of all religions who tried to live as Christ commanded. See the parable of the Good Samaritan, or re-read Matt. 25:31ff.

 Religion should be a bridge and not a barrier!