Thank you for your reply. Your assumption is that, for the sake of possible alcoholics in the assembly, Churches should use non-wine in communion, since it is God’s ordinance, and that it is meant to include all of His people. I hope I have rightly understood your concerns- so please allow me to answer you:

1) The term ‘alcoholic’ is not a biblical term- that is, the idea of a mental disease or infirmity that needs healing is never alluded to in Scripture. What IS alluded to is the term ‘drunkard’, which John Gill comments ate those:

“…who are strong to drink strong liquors; who give up themselves thereunto: who sit down on purpose to intoxicate themselves, and are frequent in the commission of this sin.”

It’s the difference between having something outside your control and the willing and purposeful commission of sin.

2) All through the Bible, especially in the New Testament, we are instructed that the evil resides not in the ‘thing itself’ (be it alcohol, food, sex, etc…), but always in the abuse of the thing (See especially Mark 7:15-23, and Col. 2:20-23).

So, while being very mindful of a person’s past history, we would want to carefully instruct that person, by word and deed, in the proper and lawful use of the thing that they formerly abused. They may personally only take wine in communion (as prescribed by Christ) and forbid its place in their own cupboard, but that has nothing to do with regulating the worship of the Church. That brings me to that fact that:

3) No where in God’s revealed Word are we given the option of substituting anything in the Lord’s Supper, and the Bible never suggests that the elements are not important, nor can they be tweaked or even changed on the basis of one’s own personal preferences.

The word for wine in the NT is “oinos”, which always means wine- not grape juice. There is one exception to this in all of the ancient literature where “oinos” refers to the juice that is coming out of the pressing vats, but I would argue that even there it is referring to what the juice is intended for! In the near East, the grape harvest is generally in the early autumn, so only within that very small window of time was unfermented grape juice available at all. Now, we know that the Church partook of communion all the year around, that every baptized believer partook, and that there were ex-drunkards in the assemblies (1 Cor. 6:10, 11).

I don’t think that it’s too difficult to conclude that not only should we use wine exclusively in communion, but that its use is perfectly legitimate and commensurate with the fact that there are children and ex-drunkards also partaking of communion.

Sincerely-

Tim Bushong

Excellent job with this study on likemindedness!

I, as a Catholic, feel united with my Christian brethren in many ways but mainly in the most important reason for our unity, which is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. However, I can see the reality of our division as well, which is very reminiscent of the division of which Paul speaks in 1 Cor 1:12.

How, as Christians, should we work toward the unity that Paul mentions, so we can stand firm, in one spirit with one mind?

I agree that discussions between Christian people with different beliefs, is one way to work toward this unity. I have learned over time that an important element to an effective discussion of this nature (with Christian brethren) is in treating your brother’s or sister’s beliefs with the greatest respect and trying to forget about who the “big brother” might be, while at the same time explaining your faith gently and lovingly and always looking for the truth.

God bless!

Polo