Why do some Protestants use grape juice instead of wine?

jinc1019 · #1 May 2, '12, 5:04 pm

I don't understand this....Even if they don't believe in a real existance of Jesus in the bread and wine, why use grape juice? It's clearly not wine and that is clearly what Jesus used.

**JonNC** · #2 May 2, '12, 5:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinc1019

I don't understand this....Even if they don't believe in a real existance of Jesus in the bread and wine, why use grape juice? It's clearly not wine and that is clearly what Jesus used.

While we Lutherans use wine, I think the use of grape juice may have its roots in the prohibition of drinking alcohol in some communions.

Jon

bmullins · #3 May 2, '12, 6:36 pm

I think the above person is right in the prohibition part of it, also the fact that many protestants see it as a 'symbol.' If it's symbolic, then there really is no reason to be using wine when you can use grape juice etc.

fif1189 · #4 May 2, '12, 6:46 pm

Some churches forbid the drinking of alcohol (as was mentioned). Also, I've seen some use grape juice for the sake of "inclusion" (so those under 21 can take it).

On another note, I one asked a Baptist pastor about this. He said that the wine from back then was so weak that it was basically grape juice (yeah, right...). So, according to some churches, Jesus didn't drink wine as we know it.

Armyvet007 · #5 May 2, '12, 8:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by fif1189

Some churches forbid the drinking of alcohol (as was mentioned). Also, I've seen some use grape juice for the sake of "inclusion" (so those under 21 can take it).

On another note, I one asked a Baptist pastor about this. He said that the wine from back then was so weak that it was basically grape juice (yeah, right...). So, according to some churches, Jesus didn't drink wine as we know it.

Wine back then was cut with water. Depending on how cut the wine was, [more water = cheaper wine] it could very well have been "basically grape juice." Though I doubt the wine Christ created would have been watered down wine.

misspriss · #6 May 2, '12, 8:47 pm

It was explained to me, when I questioned it, as a Protestant (I was a child when I asked) that in the Bible they drank "new wine", which was unferminted wine, thus - grape juice. Seemed kind of odd, but I was a kid and it didn't seem to matter at the time.

DaveBj · #7 May 3, '12, 4:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by misspriss

It was explained to me, when I questioned it, as a Protestant (I was a child when I asked) that in the Bible they drank "new wine", which was unferminted wine, thus - grape juice. Seemed kind of odd, but I was a kid and it didn't seem to matter at the time.

Ya think?

Let's see . . . grape harvest in is the fall . . . Passover is in the spring . . . grape juice is going to stay unfermented, with no refrigeration, for six months? I'd like to hear a Protestant try to explain that.

jinc1019 · #8 May 3, '12, 5:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveBj

Ya think?

Let's see . . . grape harvest in is the fall . . . Passover is in the spring . . . grape juice is going to stay unfermented, with no refrigeration, for six months? I'd like to hear a Protestant try to explain that.

To extend this point out even further....Drinking water was often not safe in many of these communities and wine was a good alternative precisely because it was fermented and much of the dangerous bacteria was destroyed through that process. Perhaps I am wrong about that (I know this to be true in many other eras of human history, especially early American history and European history, which is precisely why we drink beer today by the way).

lucusk · #9 May 2, '12, 8:50 pm

As someone who was previously Methodist, I can tell you that the Methodist Book of Worship says that while they do recognize that the historical and eccumenical Christian practice of communion used wine, the church has used "unfermented grape juice" since the late 19th century because of pastoral concerns for recovering alcoholics, inclusion of children and youth, and support for the church's witness of abstinence. I'm sure prohibition played a hand in this, as was mentioned by previous posters, but here is some interesting history about how this came to pass in the Methodist faith.

http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/...111&ct=7787227

This practice was the start of Welch's. We only served Welch's grapejuice at the communion in my Methodist church. I'm sure it's a coincidence, but interesting none the less...

Armyvet007 · #10 May 2, '12, 9:01 pm

The internet conspiracy theory concerning a secret plot by Methodists to take over our youth through grape juice is born.

lucusk · #11 May 2, '12, 9:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armyvet007

The internet conspiracy theory concerning a secret plot by Methodists to take over our youth through grape juice is born.

LOL

jinc1019 · #12 May 3, '12, 5:46 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by fif1189

Some churches forbid the drinking of alcohol (as was mentioned). Also, I've seen some use grape juice for the sake of "inclusion" (so those under 21 can take it).

On another note, I one asked a Baptist pastor about this. He said that the wine from back then was so weak that it was basically grape juice (yeah, right...). So, according to some churches, Jesus didn't drink wine as we know it.

I think the idea that churches wanted to prohibit alcohol may very well have been the most important factor, and one I hadn't considered. Very interesting.

Alexander Roman · #13 May 3, '12, 7:37 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by fif1189

Some churches forbid the drinking of alcohol (as was mentioned). Also, I've seen some use grape juice for the sake of "inclusion" (so those under 21 can take it).

On another note, I one asked a Baptist pastor about this. He said that the wine from back then was so weak that it was basically grape juice (yeah, right...). So, according to some churches, Jesus didn't drink wine as we know it.

Forgive me, but I have to make a quip here - if the master of ceremonies at the Wedding at Cana in Galilee belonged to a Protestant denomination that used grape juice, he would never have been able to taste the wine our Lord transformed from the water in the six stone jars . . .

It's a good thing the MC was Jewish!

Alex

KateKimmer · #14 May 3, '12, 9:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Roman

Forgive me, but I have to make a quip here - if the master of ceremonies at the Wedding at Cana in Galilee belonged to a Protestant denomination that used grape juice, he would never have been able to taste the wine our Lord transformed from the water in the six stone jars . . .

It's a good thing the MC was Jewish!

Alex

CatholicofAgora · #15 May 3, '12, 7:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by fif1189

Some churches forbid the drinking of alcohol (as was mentioned). Also, I've seen some use grape juice for the sake of "inclusion" (so those under 21 can take it).

On another note, I one asked a Baptist pastor about this. He said that the wine from back then was so weak that it was basically grape juice (yeah, right...). So, according to some churches, Jesus didn't drink wine as we know it.

Thats what my pastor said as well. It's because they're anti-alchohol, which I completely understand. Alchohol has destroyed my dad's whole life and took everything away from him, even his own children. I'm completely prejudiced against it myself, I came to look at it almost the same way I look at illegal drugs, only worse. Sometimes I wish Jesus never used wine in the Blessed Sacrament.