Wine or Grape Juice?

Ive been kickin this around in my head a long time: Does your church (local assembly of believers) use grape juice for the communion or wine? And if so why do they use what they do?

Do you think the Wine in the passage below was fermented or non fermented?

So every one knows that what I'm getting at, I'll say my thoughts then I'd love to hear what folks think about this issue...

I find it hard to believe that Christ would encourage drunkeness, I think its out of his character to do so. But I'd like to hear from the group here.

Jhn 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
Jhn 2:2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
Jhn 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
Jhn 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
Jhn 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it].
Jhn 2:6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
Jhn 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
Jhn 2:8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare [it].
Jhn 2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
Jhn 2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: [but] thou hast kept the good wine until now.
Jhn 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Our church uses grape juice because when we do communion it is a family event.

Grape juice at our Church also. No alcoholic beverages allowed on Church property....period!

I can't speak fer Jesus but I myself enjoy a glass of white/red wine with a special occasion meal....

[valerie]

Maybe I don't know very much about this subject but if you don't mind I
would like to comment...

I think the juice was fermented. And I don't think Christ "encouraged"
drunkeness. But there have been many times in history when you drank
what was available to drink whatever it was. And they had storage
problems, no refrigeration to keep things fresh, etc. so that you
drank it the way you got it and were happy.

You don't have to get drunk per se, just have a glass of wine. True, you
can go off the deep end with it, but I don't think that was the original
intention, either.

Okay, I'm done, I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...

[chonsigirl]

My church uses grape juice.

But I think it is fairly certain Jesus and the disciples used fermented wine. The first miracle ar Cana was not grape juice He made in those jars-but the best wine in the house. Remember, they drank wine mixed with water back then, it was common practice.

Originally Posted by valerie

Maybe I don't know very much about this subject but if you don't mind I
would like to comment...

I think the juice was fermented. And I don't think Christ "encouraged"
drunkeness. But there have been many times in history when you drank
what was available to drink whatever it was. And they had storage
problems, no refrigeration to keep things fresh, etc. so that you
drank it the way you got it and were happy.

You don't have to get drunk per se, just have a glass of wine. True, you
can go off the deep end with it, but I don't think that was the original
intention, either.

Okay, I'm done, I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...

I thought for sure you'd say it was Champaign!

Thanks Val!

muahahahahaha


did ya know that the greek does not clarify the word wine in this instance. Only one greek word for wine... "oinos"..... it does not denote fermented or non fermented.

My church and all other Catholic churches I've ever attended (in the US and abroad) use wine. During the consecration of the Eucharist, the wine is watered down a bit with water to symbolize the changing of the water into wine. Typically a Catholic makes their First Communion around the 2nd/3rd grade so yes, children would also be partaking of wine during Mass.

I do believe that Jesus and his disciples used fermented wine. But as with anything, temperance is the key and therein is a lesson for all of us.

[Lon]

It seems to me that common sense would dictate that the wine of the Bibical era was fermented. Rome, the Greeks and others all speak of fermentation, drunkeness etc. Why would early day Christians be any different? Besides, to those that know drink, it takes a fair amount of wine to get drunk. If I drink one botttle of wine with my meal my blood alcohol level for driving purposes is within legal limits. It's been tested to confirm this.

Ya'll bring up some good points...

All I know is that from that text alone you cant determine one way or the other.

There are warnings in scripture not to drink alcohol, and not to drink to excess. I didnt bring it up to dispute wether its morally right to drink. I'm interested in why you think or why you assumed it was fermented.

I just find it an interesting thing to find out what people think.