Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: firth@sei.cmu.edu Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Alcohol: /Open communion Message-ID: Date: 9 Feb 90 05:44:28 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Software Engineering Institute, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 21 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article st0o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Steven Timm) writes: >... I'm not >sure that the Bible refers anywhere to the fluid dispensed at the >Lord's supper as wine) Try Matthew xxvi:29; Mark xiv:25; Luke xxii:18. The synoptic gospels all agree that what was drunk at the Last Supper was 'the fruit of the vine', which in that time and place meant only fermented grape juice, ie wine. If I may be permitted a personal statement on this issue. I believe that each community and each person are free to observe and adapt the ceremonies of our religion in any reasonable manner they deem appropriate to their faith and witness, and so find nothing offensive in leavened bread, grape juice, or similar variations. However, I prefer myself the rite that follows as far as possible the example and instruction of Jesus, which I believe to be: communion of both kinds, using the elements used by him, and with the words of administration that the scriptures faithfully record. But in these matters we should not seek to prescribe for others.