Communion Wine - a question for those of the Christian Faith
Larry_H said
Mar 15, 2010
I would like to know how those alcoholics of the Christian Faith handle Holy Communion?
Specifically do you partake of the wine that is supposed to symbolize Christ's Blood?
In my early days of sobriety my sponsor informed me that this was an individual choice and that some alcoholics do partake. My sponsor further elaborated by saying it seems to matter most why the wine was consumed. In this case in praise to God.
That being said my sponsor and I both seem to seek out churches that offer grape juice as an alternative to wine.
We get a *daily* reprieve, based on what we do *today* for our recovery
runnergirl said
Mar 15, 2010
Hey Larry- I just abstain from drinking the wine... Might be tempted to slug the whole cup down! Actually, I think the taste would be a huge trigger for me to want more. If, however, there is a choice to take juice, I will do that. Peace! Laurie
StPeteDean said
Mar 15, 2010
Have never drank the wine. I think my HP understands since he/she got me into recovery. I know that it's a personal choice, but I don't think that it's a good idea to drink the alcoholic variety. It's all about the obsession that follows. If someone can do it, on a weekly basis, and not have any recurring thoughts about drinking, then maybe, but the repetition of drinking weekly has seemingly got to take a tool on one's physical and mental resistance to drinking.
Dave Harm said
Mar 15, 2010
The church that I went to offered grape juice as an alternative
Another church's minister said "If I wasn't stronger then my addiction maybe I was in the wrong church." He was right... I was in the wrong church
mikef said
Mar 15, 2010
Yes Larry we also use grape juice as a symbol of the blood at Faith Assemblies of God!I was an Altar boy at a Catholic school when I was A KID AND WE USED TO DRINK THE UNBLESSED WINE IN SACRISTY BEFORE SERVICE.I was on my way to alcoholism at a very early age.Talk about fear of getting struck dead!!did'nt stop me though,neither did 25 years of devastation until surrender!!
Larry_H said
Mar 15, 2010
Dave Harm wrote:
The church that I went to offered grape juice as an alternative
Another church's minister said "If I wasn't stronger then my addiction maybe I was in the wrong church." He was right... I was in the wrong church
Dave,
Your posting made me smile a lot. We can't change other's attitudes but we certainly can change our location.
Larry, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Those Who Judge Don't Matter & Those Who Matter Don't Judge
joelo said
Mar 15, 2010
i am of the Catholic faith, and i partake of the cup. It's never been an issue for me. :o)
Jerry F said
Mar 15, 2010
Aloha Larry...I'm of the bent of Joelo and your sponsor. While there were Sundays that we stood, knelt and sat in anxiety as to when mass would be over so we could go worship whatever bottle was then on the counter at home or be in the line outside of the bar (Blue Sundays) so we could again attend the grand opening; It was always grand!!, having some of the wine in communion wasn't the same kind of celebration we did outside of church. I've also done the altar boy taste test and that is history. My first drink, at nine, was Portugese Red and strong potent wine however I can't find any link to the altar or the mass or my fear of alcohol. What it took to turn me on could have never fit in one chalice and I would have never attended any function with so many people trying to get at "my" cup. I am grateful for my upbringing and no longer practice that faith as much as I use to. I haven't drank alcohol in 31 years and my Higher Power and I recognize each other on sight.
I don't do grape juice...I've never liked it or gotten use to the taste...something was always missing. LOL
In support.
StPeteDean said
Mar 15, 2010
mikef wrote:
Yes Larry we also use grape juice as a symbol of the blood at Faith Assemblies of God!I was an Altar boy at a Catholic school when I was A KID AND WE USED TO DRINK THE UNBLESSED WINE IN SACRISTY BEFORE SERVICE.I was on my way to alcoholism at a very early age.Talk about fear of getting struck dead!!did'nt stop me though,neither did 25 years of devastation until surrender!!
I wasn't even an alter boy, but still drank the wine in catholic school. I had friends in low places.
soberdrunk said
Mar 15, 2010
Wow does this bring back a memory! This was a few years back. I went to this church with my girlfriend at the time and grabbed the wrong cup. They offered grape juice too. As soon as that hit my lips it felt too good to be true. Just that little sip, felt it going down all the way to my stomach, and I absolutely loved it. I will do the communion deal for sure, but I will always ask "which one is the juice?" first. I definitely wouldn't advise any alcoholic to drink the wine. It could so easily set off a chain of events that could end up being the next drunk. And who's to say that drunk could last the rest of your life? I have to remember this is life and death. Even the smallest thing could set me off on a path which I don't want to go down. Rationalization and justification are not my friends when it comes to putting alcohol in any form down my throat.
pinkchip said
Mar 16, 2010
This very same debate popped up here about 7 or 8 months ago I think.
leeu said
Mar 16, 2010
Yep...right up there with alcohol-based extracts in smoothies and good Tirimisu...no can do!
Even the most fervant Christian with his or her alcoholism in remission has not been made impervious to the risk for re-activating the "live" disease. And shame on any "man of God" who is arrogent enough and ignorant enough to suggest that it's safe for an alcoholic to....DRINK ALCOHOL!!....or to judge their faith as being insufficient.
(Hmmmm...looks like one of my buttons got pushed!! I've seen too many Christians cheated out of getting decent treatment and learning about solid recovery tools because of the myths pushed in the name of this-or-that religion. That is actually dealing in death, not dealing in Christ (life), in my book.)
-- Edited by leeu on Tuesday 16th of March 2010 07:55:36 PM
SoberSteve said
Mar 16, 2010
Our christian based church does communion every Sunday. They only offer the juice. I take it and have no problems. :)
louisa said
Mar 17, 2010
Dean shared
Have never drank the wine. I think my HP understands since he/she got me into recovery.
My feelings entirely.
I never ever take the wine - for me it would be like playing Russian Roulette. Luckily even the smell of the wine now makes me feel sick, but even early on in my recovery I didn't dare risk it. I just daren't.
My HP understands totally and loves me no less.
Louisa xx
Tessa said
Mar 17, 2010
This post brings back a memory so long ago I'd forgotten about it until now. I was raised of the babtist faith & our church served wine. I remember the preachers son running around drinking all the "leftovers". Wonder where he is today & hope he's not one of use. I've never drank wine in church. By the time I got saved & babtised I was in the church of christ & they served 100% grape juice instead. I'm only saying this of myself. I know I'm an alcoholic & one sip could send me over the edge. I don't even think I could taste alcohol without wanting more & that's just being honest with myself. So, I would refuse.
ryananderes said
Aug 15, 2024
These SolarWinds Certified Professional SCP-NPM questions and answers not only help you in your preparation but also familiarize you with the SolarWinds Certified Professional exam situation. By attempting our SCP-NPM SolarWinds Certified Professional practice exam questions, you will also learn time management. The best thing is that most questions in our exam dumps are those questions that can be included in upcoming SCP-NPM SolarWinds SolarWinds Certified Professional exam dumps. Get access to our test engine so that you can get more updated exam dumps.
I would like to know how those alcoholics of the Christian Faith handle Holy Communion?
Specifically do you partake of the wine that is supposed to symbolize Christ's Blood?
In my early days of sobriety my sponsor informed me that this was an individual choice and that some alcoholics do partake. My sponsor further elaborated by saying it seems to matter most why the wine was consumed. In this case in praise to God.
That being said my sponsor and I both seem to seek out churches that offer grape juice as an alternative to wine.
How do you handle this sensitive issue?
Larry,
---------------------------------------------------------------
We get a *daily* reprieve, based on what we do *today* for our recovery
I just abstain from drinking the wine... Might be tempted to slug the whole cup down! Actually, I think the taste would be a huge trigger for me to want more. If, however, there is a choice to take juice, I will do that.
Peace!
Laurie
Your posting made me smile a lot. We can't change other's attitudes but we certainly can change our location.
Larry,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Those Who Judge Don't Matter & Those Who Matter Don't Judge
Aloha Larry...I'm of the bent of Joelo and your sponsor. While there were Sundays
that we stood, knelt and sat in anxiety as to when mass would be over so we could
go worship whatever bottle was then on the counter at home or be in the line
outside of the bar (Blue Sundays) so we could again attend the grand opening; It
was always grand!!, having some of the wine in communion wasn't the same kind
of celebration we did outside of church. I've also done the altar boy taste test and
that is history. My first drink, at nine, was Portugese Red and strong potent wine
however I can't find any link to the altar or the mass or my fear of alcohol. What
it took to turn me on could have never fit in one chalice and I would have never
attended any function with so many people trying to get at "my" cup. I am grateful
for my upbringing and no longer practice that faith as much as I use to. I haven't
drank alcohol in 31 years and my Higher Power and I recognize each other on sight.
I don't do grape juice...I've never liked it or gotten use to the taste...something was
always missing. LOL
In support.
I definitely wouldn't advise any alcoholic to drink the wine. It could so easily set off a chain of events that could end up being the next drunk. And who's to say that drunk could last the rest of your life? I have to remember this is life and death. Even the smallest thing could set me off on a path which I don't want to go down. Rationalization and justification are not my friends when it comes to putting alcohol in any form down my throat.
Even the most fervant Christian with his or her alcoholism in remission has not been made impervious to the risk for re-activating the "live" disease. And shame on any "man of God" who is arrogent enough and ignorant enough to suggest that it's safe for an alcoholic to....DRINK ALCOHOL!!....or to judge their faith as being insufficient.
(Hmmmm...looks like one of my buttons got pushed!! I've seen too many Christians cheated out of getting decent treatment and learning about solid recovery tools because of the myths pushed in the name of this-or-that religion. That is actually dealing in death, not dealing in Christ (life), in my book.)
-- Edited by leeu on Tuesday 16th of March 2010 07:55:36 PM
My feelings entirely.
I never ever take the wine - for me it would be like playing Russian Roulette. Luckily even the smell of the wine now makes me feel sick, but even early on in my recovery I didn't dare risk it. I just daren't.
My HP understands totally and loves me no less.
Louisa xx
These SolarWinds Certified Professional SCP-NPM questions and answers not only help you in your preparation but also familiarize you with the SolarWinds Certified Professional exam situation. By attempting our SCP-NPM SolarWinds Certified Professional practice exam questions, you will also learn time management. The best thing is that most questions in our exam dumps are those questions that can be included in upcoming SCP-NPM SolarWinds SolarWinds Certified Professional exam dumps. Get access to our test engine so that you can get more updated exam dumps.