Flannel-graph of the vine?
John H Tuesday 12th June, AD 2007
Loved this comment by Alastair in a recent thread over on his blog, which started as a discussion on an open letter by NT Wright (essential reading in its own right) but evolved into a consideration of the colour of wine used in communion:
I must confess that I would like to see some evangelical churches switch to using white wine in communion, just to see what some people’s reactions would be! There seems to be an understanding of the sacrament that regards any dark reddish-black liquid as appropriate, although ideally it should not be alcoholic. I have been in congregations that celebrate using Ribena.
The use of white wine might serve to shock people out of an unbiblical way of understanding the liquid element in the sacrament. The sacrament isn’t a flannel-graph, but is there to be eaten and drunk of. The wine is not primarily a “picture” of Christ’s blood; it is Christ’s blood.
“Not a flannel-graph”. Love it. (Incidentally: Ribena??? Al, you’re kidding me. Please tell me you’re kidding me.)
In a subsequent post, Alastair then expands on the topic of wine in communion. Another “must-read”.
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Sad to say, I am not kidding you on the Ribena front. Even sadder to say, the use of Ribena wasn’t even an act of absolute necessity on an exceptional occasion, but was the standard practice of the congregation.
Yeah; I can remember having a discussion with someone at my (Baptist) church who took the view that “symbolism” implied you could use Ribena and Ryvita. Don Carson relates a story of a Californian youth group which used Coca-Cola and crackers. There’s so many things wrong there, I wouldn’t know where to start. It’s bizarre, given that Baptists frequently describe the Lord’s Supper as an act of obedience, that they should take such exception to obeying the Lord’s institution.
On the other hand, I think that there is symbolism at the Table (just not bare symbolism) and that using red wine is therefore more appropriate than white.
Ribena is the worst that I have personally experienced, but my brother was once present at a celebration of the Supper with Coke and chocolate cake.
More positively, I once attended an informal Eucharist for St Cuthbert’s Day at the St Cuthbert’s Centre in York (part of St Michael-le-Belfry’s ministry), at which the bread used for the communion was a plain naan. That actually worked rather well. The service as a whole was very moving in an “emergent” avant-la-lettre kinda way.
And yes, they used wine, not Cobra…
This is not surprising given that a lot of Baptist Churches were set up during and after the Great Awakening – which happened against a background of mass alcoholism. So many of them would have historic connections with the Temperance movement. As a result they often have a prohibition on use of alcohol written into the title deeds of the building. Usually tied to the unchangeable bits of the constitution of the local Baptist Trust which owns the building.
So it’s not unusual to find them using Ribena – presumably easier to get hold of than non-alcoholic wine.
I’m wondering whether I ought to delete this thread before some Professional Catholic Apologist® happens upon it and turns it into yet another denunciation of the liturgical and doctrinal chaos of Protestantism. Coke and chocolate cake. Sheesh.
Don’t delete it, John. Just put the Apologists on your “moderate” list.
[...] Here’s Alastair’s comment on the Lord’s Supper as a flannelgraph. Key quote: [...]