As the title of this article implies, we have made a change in an element of communion. Perhaps a better question for the broader Evangelical Church would be, “Why did we ever change the wine in communion to grape juice to begin with?” This question addresses the heart of the matter more pointedly. It is important for the reader to know the biblical teaching on wine and the cultural context into which this article is written. This cultural context is the twentieth century American Church influenced by the temperance movement of the mid-nineteenth century. I will attempt to show why I think this movement has perverted the rightful administration of the sacrament of communion by changing the element from what Christ used, desired, and intended for the sacrament. If one of the marks of a true church is the rightful administration of the sacraments, as the Reformers declared, then changing an element in communion has profound implications, especially if that change moves us away from the biblical observance of what Christ instituted. I hope the reader will be open to the following assertions and prayerfully consider the importance of the proper observance of communion in his own life…

“I noticed that your wife wears hats in church.  Is that simply her decorum or is that a conviction?” I was asked while sitting behind closed doors of another pastor.  After I responded that it was a biblical conviction he shot back, “So do you think your wife is more spiritual than my wife because she wears a hat and mine doesn’t?” Being somewhat taken off guard by the quick turn of emotion, I tried to answer as graciously as I could, “No, it’s simply a conviction about which we feel strongly, but in no way do we use it as a measure of spirituality.” At this time in my life, I was in the process of planting a church in the Atlanta area, so the next sentence from this pastor really rattled me.  Lounging back in his seat and looking straight at me across his big desk, he replied, “You are going to have a hard time planting a church with that kind of conviction!” I was stunned and frightened at the same time.  “Was he right?” I pondered.  “But if the Bible truly teaches that a woman should cover her head in public worship, how could I do otherwise?” I thought to myself…

Preaching first of all must be biblical and doctrinal. Today we hear a lot going on in the name of preaching, and often people will “shop” churches until they hear the preaching that suits them. Paul warned Timothy of this very thing…