Questions about Primitive Baptists

[John MacK]

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[PreachingChristCrucified]

Why don't you believe in drinking alcohol? A little wine is good for you.

I don't think you are going to find any Churches that teach zero alcohol except maybe the Nazarenes.

 

[John MacK]

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[PreachingChristCrucified]

Just a personal decision I made. And I'm not talking zero alcohol policy, I just didn't know if you HAD to drink wine at communion as a primitive bapti

I'm sure if you requested grape juice that they would make an exception for you. But it's such a small amount of wine it hardly seems necessary.

 

[Albion]

I have been learning more about Primitive Baptists for the last few hours, and I have to say I agree with most everything I have read from their website, the one problem I had was it says that they drink wine at Communion. However, I do not believe in drinking alcohol, never have, never will. So I was wondering what is the Primitive Baptist stance on drinking alcohol? Also, they are very traditional, so what do they wear at services? Any other information about the denomination would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

A problem with understanding Primitive Baptist congregations is that they are widely scattered and independent. Mostly they are to be found in the South and especially in rural areas. Their use of wine appears to be non-negotiable. However, I'd say that your concerns don't seem monumental, so I'd recommend finding a PB congregation and visiting it some Sunday. I would not think that your questions would be considered strange or offensive.

A good rule of thumb about dressing right for any church visitation is that a sport coat and tie don't represent overdressing, even if you find that most of the congregation is dressed less formally; but if you dress down and then find that they do not, you'll be uncomfortable.

 

[parsley]

I'm sure if you requested grape juice that they would make an exception for you.

Honest, don't feel guilty asking. There are people who have been through rehab or are trying to resist temptation who need grape juice substitute. Also, churches might have the alternative ready for pregnant women and minors.

Of all the churches I have visited (and I enjoy diversity), I have only been to a couple that served wine. A denomination might state one thing, and a church might decide to carry it out differently. In certain regions they might not be allowed to serve alcohol to minors, so instead of barring teens from communion, they find it easier to just use grape juice.

Interesting topic on Primitive Baptists, though. Feel free to share more on what you found.

 

[pastorpatricia]

Ìt is not necessary to drink wine, taking the bread means you have had a full communion. We have past alcoholics in our congregation that take only the bread.

 

[Albion]

Ìt is not necessary to drink wine, taking the bread means you have had a full communion. We have past alcoholics in our congregation that take only the bread.

But the question was explicitly about Primitive Baptists, a group known for emphasizing the importance of taking the wine.

 

[Aibrean]

I had wine during communion while pregnant. I trusted God to protect the baby which he did.

 

[seashale76]

First of all- since grape juice and wine aren't the same thing- and Primitive Baptists use wine for communion (as they should) then you should not go in asking for grape juice instead. What is used for communion matters- and it seems that it matters to them (and rightly so).

Getting a tiny sip of wine for communion doesn't make one drunk. Children in such churches that use wine are allowed to take communion (in Orthodox Christianity we commune infants)- and this is a protected religious right. I'm not sure how Primitive Baptists take communion (in some places water is mixed with wine and the bread is placed in the wine and you take communion from a spoon)- but you may not have the option of either bread or wine.

 

[Albion]

First of all- since grape juice and wine aren't the same thing- and Primitive Baptists use wine for communion (as they should) then you should not go in asking for grape juice instead. What is used for communion matters- and it seems that it matters to them (and rightly so).

I agree with this. The Primitive Baptists take the use of wine very seriously and this is one thing that distinguishes them from other Baptistic churches. To ask if you could be exempted from something this important to them, and without a medical reason, would be something I couldn't recommend.