contageous viruses and communion

[BloodFire]

hi babes
if someone takes communion and they're like... ill.. but dnt know it... and it travels by body fluids like spit... or something... then doesnt that mean the whole church will get it??? how does a church stop everyone from becoming sick??

 

[Rafael]

We use seperate glasses or cups in communion - problem solved... How those who share the cup deal with colds and flu, I don't know.......?

 

[SimonWalker]

Interesting question. I guess you could hope that everyone takes their vitamins (or in my case have a home made coffee, string eough to kill an elephant). Apart from that it is called a sink with soap and water. Seperate cups helps too.

 

[BloodFire]

i forgot to say..
this is about those with the same cups im dumb

 

[Rafael]

i forgot to say..
this is about those with the same cups im dumb

Not dumb...... Be positive in life and happy..

 

[ebia]

hi babes
if someone takes communion and they're like... ill.. but dnt know it... and it travels by body fluids like spit... or something... then doesnt that mean the whole church will get it??? how does a church stop everyone from becoming sick??

Yes, germs can be spread by the common cup, but the problem is nowhere near as bad as you would think.

The person administering the cup wipes the rim between each person with a cloth (called a purificator).
Wine, particularly red wine, is a pretty good at killing bacteria - especially combined with silver (a common material for the cup).

It's common for people who are ill to intinct - that is, to dip the wafer in the wine and then eat it rather than drinking directly from the cup. Unfortunately, research has shown that people who dip their own wafer spread more germs because they transmit germs from their hands into the wine. Intinction - if practiced - should be done by the person administing the wine.

 

[HisArrow]

At my church, someone breaks the bread, dip the piece in the grape juice and hands it to the person. The person that breaks the bread is wearing plastic gloves so not ton spread any germs. Anyways. i'm sure that God protects those who are taking communion from any diseases that may be passed. I feel that those who are ill should not take communion.. God will and does understand.

 

[m9lc]

Indirect mouth to mouth contact is more of a social fear than an actual scientific fear. I recall reading somewhere that shaking hands actually is more dangerous than kissing in terms of spreading disease.

 

[ebia]

I feel that those who are ill should not take communion.. God will and does understand.

They can always take communion in one kind (ie bread) only. The church has always taught that one doesn't need to take both kinds.

 

[Stinker]

I used to belong to a sect of the church of Christ that used only one cup in the weekly communion. It was made of silver which kept germs in check so no one would catch another's cold or other illness.

 

[Criada]

Never thought of this one.
I take communion in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice for me.
My God is bigger than germs!!

 

[BloodFire]

Never thought of this one.
I take communion in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice for me.
My God is bigger than germs!!

germies can make my life HELL though! LOL! i hate getting ill!

 

[heron]

It's definitely a valid concern. I was told that in the single-cup ones (and they have always wiped the cup off), you allow them to pour it slightly so you're not drinking it like you would at home.

Most of the churches I have been to pass around small portions that people hold in their hands, then take simultaneously.

I think that some single-cup services also have single portion options for people who are sick, if you tell them.


The New Testament describes communion as a meal that they shared together, not as a solemn ceremony.... so the single cup probably wasn't used then.

I Cor. 11:21,22
When you meet together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. [criticism, not instruction]

For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal, and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?


I wouldn't trust the germ protection to "God will protect," since He also was the one who prescribed so many health codes to prevent the spread of germs. Yes, He can protect people when they ask, but if we just assume, I'd guess we're fair game to germs.

(Learned that from assuming He'd keep our kids from getting sick if we were faithful to bring them to the nursery at church. Egad, no.)