Riverwood Presbyterian Church

General Theology

A. A. Hodge on the Lord’s Supper

by Steven Crawford

I purchased a few books from St. Matthews recently. Among them was Evangelical Theology by A. A. Hodge. I found this quote while reading a section on the Lord’s Supper:

Whosoever puts away true and real wine, or fermented grape juice, on moral grounds, from the Lord’s Supper, sets himself up as more moral than the Son of God who reigns over his conscience, and than the Saviour of souls who redeemed him. There has been absolutely universal consent on this subject in the Christian Church until modern times, when the practice has been opposed, not upon change of evidence, but solely on prudential considerations. Many Christians have, however, mingled water with the wine because it was an ancient custom probably practiced by Christ himself, and also by some because water mingled with the blood flowed from his broken heart (John xix. 34)

I thought the first part of the quote was interesting, because, growing up in the south, alcohol, in any form, is so frowned upon. Most churches I know, or have been a part of, use Welches® for communion (I’ve heard the story of how the Methodists created Welches specifically for communion). I was happy to find St Matthews uses port.

The second part of the quote explains something else I had noticed at St Matthews, and that is the adding of a little water to the wine. I enjoy learning the significance of various parts of the liturgy.