Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 12/27/2007

Question
Who said that the host had to be made of wheaten flour?  As a person who has allergies to wheat and gluten I am unable to take communion.  Is spelt flour an alternative to what is now used as wheaten flour?

Answer
mary jane

Just wondering if you got this answer.

:-)


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Mary Jane,

Hope you don't mind, but your question was placed in the "Church History-question pool" and I thought I would try to help.

First, and most importantly, the elements of the communion (unleavened bread and wine [grape juice]) are not a "host". This is known as transubstantiation. Transubstantiation is the un-biblical view that the elements of bread and fruit of the vine literally change into the body and blood of Christ, although the elements appear as bread and wine. Therefore the elements are not a “host” for Jesus to be slain again and eaten.

When Jesus spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood in John 6:53-63, He was very careful to explain that He was NOT speaking literally. John 6:63 tells us that the words that Christ was speaking "are spirit." They were not to physically eat Him, but rather to partake of Him spiritually, to partake of His finished work on the cross. No one ate His body literally then, and no one is to now! Christ did not teach us to be cannibalistic.

The Bible commands us in Lev. 17:11,12 never to eat blood, for blood is the life of the flesh. That is why the Jews in John 6:52 and verse 60 were confused. They were trying to apply what Christ said literally and physically, which was contrary to Scripture.

The Bible does not teach transubstantiation but transignification. Transignification is the Biblical view that the bread and fruit of the vine do not confer any special presence of Christ and that the elements are simply representations of the body and blood of Christ and are served to remind of us Christ past work.

1 Corinthians 11:26 says that "...ye do show the Lord's death till he come. " It is to bring to remembrance the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 22:19 states "...this do in remembrance of me. " It is intended to bring our attention back to what Christ has done for us.

Mary Jane, the Bible says in I Corinthians 11:24 that His body was broken for us. Not only are we to remember His death, but also His suffering. This is signified in the broken bread, as shown in Matthew 26:26.

The Blood of Jesus, which is able to cleans us from our sin and save our souls, is pictured in the cup from which we drink during communion (I Corinthians 10:16). This blood was shed for us according to Mark 14:24 and the importance of the shedding of blood is stated in Hebrews 9:22.

The two elements are unleavened bread and unleavened fruit of the vine. Unleavened because leaven is a picture of sin (I Cor. 5:8), and Christ has no sin. The bread pictures His body, and the fruit of the vine (grape juice, or new wine) pictures His blood. Grape juice is used because normal fermented wine is leavened, while new wine (grape juice) has not fermented but only has the flavor of the grapes (as in pure blood, see Deut. 32:14).  Therefore, whether wheaten flour or spelt flour is used in the making of the communion bread is not the important thing. It is in how a Christian receives the communion. And that is by properly placing ones faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross, and by examining ones self for anything that would prevent you from receiving the communion (sin).

Mary Jane, I hope that this helps.  Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden
http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1