Many Christians are tempted not to receive the blood of Christ from the chalice because they are concerned about germs.  Our culture has become obsessed with germs and viruses and anti-bacterial products.  This has led to some irrational phobias about drinking the blood of Christ is the manner He gave us to do it, namely from His one cup.

 So let us again review why we should not give in to these phobias and why we should still use the chalice.  First of all, Jesus said so.  He who is Lord over all germs and who knew about germs long before we ever discovered them said, "Drink of it (the one cup) all of you."  These words of Christ alone should be sufficient for every Christian to use the chalice, even if there were a danger of "catching something" by using it.  We can do no better than to follow Jesus' words.  All of the disciples had their own individual cups at the table that night, but Jesus told them all to drink of His cup.

 Secondly, the alcohol in the wine which Christ makes to be His holy blood has obvious antiseptic properties to kill any germs that might be present.  Just like alcohol is used to clean an area of skin before a shot is administered, so the alcohol in the sacramental wine has this same property.

 Thirdly, the silver and gold of the chalice have noble properties which do not permit germs to live on their surface.  That's why under a cheap ring your finger will turn green, but under a gold or silver ring it will not do so.  So also, the properties of the chalice work against the presence of germs.  Considering all of this, plus the scientific studies which have shown no transmission of germs in the Sacrament, every Christian should freely and gladly use the chalice.

 But perhaps the real question is, Do we fear germs more than we fear God?  Do we consider them to more powerful than He is?  The only documented case of someone getting sick from receiving the Sacrament is recorded in the Scriptures.  And it is not because of germs but because of failure to believe the words of Christ and recognize His holy body and blood.  I Corinthians 11:30–"For this reason [unworthy eating of the Sacrament] many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (are dead)."  We would do well to pay much greater attention to our penitent and believing reception of the Sacrament and much less attention to other extraneous matters.

 We must also remember that we who commune together are made to be one body in Christ by receiving Him.  We are being joined with all those at the table with us.  If we aren't prepared to enter into that Christian unity and share one another's burdens, then we aren't yet fully grasping what the Sacrament is all about.

 After everyone has communed, I myself consume what remains of the blood of Christ in the chalice.  If anyone is receiving germs, I am receiving the most.  And yet God has graciously granted me good health thus far in my ministry here.  Hopefully this will be of some comfort and encouragement for those of you who are hesitant to use the chalice.

 So then, let us be focusing our attention in the Sacrament where it belongs, namely, on the words of Christ and His life-bestowing body and blood, given and shed for our forgiveness.  Let the only disease we fear be the disease of sin, and let our belief be solely in Christ's body and blood which is the medicine of immorality to destroy sin.  In Him we have the victory over all disease and even death itself.

-Pastor Koch-