Is the matter of eating physical food a sinful issue in the church building like some in the brotherhood preach and withdraw from others for doing?
The following is the single verse of text used to justify this doctrine:
1 Corinthians 11:22 “What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.”
The whole text of 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 is talking about attitudes and not physical food. One small part of this whole text can not be taken out to prove a point that Paul was not making and did not make.
If the logic used to forbid eating in a church building taken from 1 Corinthians 11:22 means that we can have a doctrine of no eating in a building we worship in what-so-ever, then Peter is the devil and Paul sinned at Troas. After all Jesus said to Pater “Get behind me Satan” in Mt 16:23 and Mr 8:33 also in Acts 20:11 where Paul ate in the very room he preached in during the day and then preached some more after he finished eating a meal. If it is ok and sound doctrine to take one verse from the letter of 1 Corinthians 11 and come to the conclusion of no food in the church building then it is the same sound logic to come to the conclusion that Paul sinned in Troas and Peter is Satan for the same reason.
I say this because if the logic used for 1 Cor. 11:22 is true concerning eating in a building then the same logic must also be true for both Peter and Paul according to the verses listed herein.
Furthermore, if the verses stated herein of Peter and Paul are not correct according to the conclusions stated above, then the interpretation of the brotherhood about no food in a church building based upon 1 Corinthians 11:22 is also not correct.
The truth on this topic is a simple case of what do the scriptures really say in total context of the versus of the complete context of scripture and not in what we want a single verse to mean in order to prove an controlling and opinionated doctrine of men.
It is not sound Bible study to take one verse out of the total of scriptural verses which contain it and base a doctrine around that one verse. The verse must be considered in context to the whole of the passages of scripture it belongs to and in accordance with the reason the text was written at the time by the author.
Another example of the fallacy of the doctrine of no food in a church building can be seen in the book of Jude. If eating a meal in the assembly was a sin according to Paul, then the all the Christians that are being addressed in Jude 1:12 are in sin.
Therefore, according to the simple and clear message of Biblical text and sound Biblical study along with logical reason; the policy and doctrine of forbidding meals in the church building is wrong and false when taught by the brotherhood.
Study by Guy Lewis; Monday, June 15, 2009
I don’t think that eating in the church building is the issue with many. i think the issue is “has this been made a work of the Church” If a congragation is maintaining a fellowship hall or kitchen with church funds for social events, than it is veiwed as a work of the church and not acceptable with many. also, if it is solicited in the name of the church, than it is also veiwed as a work of the church and not acceptable. i never really made a big issue of it myself, but one itme i was invited to a chicken bar-B-q i was told that they were having this before evening service, but they did this instead of evenning service and began calling it, Blank-Blank Church of Christ annual Chicken Bar-b-q. i was not comfortable with that and vowed to never go back. as far as eating in the church building it actually goes on all the time. Think about it! candy is being munched on, kids are given snacks etc… The Church is Spiritual, the building is where we gather together to worship.
My points concerning this matter are simple: I have been taught that eating in a church building is a sin and I can not find that decree of God any where in the Bible. What I have found from my study is:
1. We are basing a complete doctrine on just one verse and binding it on others.
2. We do not follow this same rule or principle of using just one verse to prove our personal doctrine concerning other issues because it is ridiculous to do so.
3. When the fallacy of our one verse doctrine is pointed out we still try and find ways to self justify keeping the flawed doctrine and condemning those who do not wish to keep a doctrine that God did not make.
4. Our one verse doctrine is adding to the scriptures through justification what we want the scriptures to say and not just following the scriptures for that they really do say.
Any time we find that we are justifying our stance to others based upon one single verse of scripture we are most likely the ones who have gotten it wrong.
It is my hope and prayer that people in the brotherhood will open their hearts, minds and Bibles to search out the truth on this and other matters instead of blindly believing things they hear from a pulpit like the Christians of Berea did.
Amen, brother!!
And…I sure hope it is not a sin (I know it is not), because I have eaten many a meal and potluck…and they were all awesome times of great food and fellowship!!
Is not breaking bread togehter/communion/the Lords supper origins based around a meal?
I have seen several homeless persons walk into our pot lucks and be welcome to share food with us.
Picking the church family apart is what is wrong in our religious circles and makes others not want to be apart of us.