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(Part
3)
INTRODUCTION:
1.
These lessons are
based on the principle taught in 1 Timothy 5:16.
2.
Review:
a.
Lesson 1: Two major
points were made: 1) Do not let the church be burdened with providing and/or
supporting schools of secular education. 2) Do not let the church be burdened
with sending money to support “religious schools.”
b.
Lesson 2: Do not
let the church be burdened with planning, providing, or paying for the
recreation and entertainment of its members.
3.
Today’s lesson: Do not
let the church be burdened with building “fellowship halls” and kitchens, with
providing social meals for its members.
a.
This practice is
very popular, certainly among denominations, but also among many churches of
Christ. It certainly encourages more people to attend services, when they know
a meal will be provided either before or after the services.
4.
Let’s begin by
looking at some passages which are used by some to defend this practice.
BODY:
A.
Jude 1:12.
1.
Some contend that
the “love feasts” mentioned in this verse are equivalent to “fellowship meals
today.
2.
Exactly what were
these love feasts? Can anyone say for sure?
3.
What we do know is
that Jude 12 does not even mention the church, nor does it in any way imply
that the church provided a meal.
B.
1 Corinthians
11:17-34.
1.
Some reason from
this passage that it was okay for the church to eat a meal; they just had to
make sure that they ate it together and that they shared with those who didn’t
have enough.
2.
Understand first
that Paul is not correcting the misuse of a meal (one separate and apart from
the Lord’s Supper), but the misuse of the Lord’s Supper. The clear implication
is that some had turned the Lord’s Supper into a common meal (see v. 20
especially).
3.
Notice how the
problem is corrected. He did not say, “Eat your meals separately from the
Lord’s Supper”; or, “Make sure you eat your meals together and that you share
what you have.” What he said was, “Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?”
(v. 23); and, “If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home” (v. 34).
4.
What we must see
from this passage is that “home” activities must be separated from “church”
activities. Eating a common meal is a home activity; eating the Lord’s Supper
is a church activity.
C.
Acts
2:42-47.
1.
It seems that two
different types of meals are discussed in this passage (just as we noted
earlier in 1 Corinthians 11).
2.
“The breaking of
bread” in verse 42 seems to refer to the Lord’s Supper, especially when you
consider the other activities mentioned along side of it. See also 1
Corinthians 10:16, where this expression is clearly used in reference to the
Lord’s Supper.
3.
“Breaking bread” is
also mentioned in v. 46, but this time it specifies that it was done “from
house to house.” It goes on to say that “they ate their food with gladness and
simplicity of heart.” Most would agree that this refers to a regular meal.
a.
Now, if this were
truly a “church activity,” then we would have 3000 people (Acts 2:41) moving
from house to house.
b.
No, what we have
here is Christians being hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9), inviting
others into their home to share a meal. This is exactly what the Corinthian
brethren should have done, instead of “burdening the church” with it.
D.
Acts 6:1-4.
1.
The “daily
distribution” (v. 1) refers to something that was begun back in Acts 2:44-45
and is also discussed in Acts 4:32-37. The church provided for its needy
members, which included the widows discussed here in chapter 6.
2.
This passage
certainly authorizes the church to provide meals for its own needy members, but
it in no way authorizes the “fellowship meals” that we’ve been discussing.
E.
Ephesians
4:11-12.
1.
Some like to
include “fellowship meals” under the work of edification.
2.
But we need to let
the passage explain itself. The following verses clearly indicate that it has
reference to building people up spiritually by teaching them the word of God;
feeding their souls, not their bodies.
a.
This type of
edification is described in 1 Timothy 1:4 as “godly edification which is in
faith.”
Additional
Thoughts
1.
Some use these
“fellowship meals” to “attract new members,” to give them some incentive to
come.
a.
We need to remember
some passages discussed in the previous lessons: John 6:26 (“you seek
Me…because you ate of the loaves and were filled”); 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 (Paul
refused to give the Jews and Greeks the incentives they requested).
2.
It is good for
Christians to eat together. We enjoy our “get-togethers” very much. Occasions
like these can certainly draw us closer together and make us more aware of each
other’s needs. Nevertheless, it is a responsibility given to the home, to the
family. We must not burden the church with it. The church must continue to use
its resources to do the work God has assigned to it.
3.
To some it might
seem that we are being “nit-picky.”
a.
Was the Lord being
nit-picky when He told the church at Corinth to remove their common meals from
their gatherings and take them home? (1 Corinthians 11:22, 34).
b.
Was the Lord being
nit-picky when He told the church not to care for certain widows? (1
Timothy 5:16).
c.
Was the Lord being
nitpicky when He rebuked those who were following Him, not for what He
could teach them, but for what He could feed them? (John 6:26).
d.
The Bible is filled
with examples of people who changed God’s plan, sometimes even in the
“slightest way,” and had to suffer the consequences for it.