"Eating And Drinking --- A Misuse Of I Corinthians 11:22"
"What, have ye not houses to eat and drink in?" Lately in some of the bulletins and papers of some of the children's homes, articles have appeared misusing the above statement.
In a recent article on the drinking-fountain, the argument was presented that if people can drink water in a building, they can eat (for entertainment) in it. They argue: "If this passage (1 Cor. 11:22) makes it sinful to eat in the meeting house, it also makes it sinful to drink in the meeting house."
Perhaps they have forgotten the purpose of the eating and drinking under consideration.
Let us consider why we have a building in the first place: One, it exists as a necessity in having a place for Christians to worship Jehovah. (Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 11:20) Two, it exists as a necessity to have a place to teach the Gospel (to Christians and outsiders). (Jas. 2:2-4) In teaching the New Testament doctrine, these two purposes are the only reasons for us to assemble ourselves together. In both worship and teaching, there is work that is necessary; so whatever works of the gospel that might be required in preparing for, or carrying out these items, these, too, may be done, using the building as a tool to fulfill them. These things we refer to as edifying the church. If there is another purpose, or action, in the New Testament that justifies a building, then will someone please show us what, and where it is?
Now, we ask: What of the purpose of our coming together? Is it to worship God? If so, how do "eating and drinking" (for entertainment) fit in? Are they part of the worship? Are they necessary to assembling? Or are they used as a drawing card? If so, what makes it scriptural, to use such means? The one drawing power is the crucified Christ. (John 12:32) Any other drawing power is invalid. (2 Tim. 2:5) Being without law, it is unauthorized, hence sinful. (1 John 3.4; Matt. 7:21-23) Hence, the thing that would make "eating and drinking" for social purposes wrong, is its lack of authority. Yet we can see that this would not hinder a water fountain, closet, lights, heat, seats and so forth, from serving their purpose in a building for the purpose of assembling.
Why a water fountain (or equivalent)? So that some people (Christians to worship; non-Christians to learn) may assemble to fulfill God's purpose. There are some people, who without water and other health facilities, could not carry out God's plan. There are some mothers, who without water (and a place to care for babies), could not attend. Some things are necessary in our coming together to serve the Lord.
Now, if an outsider drinks a drink of water from a water fountain, does this prove that he can be fed and clothed and housed by the church, just because facilities have been provided for him to learn the gospel? If so, then produce the passage that would allow, or show the necessity of such. We provide pencils and cards for an outsider to express his desires in obeying the gospel, and to help him learn in class; but does this justify our building a Seminary in which to send him to school; or providing schoolrooms for his secular learning? Obviously the purpose comes to the front in our providing a building and making it commodious to assemble in. So then the Apostle's question: "what have ye not houses to eat and drink in?" takes on a different light. What he objected to was their turning the assembly into a meeting which violated their purpose of coming together — namely to worship God.
If one can find in all of God's Book where Christians ever came together for the purpose of "eating and drinking" (entertaining themselves), then they might have an argument for its introduction into the service of God. Until they do, let them remain silent.
Some have, in trying to find the above passage, perverted the thought of "love-feasts" in such passages as Jude 12. Because some false teachers were "hidden rocks in the love-feasts," some liberal thinkers have tried to make the original meaning of "love-feasts" to be mere "eating" assemblies. One cannot do such violence to the context of Jude and escape the damnation of hell. Jude is not talking about physical matters in this passage — but spiritual: i.e. false teachers and their error. One might as well try to make "sacrifice" of Heb. 13:15 conform to the Hebrew from whence it came, and make It a physical, "bloody sacrifice," rather than the spiritual thought it is. (Check it brethren!)
If one observes that there is a tone of disgust with the perversions of the "socially-minded" liberal thinkers among us, then truly he has observed rightly. While they parade under the guise of spirituality, and a benevolent feeling for all; they are the most sensual, physically and worldly-minded thinkers the church has ever known. Truly they are "hidden rocks" in the "love-feasts" of truth and service to the Lord. Because of this earthly outlook (that cannot discern between necessities of assembling; and entertaining ourselves) many souls shall be led by them into perdition. May their eyes be opened to God's Truth before it is everlastingly too late.
For what purpose do you assemble in the Lord's house — to worship or to play?
— Globe, Arizona