____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ June 15, 1997 ____________________________________________________ Church Kitchens And Fellowship Halls by David J. Riggs Church buildings with kitchens and fellowship halls are quite common today because the social gospel has gained acceptance in the minds of many. In fact, more and more churches of Christ are running head long in that direction with complete apostasy being the only outcome. UNAUTHORIZED There is absolutely no Scriptural authority for a local church to draw funds from its treasury to construct a kitchen or fellowship hall. There is Scriptural authority to construct a building for worship services because the commands of worship require a place and facilities. A place and facilities are necessary to obey God's commands, but kitchens and fellowship halls are not for any purpose God assigned to the church. Social and recreational endeavors are not the work of the church, and acting where God has not spoken is a serious offense (Matt. 7:21-23; 15:9; 1 Cor. 4:6; 2 John 9; etc.) CREATES A NEW OFFICE Like the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18:27), the pioneer preachers forcefully ridiculed the denominations by stating that their church kitchens were creating a new office. When they replied, ``What new office?'' they answered, ``A church cook!'' Untold thousands were converted by their plain and forceful teaching. We need hundreds more like them! PERVERTS BIBLE TEACHING Some contend that the church building is not sacred and therefore can be used for eating and socializing. However, Paul ordered the eating of common food in the home and spiritual food in the church (1 Cor. 11:20-34). We understand that in 1 Cor. 11 Paul was condemning a misuse of the Lord's Supper; however, it is interesting to note how Paul corrected the problem. He did not say, ``Keep your common meals separate from the Lord's Supper, but, ``If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home.'' (Verse 34). Some have argued that their kitchens and fellowship halls are expedients to fellowship which God commanded. On the contrary, the word ``fellowship'' is never so used in the Scriptures. The fellowship enjoined by Christ is not social, but spiritual (see 1 John 1:3-7). It is a gross perversion to promote human socializing as ``Christian fellowship.'' INTRODUCES WORLDLINESS The entertainment projects go over big for a time, but to maintain enthusiasm, bigger and better schemes must be produced. In the final analysis, it introduces worldliness into the church. Food for the soul is replaced by food for the stomach, worship and spiritual songs by play and laughter, prayer and meditation by fun and frolic. Worldliness is where the long road leads and is the end result of it all. JOINS CHURCH AND HOME Years ago there was a great problem of men joining church and state and mankind in general suffered many bitter consequences. Today, men are joining church and home and the hideous results - loss of spirituality, a flood of worldliness in the church, and in the end, souls ruined, lost, and damned eternally. Let us go back to the ``old paths'' of offering the gospel of Christ only, and free ourselves from all the unlawful schemes men have devised to win and hold members. The gospel is not ``a'' power of God to salvation, but ``the'' power of God (the only one) to salvation. (Rom. 1:16). God's Word will accomplish exactly what God intended. (Isa. 55:10-11). It is still quick and powerful, living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. (Heb. 4:12). ___________________________________________ The Enemy Within by Jason Moore And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration'' (Acts 6:1). Since Pentecost the number of believers in Jerusalem had increased dramatically. Growth occurred in the face of threatenings and persecution (4:18; 5:40) and under the strain of economic difficulties (4:32). The response of the believers to these external pressures was courageous. They were unified and multiplied not dispersed nor dismayed (4:23-34; 5:14, 41, 42). Yet there was another enemy that lurked not without in the private chambers of the Sanhedrin but within the very rank and file of the congregation. The enemy was the me-virus, the disease of petty strife. It infected the early church at Jerusalem. And not just Jerusalem. It infected Corinth (1 Cor. 1:11). It plagued the church at Philippi (Phil. 2:1-4). Paul warned Timothy to watch for its signs at Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3; 5:19). And no church not one is immune to its contamination. Consider a few observations concerning internal strife as it related to the church at Jerusalem. It often starts with legitimate concerns that are managed in illicit ways. There were two classes of the Jews who constituted the Jerusalem congregation. There were the native Jews of Palestine, the ``Hebrews'' or ``Hebraists.'' Then there were the Jews who had grown up outside of Palestine, the ``Grecians'' or ``Hellenists,'' who had witnessed the events of Pentecost and been converted becoming residents of Judea at least temporarily. The problems that resulted from people of differing cultures and backgrounds being thrown together were very real. The neglected need of the Grecian widows was one of the results. The me-virus, the disease of petty strife, attacked and struck the weakest members of the people their tongues. The murmuring started. Can't you hear it? When the people met in Solomon's Porch (named ironically after the peaceful king) some quit sitting next to each other. They departed through different exits after the assemblies. There were folks who avoided one another in the market-place. There were splits along family lines. There covert gossip sessions that went on in the homes. There was innuendo, slight, and subtle offenses of all kinds communicated. The complaint was legitimate but the problem was handled poorly by the people. No one approached the leadership. No one spoke to the apostles. The twelve had to call the multitude together to mend matters. Many a strife could be stopped if the members of the local church would make two resolutions: to examine their motive before they talk; and to talk before the elders not behind them, not about them, not down to them. Our greatest conflicts are often not over doctrinal matters but over carnal affairs. Belly-aching divided the brethren. Both then and now the problem is the same. We are slighted some way, maybe even accidentally. Our concerns, our project, our people are not placated and we get bitter. We allow pride to get in our way. We imagine all sorts of illicit motives. We saw it coming years ago. We cast an evil design and suspicion on any good effort, past or present, because of our bitterness. Somebody hurts our feelings and suddenly the whole group is to blame. We let bitterness invade and spoil our enthusiasm for spiritual matters. ``Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren'' (1 Cor. 6:7-8). There is no greater hindrance to growth in the Lord's body than petty strife. The problem in Jerusalem occurred ``when the number of the disciples was multiplied.'' When a church is growing with the addition of new souls, new problems are going to be introduced. And there are going to be problems as a result of the sheer numbers. People bump into one another. How we handle these collisions will determine the future progress of the local church. Nothing will stop growth faster than strife whether you're talking about the spiritual growth of the members or the addition of souls to their ranks. ``By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another,'' said Jesus (John 13:35). What is the message to the world when this love does not endure? What is the message to the new convert? What is the message to the children who hear their parents complain about their brethren, and see discord in the local church? The only thing worse than the me-virus, is the we-virus. It is actually just another form of the me-virus. It's what happens when the me-virus spreads from an infected individual to a group. The private agenda of the one has become the public property of the many. In playground vernacular, it's ``pickin' teams.'' This is the epidemic stage of the disease. It results in a party spirit. It is what divides churches, what embitters brethren, what costs souls, what dims the lamp for the Lord's cause. A we-virus infestation sends a grievous message to the world. And it's more ardently read than any bulletin, or tract you may distribute because it appeals to the tabloid mind. It says that we're no different. That we get-along no better than they. That we'll not suffer any loss for the sake of peace or for the soul of another. That we're not His people because we're not like Him. The latter is the most pitiable news of all. Let's not have any part in it. -- Online Southside Reminder (May 23, 1995) ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES People who have recently lost loved ones... Jack Howell: his mother passed away. Kenny Chumbley writes: ``I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I just learned from my in-laws that Irene Wilson, widow of Pete Wilson, sister of Ted Beever (Brea, CA), was killed today in an auto accident while on the way home from church.'' Randy Cavender: ``Some of you may have heard about this, but James Bruce and his wife were killed last night in an automobile accident...Brother Bruce was a well known preacher of the gospel in Arkansas having labored at Caraway, and Evening Shade, Arkansas a few years ago.'' Gary Kerr writes: ``Brethren -- Dan Davidson already announced earlier today that his father, Harold Davidson of Marion, Indiana, had passed away yesterday. Harold was also the father of another GL subscriber, Doug Davidson of Athens, Georgia. And, Harold was my uncle.'' Fred Liggin: ``Please remember brother Doug Bauer, who preaches in Pinetown, South Africa, in your prayers. He has written that he enters the hospital June 12 and will have serious back surgery on Friday the 13th....'' Joe Galford is back home now, but very weak. So far, he is still in need of surgery to replace his Achilles tendon, but might wait about three months before having anything done to it. Ernest Hamm's condition has not improved much. He often has trouble for days in just trying to keep food down; and, consequently, has lost much weight. Let us be praying for those who lost loved ones, and for these one who are in need of healing. Would you like to receive a free Bible course? Write today! Hello Visitors! Your presence is a joy to our hearts. Please come again! Rick Fleeman will be preaching for us the last Sunday of this month (June 29) for both the morning and evening service. Do you live in our area and need a ride to our services? Call to let us know. We would be happy to accommodate you. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@wwd.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.wwd.net/user/tedwards/go ________________________________________