Question #69

Is it wrong to eat in the church building?

Is it wrong to eat in the church building?

The Answer:

No, which are the first two letters of “nonsense.” I don’t intend to be disrespectful, but such a position is silly. There was no such thing as a “church building” in the days of the New Testament. True, this does not mean that there are no principles that might apply. Taking that into consideration, I am aware of no New Testament principles that would forbid eating in the church building. To the extent that early Christians met in homes, it is a valid assumption that those homes had kitchens in them. The only record we have of a meal by the assembled church is in 1 Corinthians 14, where the church in Corinth was apparently engaging in the “agape” or “love feast.” Paul did not condemn the practice – he condemned the manner in which it was being observed – selfishly and without consideration for brethren who had nothing to eat. Many who believe that it is sin to eat in the church house drink in the church house (water fountains). Babies are fed in the building. Those who will not eat in the building make arrangements to rid themselves of what they have eaten or drunk (restrooms). Some even use the building for a “bedroom” (sleeping through worship). The building is not sacred. Some congregations that could not afford a building met in rented halls from which the beer cans had to be swept to clean up before worship. We will do better to be more concerned about the nature of our worship in the building. Some may say that you cannot worship in a place where you have meals together. The early Christians did. Some may say it is alright is you have “dinner on the ground,” outside the building. Upon what scripture do they rely to establish that, while the building is sacred, the ground upon which it sits is not?

That said, for those who believe that it is wrong, to them it is sin. It is not the case that our belief can make a right thing wrong in itself, or a wrong thing right. It is to say that it is wrong to violate our conscience. Speaking of matters of opinion, Paul said, “The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.” Romans 14:22-23.