[Biblemat] A> Have Ye Not Houses?

[Mance J. Davis Jr.]

Brethren:

This is an article that I've submitted to appear in our local paper next 
week. Use as you will to His glory.

I am

Yours in Him,

Mance

Have Ye Not Houses?

The “Church Social” or “Covered Dish Dinner” has long been a tradition 
in the South. Among those of faith, there is often great satisfaction in 
getting together and enjoying one another’s company while enjoying the 
physical blessings that the Lord has provided in the form of good food. 
In its place, this can be a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, in many 
instances, this kind of celebration is not kept in its place. Often 
these “church dinners” are just that—held at the meeting house of the 
Church. This is seldom questioned; as I’ve said, it’s tradition. But 
does the Bible, God’s inspired Word, say anything about this at all? The 
answer is yes, it does.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Now in this that I declare unto you I 
praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the 
worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear 
that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. ... When ye 
come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's 
supper...What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye 
the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to 
you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.” 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

The Apostle’s statements here leave little to question. First, these 
Corinthians were not coming together for the better. Second, the purpose 
for coming together was not to partake of the Lord’s supper (the very 
statement implies that they should have been coming together to do so). 
Third, he asks the question, “What? have ye not houses to eat and to 
drink in?” This is a rhetorical question, or one that has its answer 
implied. The implication is that they did have houses to eat and drink 
in and the meeting of the Church was not the right place for this. If 
this is not enough, read what he says in 1 Corinthians 11:34, “And if 
any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto 
condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.”

Does the Apostle tell these brethren to eat at home or does he not? If 
we wish to follow the Word of God, we must recognize this. Where does 
this leave the tradition of the Church Social (at the meeting house)? 
Read what Jesus said in Matthew 15:8-9, "'This people honors me with 
their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship 
me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”

Does the Church you attend engage in “Church dinners” at the meeting 
house? If so, do you think that the Apostle Paul would attend were he 
still living and invited?

Until next time, let me encourage you to search the scriptures daily, 
whether these things are so. Acts 17:11

Copyright 2006 Mance J. Davis Jr.

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