Question

Keith,

What do you think of Elders dividing members of a congregation into small groups of 10-20 (deacons being the group leaders) for the primary purpose of socialization in the individual homes? Group meetings are held once or twice month. Some of the group meetings are held in the church building after services on Sunday night for the primary purpose of discussing what kind of social event to have in the home and what kind of food to prepare and bring to the next group meeting in the individual home. For example, group 4 was having a chili and dessert contest for all the groups to participate in one of the individual homes. The primary purpose of the group meeting after services was to discuss this chili and dessert contest. Is this scriptural?

Answers

Two issues are involved. The first is dividing the church into groups for activities in addition to the public worship assembly (1 Corinthians 11:18; 14:23). This is generically authorized, since the New Testament does not specify the arrangement in which the church may participate in scripturally authorized activities (cf. Acts 2:46; 19:9; 20:20).

The second is the elders planning for the church to engage in social activities. Of course, the local church is a spiritual relationship (John 18:36; Romans 14:17; Ephesians 1:3,22-23), and the only activities in which it is authorized to engage are spiritual: evangelism (1 Timothy 3:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8), edification (Ephesians 4:11-16), and relief of needy saints (2 Corinthians 8:1-4). Relief of needy saints is spiritual in that it is an expression of fellowship in Christ (2 Corinthians 8:3-4). There is no scriptural authority for the elders to plan or for the local church to engage in activities that are primarily or even secondarily (as a purpose) social.

Brotherly,
Keith Sharp

Response

I have a follow-up question concerning dividing the church into groups by the elders. Would it be scriptural if it was for the dual purpose of socialization and engaging in scriptural activities of singing together and studying God’s word together.

Reply

No, it wouldn't. One, two, three, or more scriptural activities do not justify an unscriptural one. No number of right activities or purposes makes a wrong activity right. Institutional brethren "justify" their "fellowship dinners" in this way. They say the church comes together for a worship assembly and then stay to "fellowship" (unscriptural use of word).

The practice we are discussing is the first logical step toward bringing in a fellowship hall. If the church can have social activities in groups, it can come together for them.

And the "fellowship dinners" fifty to sixty years ago were the foot in the door for the myriads of social and recreational activities in which institutional brethren now engage.

This is an example of trying to turn an individual obligation into an activity of the church collectively. Individual Christians have the obligation to be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9). The church doesn't have the authority to take over this obligation from individual Christians. Shifting obligations (individual to church, church to human organization) is a hallmark of liberalism.

Brotherly,
Keith