Question
Dear Writer/Editor,
In reference to “Sponsored Recreation” does this include Christian Bible Camps, Single/Marriage Retreats, Vacation Bible Schools, Bible Bowls, etc.?
Answer
Keith Sharp
Thanks for the excellent question. The answer depends on what is done at these events. I have taught in a number of Vacation Bible Schools and would be happy to do so in the future. I have used “Bible baseball” and similar methods when teaching young people’s Bible classes. These are simply methods and arrangements for teaching the Bible. But the church is a spiritual relationship (Ephesians 1:3,22-23), and its proper activities are spiritual. Primarily the church is to preach and teach the Word of God (1 Timothy 3:14-15). It also is to provide benevolent help to needy Christians, an expression of fellowship in Christ (2 Corinthians 8:1-4). These spiritual activities constitute a binding pattern we must not violate (2 Timothy 1:13; 2 John 9). Providing recreation or acting as a matchmaking medium for singles, though commendable for individuals, is not part of the authorized pattern of activities for the church.
Reply
Thanks for your response. I do agree with you on the church’s purpose and our relationship to one another and what we do in the context our spiritual walk. But…does it end just when we come together on the first day of the week?
Nonetheless, it sounds like we are looking at the church as “what is happening at the building” and not the “people, which is the church.” To illustrate: I have events at my house for my Christian “family” and not only my husband and I have this, but others in the body sign up to host once a month. This is the “church” coming together to encourage, strengthen, edify, fellowship, and draw closer to one another. We do have a Bible lesson, sing songs, and pray, but we also have fun. This is why I believe we are such a very close congregation of Christians and welcome all who want to be added to God’s family. Once alien sinners see the love we have for one another, they question our relationship and from there we proceed to share that love we have thru Jesus and they too can have it by obeying the gospel call. Wasn’t it Jesus who said, “By this people will know that you are my disciples by the way you love one towards another” (John 13:34-35)? Isn’t our faith a working faith, meaning to do? I guess the question would be: what is recreation? The definition I found was in http://www.thefreedictionary.com/recreation 1. Refreshment of one’s mind or body after work through activity that amuses or stimulates; play. 2. Refreshment of health or spirits by relaxation and enjoyment (There are more definitions for the word to include Synonyms and related words.
Scripturally, doesn’t God command us to “worship” him on the first day of the week? What does this entail? Since the “building” is not being used on Mon-Sat, would it be wrong to use it for spiritual edification? What is the difference between my house, a meeting house, or building? According to Acts 5:42, “the apostles cease not to teach Christ everyday in the temple, and in every house.” Also, scripture teaches us “a merry heart is good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). What do we do?
In reference to the singles’ retreat, I was told the purpose is for single people around the country to come together and fellowship one with another; however, I have known some of my brothers and sisters to have met their spouses at one of these events. Whether he or she went there to meet someone, I don’t know; but it doesn’t change the purpose for what it is intended for…just like any other event, and that is, for all to come together to fellowship with one another, including “teaching and admonishing” in every aspect of the Christian journey. I have never attended a singles’ retreat, but I have attended Ladies’ lectureships/retreats and have really enjoyed meeting all my sisters across the country (foreign and domestic). It touches my heart deeply how the Word has truly spread throughout all nations (Netherlands, Bosnia, Turkey, Germany, England, Africa, etc) Matthew 28:19-20. The events give that true spiritual affection: edification, love, kindness, peace, joy, happiness in coming together with others.
Please don’t misunderstand, I stand firm on the Word and strive daily to live by it, but I do want my family to enjoy being a child of God in every aspect of their walk because we are lively stones. It’s a joy being in Christ. If anybody should be happy, it should be us because we have the truth and we look forward to that day when Jesus comes again.
Answer
Keith Sharp
It is a delight to hear from you again. I appreciate your zeal for the Lord and desire to be guided by the Word of God in all your life (Colossians 3:17). The things I will say are not necessarily a retort to your observations, and some of what I will say is in complete agreement with some of your reflections. I hope they help.
We recognize we can have “zeal without knowledge” and thus fail to submit to the Lord’s plan for our righteousness (Romans 10:1-3). Many to whom the Lord will declare, “Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness” will have been very zealous for Him (Matthew 7:21-23). But their practices will have been without divine authority and therefore sinful.
Our spiritual walk and our obligations to one another do not end when we come together on the first day of the week, nor are they just discharged at the church building. Obligations we have individually to one another (Christian to Christian) are emphasized in Romans 12:4-16 and 1 Corinthians 12:14-27). Some are discharged when the whole church is assembled, whatever day of the week, some may be discharged when the church is divided into groups such as classes, and some are discharged individual to individual.
The local church is not the building. The building that belongs to the church is generally authorized by the command for the church to assemble (Hebrews 10:24-25). But the local church is more than just people. It is even more specific than Christians in a certain community. A Christian may live in a community where there is a church of Christ but be a member of a congregation in another community. The local church as revealed in the New Testament is a group of Christians in a given locality (1 Corinthians 1:2) who agree to worship together regularly (Acts 9:26-28) and to do the Lord’s work collectively (1 Timothy 5:16) as an organized (Philippians 1:1) , autonomous (1 Peter 5:1-2) body.
Individually, a Christian may get married (1 Corinthians 7:2), serve as a government official (Romans 16:23), go into business (Acts 16:14), and join a civic club (Matthew 5:16) . That doesn’t mean the local congregation has taken a wife, gone into politics, run a business, or become a Rotarian.
The local church functions in three ways, so far as I can find in the Bible: when it comes together because it is the church (1 Corinthians 11:18), when it uses its resources (Philippians 4:15-16), and when it acts through an authorized representative (Romans 16:1-2). Just because a Christian acts or Christians act in a spiritual capacity doesn’t mean the church is at work. I individually may support a preacher in Africa without the church of which I am a member being involved (Galatians 6:6). Two or three Christians may speak to a brother about his sin without the knowledge or involvement of the church (Matthew 18:15-17).
It is well and good for Christians to get together in each other’s homes for meals and to enjoy one another’s company, and this will indeed bring us favor in the community (Acts 2:46-47). But that doesn’t authorize the local church to plan or collectively sponsor such activities. The church must limit itself to the activities in which it is authorized to engage (2 John 9).
Social visits and common meals are not fellowship. The New Testament uses the word “fellowship” to describe communion with God in Christ (1 John 1:3,7), communion with saints in Christ (1 John 1:3,7), communion with the body and blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 10:16), sharing in suffering for Christ (2 Corinthians 1:6-7), partnership in the work and worship of the Lord in His church (Acts 2:42; 2 Corinthians 8:23), partnership in financing the Lord’s work (Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 6:18), partnership in the gospel by support of a preacher (Philippians 1:5; 4:15), and distributing to the necessity of the saints (Romans 12:13; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:13). We must use Bible words in scriptural ways (1 Peter 4:11). Social visits and common meals are no more fellowship than sprinkling is baptism.
Authorized activities do not justify unauthorized activities that accompany them any more than singing in worship authorizes instrumental accompaniment (Ephesians 5:18-19).
It is well and good for the church to use its building every day of the week (cf. Acts 2:46) as long as it is using it for work the Lord approves the church doing. But lack of use doesn’t justify unauthorized use.
Recreation on an individual basis is good, even needed, in limited amounts (cf. Matthew 14:10-13). But what is good individually is not necessarily an authorized activity of the church. It is good for us to eat common meals together in our homes, but Paul forbids the local church to come together to eat a common meal (1 Corinthians 11:22,34).
It is good for young Christians to meet and to marry (1 Corinthians 7:2; Hebrews 13:4), and spiritual activities of the local church to which Christians from other congregations are invited might incidentally prove to be an occasion for them to meet, but the purposes of these activities must be authorized activities of the church: evangelism (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8), edification (Ephesians 4:12-16), or benevolence toward needy Christians (2 Corinthians 8:1-4). The local church is not in the match making business.
Success or lack of success in causing people to be baptized does not justify an activity. We cannot “do evil that good may come” (Romans 3:7-8). How many men have been baptized to get a wife? How many attend church so they can get a hand out? Jesus refused to use carnal attractions to win followers (John 6:26-27). The gospel is designed to appeal to those who are spiritually minded and to turn away the carnal (Romans 8:5-8). Denominations collect large numbers by carnal appeals, but they remain lost.
Indeed Christians should “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4; cf. 1 Peter 1:3-9). We must be zealous and active in the Lord’s service (Romans 12:11). But joy and zeal in lawless activities will result in eternal anguish (Matthew 7:21-23).
I’ve been having some dental work done. The dental hygienist who works on my teeth is very zealous, happy , and vocal about her religion. She’s a member of a charismatic denomination.
I hope this discussion has been helpful. I would be happy to discuss your concerns more.
