Modern Fellowship"
Several years ago when this writer lived in San Antonio, Texas, and worked with the West Avenue Church there were two or three of the "liberal" churches of that city that became seriously concerned about the young people having an opportunity to meet other young people who were Christians so that they could become acquainted, maybe fall in love, and marry a companion who was a Christian. They accordingly began to arrange gatherings of young people from the various churches in the city on Sunday evening for a social hour. The young people from one church would call the young people from the other churches and invite them over to their building on Sunday evening for the worship service and, of course, for the "Youth Fellowship" following the service. This was to be held in the church parlors and would include entertainment and refreshments.
When one of the elders of one of these churches was questioned about the matter, he sought to justify it by pointing out that we want our young people to marry Christians and in order to do that they must fall in love with Christians and that it is possible only when they can get acquainted with other young people who are Christians. He considered it the obligation of the church to furnish this opportunity for furthering their acquaintance and thus the churches were arranging these get togethers. It was called to his attention then that it was much later for the old maids and old bachelors, the widows and widowers in the churches than it was for the young people and therefore, if the church was to make such "courtship" arrangements for any, it should be so for all and that the net result would be turning the church into a marriage bureau - a sort of a "lonely hearts club" - to promote matrimony between marriageable people.
We knew then that such an arrangement would eventually be thought of by these liberal socializers in the churches and that it would be worked out. Now we have seen it done! Give consideration to the following letter:
May 10, 1966 Dear Mr. ....
There will be a "Get Acquainted" social for single Christians at the South Gate Church of Christ. You are invited.
The group consists of single Christians, from the age of 23 years up, who are interested in and endeavoring to meet with other single Christians.
Do come. We know you will enjoy the informal get-together.
Single Christians Adult Club
Time: Eight P. M.
Address: 9707 California Ave.
Old maids, old bachelors, widows and widowers, all over 23 who are not married and want to get married. A "lonely hearts" project indeed! And the function of the church! Now, dear friend, if you have not read anything of such a function performed by the church of the Lord, in the New Testament, do not be dismayed for "we do a lot of things in the church today for which we have no authority in the New Testament." (So they say) And, furthermore, "we have no pattern for the work of the church in the New Testament." You see, God designed the church and Jesus Christ built it, but they left it without any pattern to follow in its work, so we are free to use the church to do about anything that we want to do even in the so-called churches of Christ.
Of course, these brethren are "johnnies-come-lately" in this sort of activity for denominational churches have been carrying on this kind of work for a long time. In fact, when I lived in Dallas, Texas, many years ago, the First Christian Church where Dr. Graham Frank preached, located in downtown Dallas, promoted this sort of thing through a "Bible Class" arrangement. They had a class in which there were only marriageable adults. This class had a regular monthly gathering for social purposes and if you were eligible to marry, if you would enroll in the class, they would guarantee you a date for their socials. Of course, in those socials they not only feasted, but they danced too. We would guarantee that it will not be long until the liberal socializer in the churches of Christ, in their "Single Christian Adult Club" will be dancing too. They had just as well.
They either do not know at South Gate Church of Christ (?) that such is not the function of the church or they do not care and are doing it anyhow. Such is a miserable prostitution of the Lord's Church and these "church of Christers" need to learn better or paint out the name of the Lord's Church and call it what it is instead of what it was, maybe at one time. Those who lend their fellowship to such activity are just as guilty as those who participate.
So in addition to the other societies that have been built by brethren to do their edification, evangelism, benevolence, and other work that God has given the church to accomplish, you can add "THE SINGLE CHRISTIAN ADULT CLUB" as a society to function in the realm of social activities as a matrimonial agency to do the work of the church. After all, did not Paul say, "I will therefore that the younger women marry." (I Tim. 5:14) Can this not be applied to the church instead of individuals as well as James 1:27? The church is even mentioned in verse 16 and this proves that it is talking about the church. This is the kind of reasoning that they engage in. Brother Guy N. Woods uses this type of profound logic to prove that James 1:27 applies to the church instead of Christian individuals for he finds the church assembly mentioned in James 2:1.
Such sophistry is either ignorance or a willful wresting of the Word of God but it is the best that those who are determined to make the church what they want it to be can do to justify their practices. What will be next? Well, don't be surprised.
All such activity is included in the concept that the average liberal church member has of "fellowship". They make "fellowship" include banqueting, partying, socializing, and just about anything else that they want to do. They believe that the Lord's money can be used to provide facilities for such activities. We affirm that such activity is a prostitution of the Lord's Church and a misappropriation of the Lord's money. To try to engage in such activity in the name of the Lord and as the work of His Church is digression of the most blatant kind and a shame and disgrace to those who profess to be Christians.
-8826 Hanna Avenue Canoga Park, California