Fleshly Appetites Fed With"Sanctified" Money
"The educational building includes on the first floor a chapel that will seat 200. The chapel furniture and walls are of mahogany with aqua blue carpeting to match the windows. Also on the first floor, is a fellowship room that will seat 200 at banquet tables. The kitchen is separated from this room by an aluminum folding wall. The fellowship room has a built-in screen for projected pictures and will be used for meetings and classes."
A few years ago the above description would have been reported in a daily newspaper only in connection with sectarian activities. The digressives have long practiced such. But more and more we hear of such things being done by churches of Christ. In fact, in recent years, the "fellowship" hall has become almost common-place in the plans for new buildings; in fact, in the thinking of many brethren, it has become a "must."
So, since it is becoming so common, why bother with it? you might ask. Well, the above announcement is given concerning a church that has been very near and dear to me for many years. Its preachers and elders have been my friends and friends of my family; it was my first "home" congregation. It was in the old building of this congregation, that I obeyed the gospel; Horace Busby was preaching and Glenn E. Green did the baptizing. I remember before them M. O. Daley, E. M. Borden, and have been told of Tom Bonner; all men, I believe, who would stand forthrightly against the present trend in this, once wonderful, congregation! The congregation? Sixth and Izzard in Little Rock, Arkansas. The preacher? Cleon Lyles, an old friend of mine.
They went from their first building, a converted residence, to another and then another and then, to their present magnificent structure on December 5. 1951. Not only was the structure magnificent, but the preaching and teaching had been also and they had rejected the kitchen and fellowship hall concept in their planning for that building. It was talked about, but thrown out. Cleon, then, was in agreement with all the rest. Nothing like that was needed. They had the only fellowship hall they needed. It was an auditorium where 1200 people could come together and have fellowship in song, prayer, communion, contribution, and edification. They didn't need a place then to feed their bellies, they thought the churches' business was to feed hungry souls, and thus they made their plans.
But now they've changed. Cleon has changed or else he played the hypocrite seven years ago. The elders have changed. Evidently someone has changed the thinking of the membership. Many are numbered among my friends there. I know what their thoughts have been about such things in times past, but, evidently, now they have all changed. Yes, there were times when, for convenience sake, we bought our own food and used the facilities already in existence and ate in the old church building. But we all understood, I thought, that money set apart to carry on the Lord's work did not include PROVIDING facilities for "banqueting." Evidently I was wrong. I guess we should have been "anti" to the extent that we would fight the very idea of the janitor even bringing his own lunch and eating it in the building. Perhaps we will profit from our mistakes.
Brethren, be warned. Just one step in the wrong direction may be the beginning of a major apostasy. We fight the churches sending $5 or $10 a month to an institution, and certainly it is wrong. But what we are actually fighting is not that insignificant token contribution they send, but a digressive attitude that is rapidly engulfing the church and is manifested in these actions. Open the door one place and let just one thing in that doesn't belong (smallness or largeness doesn't enter into the discussion) and soon you will have a tidal wave of apostasy.
You may ask, "But what's wrong with it?" Brother, that's just the question the baby sprinkler asks. Let's leave the monkey where it rightly belongs, on your back. You introduced it, you started it; now defend it. Just give the BIBLE authority (not example — authority) for it and I'll be one of the first to apologize for ever having opposed it. I'm asking Brother Lyles, in particular, to write us an article and give us BIBLE authority for the NEW practice. If he can not or will not, then I beg these brethren, and others like them, to convert these "banqueting" facilities in something they CAN find authority for. Is that asking too much?