Plain Talk Vol.1, No.5, Pg.7 - Cedar Park Church of Christ

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Vol. 1, No. 5
May, 1964

QUERIES and ANSWERS

Bro. Turner:
What passage of scripture teaches that individual Christians must take orphan children into their homes and rear them? FFR

Reply:
I do not know of such a passage, nor do I believe the Bible teaches this.

Jas. 1:27 teaches individual obligation to care for orphans and widows but it does not specify the means to be used. We may take them into our homes, or buy the services of care-taking institutions; but we should remember, the obligation is ours.

Question No. 2:
Do the scriptures make a distinction between individual Christian obligations and church obligations? FFR

Reply:
Yes. 1 Tim. 5:16 describes an obligation of individuals which was not a church obligation.

There are parental obligations -- peculiar to Christian parents --- that the organized church does not have. (See Eph. 6:4)

Brethren who have foolishly said that the organized church may do any thing individual Christians may do, are in for a rude awakening when this rule is applied to church support of colleges, etc. The consequences of sound Bible principles, are God-approved consequences; but man's feeble reasoning will lead us into pit-falls of eternal darkness. "If the blind lead the blind --- etc."
Dear bro. Turner:
Do the scriptures teach that the church building is sacred?

Reply:
The "true tabernacle" (of N.T.) is not a material building; and the N.T. "sanctuary" is heavenly -- not built with hands, etc. Read carefully Heb. 8:1-6 9:1-12. If by "sacred" you mean "holy" "consecrated by divine presence" etc., the answer is "No!"

The church building is a place of assembly purchased by funds contributed for the purpose of furthering the assigned work of the Lord. It is purely an expedient authorized by generic rather than specific teaching. Even this, however, would demand that we use such property for the purpose intended. To do otherwise would be a misappropriation of resources.

"Have ye not houses to eat and drink in?---" (1 Cor. 11:17-f.) refers not to contrast between private homes and church buildings, but to perversion of the purpose of their assembly. God had authorized a memorial feast, the Lord's Supper; but banqueting was not and is not a church function.

Today I object to church-sponsored banqueting, social events, fishing camps, etc., not because I believe the church building or treasury is "sacred" or "holy" but because I believe resources of the organized church should be used for that for which the collective is divinely appointed.

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Bro. Turner: What passage of scripture teaches that individual Christians must take orphan children into their homes and rear them? FFR Reply: I do not know of such a passage, nor do I believe the Bible teaches this. Jas. 1:27 teaches individual obligation to care for orphans and widows but it does not specify the means to be used. We may take them into our homes, or buy the services of care-taking institutions; but we should remember, the obligation is ours. Question No. 2: Do the scriptures make a distinction between individual Christian obligations and church obligations? FFR Reply: Yes. 1 Tim. 5:16 describes an obligation of individuals which was not a church obligation. There are parental obligations -- peculiar to Christian parents --- that the organized church does not have. (See Eph. 6:4) Brethren who have foolishly said that the organized church may do any thing individual Christians may do, are in for a rude awakening when this rule is applied to church support of colleges, etc. The consequences of sound Bible principles, are God-approved consequences; but man's feeble reasoning will lead us into pit-falls of eternal darkness. "If the blind lead the blind --- etc."		Dear bro. Turner: Do the scriptures teach that the church building is sacred? Reply: The "true tabernacle" (of N.T.) is not a material building; and the N.T. "sanctuary" is heavenly -- not built with hands, etc. Read carefully Heb. 8:1-6 9:1-12. If by "sacred" you mean "holy" "consecrated by divine presence" etc., the answer is "No!" The church building is a place of assembly purchased by funds contributed for the purpose of furthering the assigned work of the Lord. It is purely an expedient authorized by generic rather than specific teaching. Even this, however, would demand that we use such property for the purpose intended. To do otherwise would be a misappropriation of resources. "Have ye not houses to eat and drink in?---" (1 Cor. 11:17-f.) refers not to contrast between private homes and church buildings, but to perversion of the purpose of their assembly. God had authorized a memorial feast, the Lord's Supper; but banqueting was not and is not a church function. Today I object to church-sponsored banqueting, social events, fishing camps, etc., not because I believe the church building or treasury is "sacred" or "holy" but because I believe resources of the organized church should be used for that for which the collective is divinely appointed. [Previous Article] [Next Article]