Can’t the building be used for things other than worship?

Question:

The church building is what it is -- a building. The way we use "fellowship' is to socialize. Every time people meet before worship they are said to fellowship with one another. Fellowship is not the same thing as the Lord's supper; however, a type of fellowship is involved in the process. A fellowship meal is not the Lord's supper. It is not even a part of worship. Can the building not be used for anything except worship? I find no scripture that says what we can do in the building other than how to worship. It doesn't say we have to leave the building after worship is over. No command that it remain empty six days a week and we pay the bills. If one is going to say it is wrong to eat in the same building where we worship then show me the proof. I will not rely on what anyone says, only the Bible.

Did God authorize air conditioning in the church? Or electricity? Let's get our facts straight. No one is saying a meal is a part of worship. Give me scripture as to how we are to use the building. There is plenty of scripture as to how we worship, but not how we use a building. We could worship in someone's home or in the parking lot for that matter. Were people forbidden to eat at home after they worshiped there? I don't care what you think. I want to know what the Bible says about it.

Answer:

It is clear that you did not bother reading the prior answers to questions similar to your own because your accusations are not based on what I've said, but what you suppose I believe.

Before directing you to the answers to your questions, let me point out how you've taken a classic liberal approach to the Scriptures. A liberal finds justification in an authoritative document based on what the document does not say. A liberal approach states that when something is not expressly forbidden, then it is allowed. A conservative approach is the opposite. Something that is not expressly allowed, directly or implied, is forbidden.

You actually acknowledge that you have no justification for your practice when you demand proof for the use of electricity and air conditioning. You do use these, but you believe you do so without authority. The root of your argument then is that if somethings can be done without authority, other things can be done as well. That is a liberal approach.

You demand that I prove points, yet you never prove your points. You claim you only follow the Bible but all you offer me is your opinions. Yet, you demand that I must meet a standard higher than the one you offer. Still, I take Peter's command seriously: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (I Peter 4:11). So take a look at the following:

If, after examining the Scriptures raised in these answers and articles, you are able to support your position from the Scriptures and show that I mishandled them, then we can discuss our differences as reasonable adults.

Question:

You quickly sent my mind to politics. I don't think in political terms when my mind is on the Bible. There are a lot of things on your web site that are not in the Bible. Who is any man to say that fellowship meals are wrong? It would be impossible to worship if we expect the Bible to give authority for everything we do. It doesn't tell us what time to hold services or how the building is to be designed, kitchen, or no kitchen. Can the preacher use a microphone? By what authority? It's not in the Bible. Perhaps you should stay with what the Bible says rather than putting up a web site about what the Bible does not say.

Answer:

You are still missing scriptural evidence and your reply is devoid of any reasoned argument. You make accusations without evidence. My conclusion is that you have no basis for your statements and are instead simply trying to be argumentative.

"But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife" (II Timothy 2:23)

"But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned" (Titus 3:9-11).

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