Is it right to offer food when teaching the gospel?
Question:
Hi Jeff,
The minister in my congregation proposed something in the area of evangelism to the church which i don't think is scriptural. He said we should go with some food items to give to those we meet whenever we go for house-to-house evangelism. His belief is that it will boast or make the work effective. Please is it right or wrong?
Thanks.
Answer:
"Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him"" (John 6:26-27).
When you use food to attract people, you get people who are physically hungry, but not necessarily interested in the Gospel. It is the Gospel itself that is the attraction. "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (I Corinthians 1:21).
You do not find Jesus or the apostles attracting people with food. On the occasion when Jesus feed the five thousand, they stayed three days to hear Jesus teaching without food. It was Jesus' concern that they would faint when returning home that caused him to suggest feeding them before they left.
