{"id":39317,"date":"2013-06-16T21:36:00","date_gmt":"2013-06-17T02:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=39317"},"modified":"2024-11-25T20:48:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T02:48:26","slug":"should-i-visit-congregations-that-are-changing-how-things-are-done","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-i-visit-congregations-that-are-changing-how-things-are-done\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I visit congregations that are changing how things are done?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

Question:<\/h2>\n

My question concerns the Sunday order of service and slightly different services. I was added to the body about two years ago. Sometimes I like to visit the services of other churches of Christ. After one such visit, I mentioned to someone that the church I visited had communion after Bible class. I felt awkward because this was something I had never experienced. I was told that the order of service was wrong (citing Matthew 26:26-30) and I should not visit that particular church. Another church I visited had coffee and rolls in the entry hall directly behind the pews. I personally felt this was wrong.\u00a0 I grew up in a time (50’s) that whatever church we visited, the services all seem to be in similar accord. I have also been told about a church of Christ with a choir. Could you please speak on this matter?\u00a0 Would it be wrong for me to go to these churches? When I say wrong, I am referring to how it is in the eyes of God.<\/p>\n\t

Answer:<\/h2>\n

The Lord’s Supper is part of a congregation’s worship service (I Corinthians 11:20). It should not be connected to Bible study. However, the Bible does not set whether the worship service comes before or after a Bible class or is held at a different time of the day. It must be held on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), but when it is held on Sunday, it is up to the local congregation.<\/p>\n

Serving food when a congregation is gathering for worship directly violates what Paul stated. “What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you<\/em>” (I Corinthians 11:22). “But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come<\/em>” (I Corinthians 11:34). It has nothing to do with what you or I feel about the matter. God stated what He wanted.<\/p>\n

Choirs change the command for everyone to speak to one another in song (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). See Choirs and Solos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A congregation violating God’s commands is not worth visiting again.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question: My question concerns the Sunday order of service and slightly different services. I was added to the body about two years ago. Sometimes I like to visit the services of other churches of Christ. After one such visit, I mentioned to someone that the church I visited had communion after Bible class. I felt…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[356,84],"class_list":["post-39317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-attendance","tag-worship"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":36107,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-we-visit-my-grandfathers-church-when-we-are-there-even-though-we-left-that-denomination-for-the-true-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":39317,"position":0},"title":"Should we visit my grandfather’s church when we are there even though we left that denomination for the true church?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, Okay, we have been in the Lord's church for less than a year. My husband, our little son and I are going to visit my grandma and my mother for my son's birthday. We will be there for almost two weeks and one of the days we will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68211,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/we-were-pleased-to-visit-your-congregation\/","url_meta":{"origin":39317,"position":1},"title":"We were pleased to visit your congregation","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 27, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Yesterday, we visited your church, and we were so pleased we did! The Bible study was informative and thought-provoking. We definitely enjoyed all the fresh perspectives voiced during the discussion! The members are so genuinely friendly and welcoming. We loved the acapella songs. I found your church while doing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31541,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-to-get-agitated-at-having-baby-dedication-ceremonies-during-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":39317,"position":2},"title":"Is it wrong to get agitated at having baby dedication ceremonies during worship?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 31, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am in search of a church home and have visited several.\u00a0 The last church I joined was more focused on supporting its Christian school than on evangelism, or even Sunday school and joyful singing, and it really bogged me down.\u00a0 That said, when I sense something out of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":86563,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/it-is-hard-to-find-a-christian-to-date\/","url_meta":{"origin":39317,"position":3},"title":"It is hard to find a Christian to date","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: To Whom It May Concern, I am a 27-year-old male, never married, and have no children. I'm single and am a member of a local church of Christ. My question is regarding relationships. There are no opportunities for me to date where I am a member. I want to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58521,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/orphan-institution-in-search-of-family-homes\/","url_meta":{"origin":39317,"position":4},"title":"Orphan Institution in Search of Family Homes","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 28, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Dennis Carrow From the sponsoring church arrangement in the effort of evangelism, (i.e., the missionary society), grew the same carnal diversion from the divine pattern in the realm of benevolence. Brethren were not content with following the simple arrangement of the giver sending directly to the needy. The claim\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55882,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-a-congregation-have-authority-for-a-midweek-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":39317,"position":5},"title":"Does a Congregation have Authority for a Midweek Service?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 16, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Wayne S. 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