Examining Churches and Religions
Part 8
By Allan E. McNabb

In this series we’re examining churches and religions by asking questions, eliminating false churches and religions, and identifying the Lord’s church.

The questions we’ve asked so far are:
Does the church believe Jesus is the divine Son of God?
Does the church believe Jesus is the only way to God?
Does the church teach anything different from the doctrine of Christ?
Is the church a denomination?
Is the church organized as authorized in God’s word?
Does the church wear a name authorized in God’s word?
Does the church exclusively teach and practice salvation as God commands?
Does the church take up a collection and observe the Lord’s Supper exclusively on Sunday?
Does the church observe the Lord’s Supper as God commands?
Does the church finance its work exclusively through the collection on Sunday?
Does the church only spend money from the treasury for work God has authorized?
Does the church sing as God commands?
Does the church use titles for people in leadership positions?
Do women teach or exercise authority over men in the church?

By answering these questions we’re able to eliminate every religion but Christian, and every church but the Lord’s church.

Does the church sponsor social fellowship and recreation?
In the 20th century, churches of Christ began embracing denominational practices, one of which is church-sponsored recreation.  As a result, many brethren divided over this issue, in additional to institutionalism and instrumental music.

Today, churches build and maintain swimming pools, campgrounds, family life centers, gymnasiums, kitchens, and fellowship halls to entertain members.

Out of a desire to please the world, some churches also promote sinful recreational activities, such as mixed swimming while improperly clothed, lewd dancing, and drunkenness.  Some churches even supply their members with liquor at church-sponsored parties.

The Lord’s church is not for recreation, and certainly not for lascivious behavior.

There is no authority from Christ, the head of the church, for church-sponsored recreation.

As a matter of fact, recreation and social fellowship is a work God has given to individual Christians, not the church.
“Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:46-47).
“Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.  What!  Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink?  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 will not praise you” (1 Cor. 11:20-22).
“Be hospitable to one another without complaint” (1 Pet. 4:9).

A church that provides recreation and social fellowship to its members is not the Lord’s church.  It’s gone beyond what God has authorized in His word.
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus . . .” (Col. 3:17).
“Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other” (1 Cor. 4:6).
“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son” (2 Jn. 1:9).

Does the church approve of immoral behavior?
Besides the sinful behaviors just discussed (immodest swimming, lewd dancing, and drunkenness), many churches approve of some of the most depraved behaviors known to the human race.

As society’s view of morality has changed over the last fifty years or so, churches have changed their theology to align with the world.

Not long ago, divorce for a reason other than fornication was condemned by most churches, but now it is not.  As a matter of fact, some churches condone adultery, with its leaders joking about it and overlooking it.

Just a few years ago homosexuality was considered to be a sin, but now through a reconciling movement among denominations, it’s no longer a sin.  Now, homosexuals are ordained as clergy in many churches.

And today, homosexual sexual abuse of children is condoned by one denomination in particular that turns a blind eye, covering up scandals and moving priests from parish to parish while paying victims to remain silent, allowing priests to continue abusing children and scar them for life.

Jesus says we’ll know them by their fruits (Matt. 7:16).

A church condoning or winking at immorality is not the Lord’s church.