RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION At Northside Church of Christ Meridian, MS January 21st, 2010 Patrick T. Donahue, will affirm "The Bible does not authorize use of the church treasury for social meals." John T. Polk II will deny 1

2 Polk’s Questions for Brother Donahue Is there any exception to your proposition, and if so, what is it? Is everything purchased from the church treasury “holy?” What eating is forbidden in 1 Corinthians 5:11, and where would it have been done?

3 Brother Donahue Must Prove: Church building itself is sacred and for one purpose only; Social meals are carnal in nature and cannot be spiritual; The Bible specifies everything for which church contributions may be used; The only reason for church buildings and assemblies is for 5 worship sacrifices.

4

5 The Apostle’s “Treasury” Was held by Judas Iscariot John 12:6 Was to pay for feast items or alms for the poor John 13:29 a. bought food John 4:8, 27, 31-33 b. gave alms to the poor 3. Had become the church’s a. to buy food Acts 2:44-45 b. alms for the poor Acts 3:1-2, 6

6

7 Apostolic Eating and Preaching In the SAME Places! Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

8 Acts 2:46 – “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,” (NKJV) “One Accord”- homothumadon – with one mind/purpose/impulse; unanimously Acts 1:14; 2:1, 46; 4:24; 7:57; 8:6; 12:20; 15:25; 18:12; 19:29; 20:18 “They Ate Their Food” - metalambanon trophes to share or participate in something, have a share in Acts 2:46; 27:33; 2 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 6:7; 12:10

9

10

11

12 Forbidden Eating in 1 Corinthians 5:11 - With any brother named with sexual immorality, covetous, idolater, reviler, drunkard, extortioner, “no, not to eat” 8:1-13 – “I will never again eat meat” (Greek, broma=“food”) that weakens a brother’s resolve to reject idolatry 10:28 – “do not eat it” if offered to an idol and someone brings up that point 10:23-33 11:33-34 – “But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment” 11:17-34 These Are Situational Considerations – NOT Unconditional Prohibitions!

13 Brother Donahue’s Faulty Handling of 1 Corinthians 11:22: He reads his intended meaning into the passage; He lifts it from its immediate context; He wrests it from the total context of 1 Corinthians; He, thus, makes Paul contradict himself; He creates his own “scripture,” like Diotrephes!

14 Diotrephes 3 John: 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who (1) loves to have the preeminence among them, (2) does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, (3) prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, (4) he himself does not receive the brethren, and (5) forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good Is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. (NKJV) An Evil Christian Who Severs Christ’s Headship By His: Selfish Ego-trip Rejecting Apostles Smear & Fear Arbitrary rules Abuse of Sound Brethren

15 Peter’s Warning Against Scripture-Twisters 2 Peter 3:16-17 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; (NKJV)

16 The Church’s “Social” Side: “Social, adj. Social, gregarious, co-operative, convivial, companionable, hospitable are not actually synonymous terms but they invite comparison because they involve, and often stress, the idea of having or manifesting a liking for the company of others.” antonyms: Unsocial, antisocial, asocial. p. 767, Webster’s Dictionary of Synonyms, 1st ed, 1951 1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” Ephesians 4:25 – “Therefore putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.”

17 What other “social” activities are forbidden in a Church Building? Holy Kiss? 1 Corinthians 16:20 Marriage Ceremonies and Feasts? Matthew 22:2 (verses 1-14) Church Salutations? 1 Corinthians 16:19 Changing Baby’s Diapers? Luke 18:15-17

18 Sanctified Things Jesus Christ – sanctified Himself John 17:19; in our hearts 1 Peter 3:15 We/Christians – by the second will Hebrews 10:10; by the offering of Christ 10:14; 13:12 Church – Ephesians 5:26; 1 Corinthians 1:2 Food – 1 Timothy 4:3-5 WHERE ARE THE COLLECTION PLATE AND THE CHURCH BUILDING SANCTIFIED?

19 Is Brother Donahue A Papist? Here’s His “Sign” “Enter This Building We Use Only Holy Water Paid for with Sanctified Funds: -Holy Water in the Baptistry- -Holy Water in the Fountains- -Holy Water in the Toilets-”

20 Is this debate between strong and weak brethren? The Weak Brother Should: a. not be permitted to “make the rules” Romans 14:1 b. not create lines of fellowship over such matters Romans 14:2 c. give God thanks for what his conscience will allow Romans 14:6 The Strong Brother Should: a. not be intimidated Romans 14:3-5 b. be considerate of the weak brother’s conscience Romans 14:12-15 c. bear the weak brother’s infirmities as Christ has done Romans 15:1-6

21 Signs of Shame ! Non-piano Non-chitlin’s!

22 Scriptural Signs James 2:8 - You shall love your neighbor as yourself 1 John 3:18 - let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Doing Good To All – Especially To The Household of faith