Ask Your Preacher - Archives
“A Lot o' Lattes”
Categories: FALSE WORSHIP, THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH, WORSHIPIs it wrong to bring a drink into church? I know in 1 Corinthians it discusses this, and I think it's clear cut, but I've noticed members bringing in water bottles, then it became flavored/colored waters, and now I've seen coffee and whipped coffee drinks in the church building. This bothers me, but maybe I should not be so worked up about this either...Sincerely,
In A Froth
Dear In A Froth,
1 Cor. 11:22 addresses how the Corinthian church was treating the Lord’s Supper like a common meal. It is always wrong for the church to become a social organization and add social functions to the work of the church or the worship services. However, we would not go so far as to use that verse to bar all food or drink from the church building. Bringing in a bottle of water or a baggie of Cheerios for your child is not the same as having a social meal.
Where the line is between a handful of raisins for a fussy child and a sinful situation that involves a feast replacing the Lord’s work… that is a matter of wisdom. That is what you are asking about. It takes wisdom and maturity to discern between good and evil (Heb 5:14). If not careful, a congregation can easily drift into liberalism (Heb. 2:1). A congregation’s leadership, which is hopefully an eldership, should be ever vigilant to protect against such drifting.
