The non-institutional brethren, as they prefer to be called, choose to interpret some passages as figurative, while binding others as strictly literal. While I do not question their sincerity, there is some question about their skill in interpreting scripture. For example, though there are several divisions among these brethren over various issues, most are united in condemning the eating of a fellowship meal inside the church building. I Corinthians 11:22 is sited as the foundation for this conclusion; namely the phrase, "Have you not houses to eat and to drink in?" Yet a careful examination of the biblical text shows the fallacy of such a position.

The subject is a misuse of the Lord's Supper, It is not that Paul is condemning eating in the church building. It is the replacing of the Lord's Supper with a common meal that is being condemned. In other words separate the Lord's Supper from a fellowship meal. One is done as a part of worship, and the other is done outside (before of after worship).

One reason we can be so sure that Paul is not forbidding brethren eating together is that such was a common practice in the 1st century. A congregation often met in the home of one of its members as their regular place of worship (I Corinthians 16:19; Romans 16:4-5).

In Acts 20 Paul met with the church at Troas on Sunday night. They came to break bread (take the Lord's Supper) and Paul preached until midnight Then the lad fell, Paul resurrected him, and then he ate a meal and talked to them until daybreak .  Now ask yourself, Did they leave the place of worship to eat that fellowship meal? There is nothing in the text to indicate such. Only by using poor interpretive methods, or failing to honestly discern the text, can one conclude that it is wrong to eat in the church building.

Pray for our brethren! .

.By: Bro. Robert Hall