Wallow in the Mire

Our congregation recently received an email from a nearby "Church of Christ" that was very excited about all the modifications to their building to increase their kitchen appliances and size, dining room and capacity to "minister" to those in need through FOOD. Yes...physical food.

The logic here is that by helping those through church funds physically that they would eventually be fed spiritually. I cannot find anywhere in the scriptures that this is authorized or encouraged. Quite the opposite... The scriptures tell us to feed our friends with spiritual food.

John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Christ is the food that sustains us for ever. The Williamsburg congregation may be able to feed an individual or family for a weekend, but the word of God will sustain us forever.

When I lasted addressed them via email about their error and questioned the authority, I was repeatedly told that I was missing the big picture. Apparently, as long as we have a big picture, they believe that we can do anything we want. God is very serious about adhering to His authority. I can see the people of today telling Uzzah that it's okay to stabilize the ark of the covenant because the big picture is that the ark should be protected no matter what. Is this what God thought?

NO...he punished Uzzah immediately with death for touching the ark without authority. (2 Samuel 6:7) Let us take God's word seriously and realize that only God has the big picture and who are we to question it?