Should churches build social halls?

Welcome to Midway Church of Christ

What’s Your Question? for May 23

Last week we showed that recreation is good (1 Tim. 4:8), but the church is not authorized to provide such. The same is true of social meals. Individuals may do many good things that God did not authorize the church to do. Paul called lodging strangers, raising children, washing the saints’ feet and relieving the afflicted "good works" (1 Tim. 5:10). Are all these works of the church?

The church at Corinth came together for social meals. They were being factious, but Paul didn’t just tell them to stop the faction, but to stop the practice. He asked, "Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?...But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home…" (1 Cor. 11:22,34). Eating social meals is no more a work of the church than playing ball, or washing feet.