.jpg)
Articles
Carnival Atmosphere
I was reading in a county paper up in northern Kentucky about a Achurch festival that is soon to start. The paper stated, AVisitors will enjoy the carnival atmosphere created by the many games, booths, and raffles going on through out the day. This has become more and more, the mind set of so many of the denominational churches of our day. Fun, food, and frolic; to appeal to the carnal or physical side of man. Yet when we study the New Testament, that is not the appeal of the gospel. We do not find the local churches involved in such activities. The closest one church in the N.T. that was involved in social meals was the church at Corinth, and Paul told them to eat at home. AWhat? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. . . . And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. 1 Cor.11:22&34. People seek to reason vainly about the matter, Awe must minister to the whole man. AIf we are going to draw people in, we had better use pretty good bait. Yet such vain reasoning, fails to appeal to the scriptures. Jesus did tell us, AAnd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. John 12:32-33. Jesus Christ and him crucified is what we seek to appeal to men's hearts with, not the Acarnival atmosphere that the wisdom of men has come up with. Nothing wrong with recreation, fun, food and games, but it is not the work of the church, for such should be the work of the home, and individuals. I think of what Paul said, AFor the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom.14:17.
Let us see beloved, that the church that Jesus died for, has high and noble tasks to accomplish in the service of God. She is to be busy in evangelism (spreading the gospel), edification (building up the saints), and rendering benevolence to poor needy saints, not creating a Acarnival atmosphere for the satisfying of the carnal man.
