Gospel Preaching and Ice Cream Parties

Recently, a local church here in Bowling Green held a weekend gospel meeting. The announcement that appeared on the front page of their website inviting people to attend also contained an invitation to an “Ice Cream Meet n’ Eat” that would be held at the home of one of the members.

Incorporating this invitation into the announcement on the church’s website for the gospel meeting makes it easy for one to get the impression that this ice cream party was an official event sponsored and paid for by the church. The fact that it was located at a member’s house would not necessarily indicate that the church was uninvolved. A church might decide to host a social event at such a location in order to provide a more casual environment or because they church does not (yet) have a fellowship hall or similar facility in which to host the event on-site. Denominations host social events on their property and off-site all of the time. People are accustomed to these things happening. So even though social events have no place in the work of the church (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:22, 34), many people would not think twice about it.

Though I do not know this for a fact, I assume that this particular ice cream party was paid for by individual members and not by the congregation (even though the announcement somehow ended up on the church’s website embedded within the invitation to the gospel meeting). However, this does beg the question: Is it appropriate to use social events (like ice cream parties) as a means of enticing people to come listen to the gospel?

Distinction Between Spiritual and Social Events

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he made a distinction between two types of meals – the spiritual (the Lord’s Supper) and the non-spiritual (a common meal to satisfy hunger). The Lord’s Supper belonged in the assembly while the common meal belonged in the home, or outside of the assembly (1 Corinthians 11:22, 33-34). They were not to be combined with one another, but kept separate, or else the brethren would “come together for judgment” (1 Corinthians 11:34).

After the church was first established in Jerusalem, Luke records this about the activities of the new Christians: “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart” (Acts 2:46). One of the reasons why they gathered in the temple was so they could listen to the apostles’ preaching (cf. Acts 2:42). They also met from house to house in order to enjoy meals together. These were social occasions; the former were spiritual occasions. The inspired writer makes a clear distinction between the two.

As suggested in the example of the brethren in Jerusalem, it is good and acceptable for Christians to spend time with one another socially. Yet these social occasions were simply for Christians to enjoy one another’s company and grow closer together. They were not used as a means of luring people in through fun and friendship in order to entice them to listen to the gospel. If the distinction between spiritual and social events did not exist (or did not matter), then there would no reason for churches and individuals to keep from fully embracing the “social gospel” and convince people to listen to preaching by appealing to them using ice cream, games, movies, camps, etc.

New Testament Pattern for Generating Interest in the Gospel

All Christians should hope for “all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Salvation comes as a result of one’s faithful obedience to the gospel (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:9), which is “the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16). But how are we to generate interest in the gospel? Are we at liberty to use any method we please, or does the New Testament give us a pattern? Notice a few passages:

  • The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see’” (John 1:43-46). When Philip encountered a skeptic (Nathanael), he offered a simple invitation for him to come to the place where he could learn more about the truth (in this case, the place was the physical presence of Jesus). He simply said, “Come and see,” and Nathanael came. Philip did not have to add, “Someone will be serving free ice cream.
  • So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase” (Acts 9:31). This verse offers a simple formula for the best conditions in which the church can grow – peace (the absence of persecution, as Saul, the chief persecutor, had just been converted), being built up (this is done by focusing on the study and application of the word – cf. Acts 20:32), fearing God, and being comforted by the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, there is no mention of ice cream parties or any other social events that were used draw in people from the community. The point is this: church growth happens with Christians focus on spiritual things.
  • And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ’” (Acts 17:2-3). Paul had been divinely commissioned to preach the gospel (Acts 9:15). He was one of the few commissioned by Christ to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). He truly had an important work and needed to be as effective as he could be. So what did he do? He came to Thessalonica, not with invitations to an ice cream party, but with a message that he carefully presented as being from the word of God. Many will argue that this approach – Scripture-based preaching that appeals to reason rather than emotion – cannot be effective today. But when you have people who are “examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so,” it can be very effective, leading “many” to believe (Acts 17:11-12).
  • And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.’ And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:9-11). At this time, Paul was in Corinth – a city known for its worldliness and immorality. It would have been easy to assume that such people would not be interested in the gospel. Yet the Lord said there were “many people” who would be open to Paul’s message. But how would Paul attract these people? He did not stir interest by using secular or social enticements. Instead, he was simply “teaching the word of God among them.
  • But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to given an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15). This is an instruction for each one of us as Christians. We are to live our lives in such a way that we provoke people to ask us why we live the way that we do, believe what we believe, and have a hope for something beyond this life. Living godly lives will stir up interest in the way of Christ. When others express their interest, we must respond with a gentle, reverent defense of the truth.

In the New Testament, interest in the gospel was generated by teaching the gospel, offering an invitation for one to learn the truth, and by responding to questions posed to a Christian on the basis of his godly example. Nowhere in the New Testament were social events used as a sort of bait and switch tactic to draw in the crowds and then teach them the truth.

Souls Won with the Promise of Food

After Jesus miraculously fed five thousand (John 6:1-13), He came to Capernaum and the crowds followed Him there (John 6:24). It may have seemed wonderful that such a crowd was diligently “seeking Jesus.” But Jesus, being God in the flesh (Colossians 2:9), knew their thoughts.

Jesus answered them and said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled’” (John 6:26).

What Jesus did in feeding the five thousand was a little different than what some brethren do today. Jesus did not use the promise of food to stir up interest in His teaching; He simply fed the people at a time that was both appropriate and helpful. So while Jesus did nothing wrong and His actions do not directly parallel the actions of some brethren who use social events to generate interest in spiritual events, the parallel can be made in the people’s reaction to the promise (or perceived promise) of some social/secular/carnal benefit. Jesus knew these people were only there for the food. When food was not provided and He taught some things that made them uncomfortable, they “withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (John 6:66). Worldly-minded people must be continually provided with the social/secular/carnal stimuli in order to retain their interest, or else they will leave. Spiritually-minded people will remain where they can hear the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

Conclusion

If members want to open up their homes to provide time for food and socializing, that is fine. But this does not need to be used as a means to entice people to listen to the gospel. The New Testament shows us others ways to generate interest in the truth. We need to follow that pattern.


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Comments

  1. Carlos Raymer says

    Very good teaching on the Word of God, which is greatly needed at this time, we thank God for your work in Christ.
    Carlos Raymer

  2. Thank you, Carlos.

  3. Larry Devore says

    Sure Andy, A Social Agenda needs to meet Social Needs. However, ice cream the first time will require a banana split or something bigger and better to get them to come back. Wrong motivation. Good article.

  4. Thanks, Larry. You’re right, these things usually progress further than what the original intention was.

  5. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Thanks for sharing.