I have a question about the church building being used for Mothers’ Morning out programs and day care centers. Recently, a congregation with which I am familiar, started a Mothers’s Morning Out program. It is available on Friday mornings at a certain price each month. I understand the work of the Church is covered in three areas, Evangelizism, Benevolence and Edification of the Saints. Is this congregation crossing a line with this program? Can these types of programs fit into one of the areas of the work of the Church? I cannot find much of anyting that helps me here. I need some guidance. I just don’t know how to answer this when I am asked about it by my children or anyone else for that matter. Thanks for your help and the GGO. Kind regards, Bob Butler
Church buildings are not mentioned in the New Testament. Therefore, restrictions some may want to make regarding the use of those facilities cannot be made based on commands or direct statements and approved examples respecting church buildings. One must rely, rather, on principles coming forth from implications present in Scripture. From those implications, we must correctly infer applications. New Testament commands and examples pertaining to the church worshipping imply the necessity of a place in which to worship. We infer, then, that the church may secure a regular place in which to worship. A place in which to seek edification and from which to pursue evangelism or benevolence likewise contributes to the successful accomplishment of the mission of the church.
The primary purpose of a church building pertains to spiritual matters. If it were not for the spiritual function of the church (e.g., worship, edification, evangelism, benevolence), there would be no justification for church buildings. Yet, secondary purposes for which a church building might be used that are not wrong in themselves and which do not burden the church financially do not displace the primary and legitimate purpose for acquisition and maintenance of church buildings. Typically, we allow our buildings to be used for weddings, bridal and baby showers, etc.
Further, we often use our buildings for Vacation Bible School (VBS) or other Bible classes in which the children may play some games or have snacks. We generally realize that the primary purpose of such activities is not the entertainment of children but teaching them God’s Word. Often churches spend church funds to send children to a church camp, during which children play games and eat, but the primary purpose of which is to teach them the Bible. Both of these scenarios may be viewed as optional or judgment calls on how to fulfill the Great Commission respecting teaching, baptizing and teaching (Matthew 28:18-20).
Mothers’ Day Out programs have a similar purpose as VBS and church camps, teaching the Bible. As such, a Mothers’ Day Out program may be a useful tool as an outreach into the community, contacting children and their parents that we may not otherwise be able to reach as easily. A Mothers’ Day Out program might be viewed as a one-day-a-week VBS.
In my opinion, the church should not charge non-Christians to finance its efforts to teach them the Word of God. Personally, I am uncomfortable with the practice of churches soliciting businesses for food, decorations, etc. to grace our ladies’ days, lectureships, etc. It was not the apostle Paul’s practice, for instance, to solicit support even from babes in Christ in the churches newly established (even 18 months) through his preaching in areas formerly without the Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:8).
If a program meeting in a church building is really a separate entity from the church, such as a school, it might well charge for its services. Then, such an organization would also do well to shoulder its share of the financial responsibility respecting the church’s facility (e.g., utilities, maintenance).
Generally, we need a place to study God’s Word together (Acts 2:46; 5:42; 2 Timothy 2:15), to assemble for worship during which we will also be edified (1 Corinthians 14:12, 23), sometimes a place associated with benevolence (Acts 4:32-37) and a place from which we launch out to do evangelism (Acts 13:1-3). If a Mothers’ Day Out program accomplishes any of this, it may be a good tool with which to reach a part of the community with the Gospel.
