So why do some churches belonging to Christ not provide a kitchen, dining facilities and food for eating? Well, the question is not whether it is wrong to eat in the building; rather, is it a part of the God-given work of the congregation to provide such; to take out of the Lord's Day contribution, out of the Lord's money, to pay for these or other things of our choosing?

May we take some of the Lord's money to help me put my kids through college? No. May we take some of it and pay for an all day excursion to the Milwaukee Zoo by the entire congregation? No. May we take some of it to support my widowed Dad, when I am perfectly able to do so? Absolutely not. I Timothy 5:16 prohibits it emphatically. May we take some of the Lord's money to build a kitchen and dining hall for us to socialize in? I don't think so. If so, it would likewise be alright to just take the money and pay for everyone to go to Ponderosa each Sunday for lunch.

But, what about the church which meets in a brother's house? May the church, after services eat there, too? Sure. Remember, it is not a question of whether one can eat in the building the church meets in, but is it Scriptural to take some of God's money given to Him on Sunday and use it to provide either the food or the facilities.

What about a church which rents a hall to meet in? May they remain after services and bring their own food to eat together in the same place they met for church assembly? I have no problem with it, though it might be open to discussion of expediency; but strictly speaking, I see no problem. The church rented the hall for services and after serving that purpose it is now just a hall for any other purpose authorized by the one's renting it out. It would be no different than eating in a park after services there.