posted
For me, the jury is still out on Home Church. I have been reading and watching for years and actually started my journey in 1995 in a home church setting in the hills of California. Presented here are the observations and comments of one man who has been very interested in home churches for nearly 10 years but who still attends an IC. Not that I would not attend a home church, but rather the opportunity has not presented itself since 1995. I have written about this experience elsewhere.
Background
This article pertains to home churches in America and other countries where believers are free to worship when and where they desire. It does not pertain to countries, such as China, where believers gather at great peril to life and property, which tends to keep the church pure.
Coming Out
In my mind, either God is calling people out of "Babylon" to hear unadulterated truth, or we are experiencing the ultimate in ultra-denominationlism--where the "church" is broken into indivisible units.
Coming Out of Bablyon
I have already written a few notes on this subject. If home church is coming out of "Babylon" then there will be a desire to know truth and a renewed interest in the study of the Word of God. This must be because "Bablyon" is described as being the hold of every foul creature and demons. And her wine is making the inhabitants of the earth drunk. And she is a harlot--she has given her love to another besides Christ. She is betrothed to the Devil. Therefore, her doctrines (teachings) will be focused on turning many away from a love of God. She deceives us with fruits from the forbidden tree of knowledge.
Ultra-denominationlism
On the other hand, I have observed a few whose leaving resembles the old arguments for splitting the church. "We couldn't agree on the color of the carpet." "So-and-so hurt my feelings." "I don't like the Pastor." Its the old, 'somebody done somebody wrong' song. Relationships are difficult in today's world. They are a challenge. Trying to keep a large group of people united and moving in the same direction is very difficult. In my opinion, many get tired of the 'game' and give up, pull-out, and start their own church.
The Early Church
Justification of home churching often relies on the early church example. However, it is not quite the same. In the early church there was persecution and excommunication because of their faith in Jesus Christ. The Rock of Stumbling was the reason many may have met in homes. Today, judging by some of the personalities I have encountered, the reasons may be because we simply can't get along with others, or we are unwilling to put up with the faults of others, or we don't like being told what to do--we want to be our own boss.
True Motivation
I know there are good, kindly people who for noble reasons are home churching and home schooling. The problem is that they are always the less vocal and active in posting and replying so we don't 'see' too much of them. We tend to see the other element more often--those who like to argue to prove their point and those who simply like to talk. If there were persecution in America, then home church would be purer, too. Not many would risk their life or fortune for something they didn't whole-heartedly believe in. But this is something we must live with.
Identifying Which is Which
You can know them by their fruits. Those who are "teaching" hold to their opinions regardless of evidence and they prove they love themselves more than they love the truth. Those who are driven to know God and Truth will be ardent students of the Word and will hear the voice of God speaking to them in the scriptures. They will be hungry. They will have intelligent discussions using scriptures as their authority. They will not follow the voice of anyone but the True Shepherd. They are easy to spot when they do speak up. They will have new truths to share.
Summary
Well, these are my observations. I would like to hear those of others.
posted
Hi Jeff, Scripture never ever speaks of a "house church"!! People were not concerned with the place in which they met, but rather WITH WHOM they met! Homes were simply the most common, readily available and normal meeting places! So the idea of meeting in homes has nothing to do with denominationalism! But rather simply following a scriptural pattern.
Congregations designated as "local churches" today or "institutional churches" stand in stark contrast to churches of the new testament times and in stark contrast to apostolic teaching concerning the ekklesia.
Local churches today (regardless of denomination, tradition, doctrinal position, or nationality) are all characterized by one major feature that sets them apart from new covenant churches:
They are all characterized by a dichotomy in every area of life and ministry between the "sacred" and the "secular", between that which is "holy" and that which is "common". Such churches have holy buildings distinct from common buildings, a holy priesthood (clergy) distinct from the "laity", holy days observed in distinction from common days, there are holy meals distinct from common meals, holy clothes distinct from common clothes, holy tithes and offerings distinct from contributions to "common causes" or charities etc etc.
But new covenant churches of the first century and scripturally functioning churches of the 21st century know nothing of such an all-pervading dichotomy! ALL believers are priests, ALL are ministers, ALL are ordained to bear fruit that remains, ALL are gifted for ministry, ALL are called to lives of holiness 24/7 (not just one day a week!), they need no holy temple buildings as God no longer dwells in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48 and 17:24), they remember the Lord as often as they eat and drink and their breaking of bread is their ordinary daily meals, they need not tithe as there is no special priesthood to be supported, they need bring no offerings to build or maintain a temple building because they ARE the temple in which God dwells. So 100% of what they give can be invested in direct ministry of the Gospel to the lost and of contributions to poor saints. The genius of the new covenant which is practically demonstrated in the functioning of new covenant churches is the fact that the new covenant MAKES THE COMMON HOLY! Every believer is a holy and royal priest, every day is holy, every meal is holy, the body of every believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and every church of God is also inhabitted by Him. Believers who gather in the good of the new covenant never gather as spectators but as active participants to provoke one another to love and good works and to exhort one another.
Can you see the vast difference between that which God designed and intended for His churches and what man has made of religious institutions that are called by the name "churches"??
Actually, to "denominate" is simply to "name" something! So a "denomination" is simply a "named entity". With this in mind, "House Church" has indeed become a denomination for many! It is the designation around which some have rallied just as those who rally around the designations "Baptist" a name designated from a doctrine, "Pentecostal" a name designated from an event, "Presbyterian" a name designating a form of church government, "Lutheran" a name designating a reformation father etc etc.
The essence of denominationalism which inflicted the church right from the first century (See I Cor.1:10-13) is the rallying around a name and using that name as a way of distinguishing ourselves from others. "I am of Paul" (but other saints aren't.) "I am of Apollos" (but other saints aren't.) "I am of Cephas" (but other saints aren't.) "I am of Christ" (but other saints aren't.)
Is it not possible that we can say "I'm of house church" in exactly the same way?
Let us be on our guard! The apostle Paul never once spoke of "house church" as an entity! He often referred to churches that met in various people's houses, but never used that as a rallying or distinguishing point.
The apostles and early believers were involved in churches in houses but never called themselves "house church Christians", or claimed, "We go to a house church". We can and should do the same.
We are CHRISTIANS! That designation includes every blood bought child of God without distinction. We can also say that we enjoy it when other Christians come to our home for fellowship and we enjoy being with other Christians in their homes, in fact we can enjoy fellowship with Christians WHERE EVER there is opportunity for us to exhort and encourage one another!
posted
In response to Bruce Woodford's comment regarding the New Testament Church and I quote...
"they need not tithe as there is no special priesthood to be supported, they need bring no offerings to build or maintain a temple building because they ARE the temple in which God dwells. So 100% of what they give can be invested in direct ministry of the Gospel to the lost and of contributions to poor saints."
I agree with there being no elite special priesthood,for we are a kingdom of priests, but I disagree with we need not tithe... Wherever your local body meets, there should be tithes and givings brought into that storehouse to be distributed as the Spirit would lead. And the Spirit will speak to and through the presbyterical leadership as to distribution of those givings. Usually in a "It seems good to us and the Holy Spirit that we do this." manner. This of course being that the specific need does not already fit under a specific scriptural instruction of meeting it.
Nowhere in scripture does it say that tithing stopped. Nor did priesthood stop...it simply expanded to as many as should receive Him. We are a..."chosen race a royal priesthood."
Let's take it a step further...It's all His...let's not just quarrel about ten percent...
My wife and I have personally experienced the blessing of the Lord in the giving of our tithe over and over again. It is a principle of commanded blessing for God's people. Set in place by the Lord Himself. And I quote...
Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "And see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:10-12
I know the thoughts your thinking...this is the scripture preachers always use for tithing. However, familiarity does not negate truth, it only breeds contempt for it. And for that matter, we'd better stop using John 3:16 in reference to salvation...cause we all heard it before.
I used to believe tithing was Old Testament. And it was under the Law of which we are no longer under. Until I saw tithing before the Law. Abraham tithed of his spoils to Melchizedek!
And by the way...there is nothing wrong with the tithe going toward paying a preacher of the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:12-14 says: "Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share with the altar? So also the Lord has directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel."
And again...
"Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." 1 Timothy 5:17-18
Granted Paul chose not to take oppurtunity of these commands of the Lord, does not mean he told everyone else to do the same. In fact the Apostle was the biggest supporter of these commands. He wrote more on the subject than any other of the Apostles. Most likely because of his choice not to use it, he was able to avoid an appearance of conflict of interest in preaching and teaching it.One of the main reasons he could have the freedom to not use this freedom was due to the fact he did not have a wife and a family to support. He did not have to be concerned in meeting the needs of a family at he same time as running a tent business, travelling and ministering, and overseeing churches.
Anyways before I write a novel...I believe that a person not tithing is in disobedince to the very ordinance of God, not to mention missing out on a commanded blessing of an open heaven, and never depleting storehouses ready to be distributed to as many that have need.
posted
By the way in reply to this as well..."So 100% of what they give can be invested in direct ministry of the Gospel to the lost and of contributions to poor saints."
Financially supporting full-time worker's of the Gospel is investing in the direct ministry of the Gospel.
Having to work a job outside of the preaching the Gospel, limit's you to one location, and to one task for 40hrs minimum a week. Jesus didn't tell the disciples to quit the fishing business for nothing.
Acts 6:2-4 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
Plain and simple...the ministry of the Word gets neglected when men and and women who are called to do it full time, have to do something else on the side.
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