In Christ,

Welcome to the House church Interchange!

I, myself was raised and trained Baptist (graduated from Moody Bible Institute there in Chicago in '73), was "ordained" a Baptist minister in '75 and went as a missionary to Dominica in the West Indies in '76.

While there, I began reading the Book of Acts as never before and became deeply troubled that most of my "Baptist" practices I could find nowhere in scripture, even though we claimed the scriptures were our sole rule of faith and practice. So I eventually resigned from the mission board, relinquished my "reverend" title, returned home to Canada and was "in fellowship" in closed brethren assemblies for 16 years.

Slowly I began to realize that we sponsored just as much clerisy in our assemblies as did the Baptists. We too claimed that scripture was our only rule of faith and practice but traditions of men superceded the scriptures:
-human appointment of speakers in church gatherings virtually muzzled all others from exhorting and stirring up one another to love and good works in our assemblies ,
-a distinct class of "christian workers" called "servants of the Lord", "full-time workers" or "commended workers" were set apart from "ordinary Christians" or "part-time workers",
-a distinct means of support of such workers which is never found in new coveant scripture was practiced,
-Such "commended workers" are required to be away from wife and children for weeks and sometimes months at a time, which is absolutely contrary to I Cor.7:1-5 and 9:5 and wreaks much havoc in the family lives of such men.
-the use of "workers' letters of commendation" are substituted for "ordination papers" yet no such letters are found in scripture,
-sanctified buildings were used for assembly meetings and offerings were taken to maintain such apart from any new covenant precept or first century practice which modelled such,
-we observed a "holy day" which was never taught or practiced by the apostles or early church,
-we reduced the Lord's Supper from a real meal to a tiny bite and a sip, etc.

One key doctrine, the new covenant doctrine of fellowship, was radically distorted to control and manipulate compliance with "assembly teaching".

The new covenant doctrine of fellowship is that saints who are walking in the Spirit HAVE fellowship WITH GOD AND WITH OTHER SAINTS, and those who do not walk in the Spirit do NOT HAVE fellowship WITH GOD NOR WITH OTHER SAINTS. (I John 1) But we were taught that as we were compliant with "assembly teaching" we were IN FELLOWSHIP WITH THE ASSEMBLY. If we failed to comply with assembly teaching we would be PUT OUT OF ASSEMBLY FELLOWSHIP! But scripture never ever teaches that fellowship is sopmething you can be "in" or "out of"! It is rather something we HAVE or do NOT HAVE!

Since we nade the most difficult decision of our lives (to leave "brethren assemblies") in '94, the Lord has lead us on a continuing journey and in a course of continuous training in His school. He has been so faithful and we have much more to learn!

Whatever your inquiries may be, feel free to ask your questions here and hopefully brothers and sisters who are on the same journey will be able to be a help to you!

I look forward to hearing from you more as you have time and opportunity!