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The banking industry has a new competitor. The 'person to person loan' it's called. Individual borrowers and lenders meet via the internet. One such site has almost a half million registered users - prosper.com.
Loans are made and repaid without the proverbial middle man. This represents the de-professionalization of another major institution and the parallels to clergy-less house churching are readily apparent. Folks really can serve one another beyond and without "the system."
Home Schooling...Homebased Businesses...Home Churches...Etc.,
Then by extension...
Online Learning...Online Shopping...Etc.,
Systems can be good if they eventually lead to at least some level of self-reliance. Otherwise they can become dead ends. Instead of adding to life...they can suck it away. How often we've heard from dear brethren, "If you leave here...you'll be lost!" As though this particular church has a corner on truth, God and the way of salvation. "Home Church! My goodness! How can these things be? How can this work without the pastor being there? Has headquarters sanctioned this? Are you sure you're in the faith?"
Now the Lord is that Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty!
I wonder sometimes if the church functions best "unplugged."
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Yes, de-institutionalization is most deffinately a good thing- especially when it comes to the church. I have seen, though, a danger on the other side of the spectrum, that I fear could be a tempting trap for us as home churchers. That danger is independence. I know we were never meant to be dependent on "profesionals", we are to be dependent only on God himself. But it is also clear that God didn't create us to live this life indepndent of other people. I think we see interdependence as what was truley unique and beautiful about the early church. They met together, ate together, took care of each others needs... they truley loved each other, and this is what attracted unbelievers to the Lord. Not their merits or attractiveness as individuals, but the love seen within the community.
I have a question in reguards to what I just said. There are individuals in our home church that come because they are tired of the IC model of the mass being dependent on the few, and they had previously pulled away from traditional church and were made to feel that they were not good christians because they weren't going to church regularly. These same people often miss our house church meetings as well- I think because in rightly rejecting human dependence, they have adopted an independent attitude. How do we encourage interdependence, without sounding like the IC- like we are pushing dependence on us?
On a side note- I just read a novel by Francine Rivers called The Shoefar Blew. It addressed the common pitfalls of the current IC model, and the need for what she termed at the end of the book as the church without walls (not necisarilly house churches though). It was an interesting read, and one that I am going to recommend to many of my IC friends as it brought up these things in a story(non threatening) format.
I appreciate your comments and recommendations! Here's a thought or two in regards to your question about your friends...
Some things in scripture or in the church aren't quickly grasped - they're revelational. It's the "Ooooh! Now I see!" kind of experience. I've certainly had plenty of those moments! Interdependence can seem like a simple, up front concept. But when it comes to practicing it, well that's another story. I think it's the same with our responsiblity to one another. Many don't understand that we as believers have a 2-way responsibility to each other to encourage, edify, pray for, and if necessary, rebuke, admonish, correct, instruct in righteousness, etc.,
Another aspect of fellowship is friendship. If the only time Rex, Ed and I ever got together was during church time...what would that say about our friendship? How often we've "endured" things just to be with our friends we love being with! And how little the excuse needed to get out of being with those we feel no connection with.
Finally, I don't recall Jesus chasing anyone. Perhaps their way is simply different than yours and they need to walk their own way. Doesn't make them wrong...just different. If you appreciate them fellowshipping with you then tell them, and let them know why. Let them know that it's far more than having all the chairs filled on Sunday. Then, it's up to them...
Are you sure your "missing friends" are merely tired of IC? Maybe they are growing weary of the "strait and narrow". It can be difficult for some to leave the things of the world behind, to practice denial, and die to self. (Ro 8:7) "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." If they do not quickly learn to love the Lord then their walk can be a wearisome task rather than a joy. (1Jo 5:3) "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
Regarding institutions. Let's not throw out institutions all together. The marriage institution has come under fierce attack lately. It was established by God in the Garden of Eden. The Sabbath institution established in Eden has pretty much been destroyed already. We don't want to exhibit the characteristics of Satan who rebelled against God's kingdom in heaven. We certainly don't want to destroy that which God has instituted.
Enjoy the freedom you now have because one day things will be a lot more like they once were. In early America people were compelled to attend church or suffer civil punishment. I think Revelation 13 talks about a return to this form of government where worship is commanded upon threat of death and/or monetary sactions. Some are already trying to unite church and state. When this happens then you can bet you won't have the freedom to worship in your homes any longer.
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Thank you bth for your insight and advice- boy, it sure is strange to converse without being in the same room, isn't it?
Pat- what you said made a lot of sense- I have had many of those "aha" moments over the past year. When we started this venture, some leaders thought through whether we should do this or that, but generally came to the conclusion to just meet togeher and see how God lead. As we have studied scripture together, the answers to many of those initial questions have sowly been answered- it has been fun to see God reveal things to us as a group. But I also see your point about there being a time to confront- 2 of the people I am thinking of are very good friends of mine that I do see during the week. I probably do just need to let them know how important they are to the dynamics of our group, and how missed they are when they are not there.
jqlogan- You also make a very good point- It is very difficut for us all to leave the things of this world and die to self! This could also be a reason some avoid coming- as a small house church there is no back pew to hide in and there is no slipping out early without anyone noticing! There is just more accountability in a small group than in a large one for sure.
Reguarding institutions- you might be interpreting this term in a different way than most house churchers. I don't see marriage as an institution, but as a covenant between two people. The Bible likens this to the covenant between Christ and the Church. A covenant is relational, an institution is organizational. Of course organization is important, but I believe is something that should be used loosely- always changing as needs are changing. When organization becomes static it becomes an institution. In end times, if Church is institutionalited by the government a you spoke of, which I agree is very possible, I don't think God will be the one who is being worshiped anymore in those meetings. In that case believers meeting together in small groups in houses and back alleys will bring on even more signifigance as it may be the only place to worship in spirit and in truth. The church has certainly gone underground like this in the past and even still does in certain countries today.
How true! In a smaller setting, there isn't a "Back Pew Early Release Program" from church. It's much more difficult to hide, and being quiet can just cause one to stand out even more.
May the Lord lead you in encouraging others to be involved wherever the He wants them to be. Your care will not go unnoticed, and your labor will not be in vain in the Lord!
Perhaps I should investigate the meaning of "institution" in the house churcher dictionary. You are not the first to provide this definition. Where did you get your thinking from on this? The way I define institution is more traditional. An institution is something that has been instituted--established, or setup formally or officially.
Marriage is an institution because it was formally and officially established by God in the Garden of Eden to be a sacred covenant between a man and a woman. Would we have anything at all if God had not first established it? Marriage, the 7-day week, the Sabbath, Civil laws, etc... I am sad that men keep trying to squelch all of God's establishments. Weren't all of them for our happiness?
Perhaps you are thinking of the licensing of such by the state as the institution. That is not what I had in mind.
(Interesting fact I heard just yesterday. Divorce is just as prevalent in the church as it is in the world. So, haven't we already dealt marriage quite a blow?)
Getting back to the topic. How does this new form of acquiring loans differ from what we have? These are 3-year, unsecured loans with appropriately high interest rates. The borrower pays an origination fee and the lender pays an annual loan service fee. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea in principle--community borrowing and lending, like the local bank used to be. But what we have here is not really community. You may never know each other. It's just another money-making scheme, to my mind. The Divine loan institution is found in the Books of Moses and Acts.
Pat- Your wods spoke volumes to me- I am was afraid that in encouraging others to not forsake meeting together I would be communicating pushing my own agenda on them. The way you phrased things speak true love to another- something I want in my ife and in our house church more than anything! Thank you!!!
jglogan- I am sorry if my comment about how house churchers think sounded separatist- definately my bad!!! Not to mention presumptuous! I did look the term institution up in Websters and found both definitions there. Yes, God established marriage for all time, there are other things, lke temple sacrifice, that God established for only a time under what he called the old covenant- it is a very interesting study to do to see what falls into this catagory. The word organitation is also used in the deffinition of institution, and institutionalism is defined as "an emphasis on organization at the expense of other factors". Sins of sefish ambition and greed tend to flourish in leaders of institutions, sins of lukewarm laziness tend to flourish in partakers of institutions. Under the new covenant Jesus said that worshipers would worship in spirit and in truth. Please don't hear me say that you can't worship in an IC in spirit and in truth, or that all HC's do worship in spirit and in truth, but I do believe that for reasons stated above, as well as others, that the Spirit can be hindered in institutional settings.
In the loan example, I don't think DAnderson was speaking about community (I believe I brought that up), but about the dangers of middle men, or experts in institutions (again selfish abition and greed come to my mind). When the curtain ripped between the holy and most holy places in the temple at the moment of Christs death, it eliminated the need for a middle man (other than Jesus) in our relationship with God. So as beleivers, why do we still hang onto that old system and try to place people in this position?
Again I am probably being presumptious- DAndeson- what exactly did you mean? How do you view all of this?
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Re: "Institution" - I was thinking that there is only one God-institution, marriage and family. And the Church is the marriage of Jesus and the Household of faith, simply the spiritual reality that the temporal reality is a reflection of.
Then, any institution that circumvents the family-oriented community is undermining God's institutions. With money, God's plan is for families to care for themselves, or for other families as a unit. And his poverty plan of allowing the poor to "glean the edges" is so clearly appropriate. That gives wealthy families a way of blessing poor families without created dependency or undermining dignity.
Money-lending that is anonymous is corrupting. How many marriages are destroyed by "borrowing" on the part of one spouse without regard for the other? Credit card companies don't care if the husband is a careless spender and the wife gets stuck working at KMart to pay the bills. But in a loving household-oriented community, people can know what's happening and help a family make wise stewardship decisions.
I think the overall idea of "prosper.com" is sound, but it would be better for us as house churchers to keep it in the family, so to speak. Our community is beginning to do a bit of this - the Lord has made sure that there is a wide range of financial condition so that all have the opportunity both to give and receive! We also consult each other on how best to help those in need in a wise and loving way. Also, God clearly condemns lending at interest,so we have to consider that in our plans. We must give generously and without expecting repayment, keeping the money circulating and multiplying!
Blessings, Laurie Ann
-------------------- Posing as an Ordinary Housewife :)
I have always longed for a commnity like is described in Acts. For years I had given up hope of ever experiencing anything of the sort, but over the past year I have begun to see glimpses of it. I now have hope! It is inspiring to hear how your community has begun to support one another through the resources that God has given. I am sure that kind of love for one another will not go unnoticed by the unbelieving world around you!
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