House Church Talk - those of Ceasar's house

[David Anderson]

I wanted to pause here once again before continuing on: Phil. 4:22 All 
the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar¹s 
household.

Just below is a note on this "celebrity" house church, if that's what it 
was, from Robertson's Word Pictures. Whether or not the household 
gathering was a bona fide church depends upon how you define such. 
Opinions do vary. Personally I believe Paul regarded it as such because 
at the end of Romans he mentions a number of house churches in the same 
style of language. Romans 16.

"Christianity has begun to undermine the throne of the Caesars. Someday a 
Christian will sit on this throne. The gospel works upward from the lower 
classes. It was so at Corinth and in Rome. It is true today. It is 
doubtful if Nero had yet heard of Paul for his case may have been 
dismissed by lapse of time. But this obscure prisoner who has planted the 
gospel in Caesar's household has won more eternal fame and power than all 
the Caesars combined. Nero will commit suicide shortly after Paul has 
been executed. Nero's star went down and Paul's rose and rises still."   
END QUOTE

The phrase "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in 
heaven" is a totally revolutionary call to action and prayer. The writer 
of "Onward Christian Soldiers had it in mind when he/she penned:

Crown and thrones may perish,
kingdoms rise and wane,
but the Church of Jesus
constant will remain;
gates of hell can never
'gainst that Church prevail;
we have Christ's own promise,
and that cannot fail. Refrain

In fact, hymns like "Onward Christian Soldiers" define the church of 
yesteryear in that they foresaw VICTORY. Todays Christians are content to 
sing "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" as if that said it all. Nothing wrong with 
"Poor Wayfaring Stranger" - my point is that the church of today, in the 
West, has little collective optimism about victory. Instead of being 
redeemed and reclaimed by the Lord one person at a time, the world and 
its inhabitants get's "left behind." Again, let me repeat: there are 
elements of truth in "left behind." 

The Lord greatly encouraged and excited Paul by telling him that "he had 
much people" in Corinth. Acts 18:10:For I am with thee, and no man shall 
set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. Likewise 
God is (?) energizing us by the prospects of many yet to kneel at the 
cross.

So let's live in the increasing light of the truth that the kingdoms of 
this world shall one day become the kingdoms of our Lord and of this 
Christ.

         David Anderson