House Church Talk - Purposeful Church....

[Bruce Woodford]

Hi Jim,

Thanks so much for your post!

I'd written in part:"By way of contrast, is it not true that whenever we are 
walking (consciously or inconsciously) in bondage to religious systems or in 
friendship with this world, we will be WASTING time that could be invested 
for eternity, WANDERING with no vision and missing out on many divine 
appointments for ministry because we are conformed to this WORLD and its' 
ways?"

To this you responded:
"Interesting thoughts and questions raised. Paul also makes a series of 
comments that I find very interesting. He says, in part--


Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me 
to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to 
make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who 
created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich 
variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the 
heavenly places. (grabbed from Ephesians 3:8-10)

Note especially that last verse (v10): "so that through the church the 
wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and 
authorities in the heavenly places."

It is through the church that we humans also see the rich variety of God's 
wisdom. For He works in so many different kinds of ways, through very 
different people, in many different kinds of places and cultures.


I for one do not believe -- to use your words -- that any man (or woman) is 
"in bondage to a religious system" if they truly know the Lord. And I 
realize you may not be trying to go there. But we do, too often, see in hc 
fellowships a mindset that portrays everyone in tradional, denominational, 
or even independent IC churches as somehow "still bound to the system."

Granted they may be made to feel obligated to many things we would find 
silly, unnecessary, even wrong. But who among us is perfect? We human beings 
tend to always attach great significance to our own ideas, our own ways, our 
own habits. And that is how new traditions are born -- even hc traditions, 
such as we all see around us."

First of all, brother, I know well the mindset of which you speak on the 
part of some HC folks relative to those in IC's.  Personally, I believe that 
if folks, even in house churches, are still focused on the place of 
gathering (whether cathedral, sanctuary or house) they are missing the whole 
point of the Lord Jesus' teaching in John 4:22,23.  The Samaritan woman was 
all taken up with which was "the right place" to worship!  But the Lord 
Jesus turned her from the consideration of the place (in Mount Gerizim or in 
Jerusalem) to the consideration of the relationship with the Living God (in 
the Spirit)!

Secondly, I certainly agree with you that God's wisdom which He makes known 
to principalities and powers is "may sided", "variegated" and is displayed 
in many different ways. However, I do NOT believe that the wide variety of 
denominations are some of the facets of that "manifold wisdom" any more than 
I believe that the wide variety of world religions  are facets of that 
wisdom. God has created a rich variety of flowers and plants, great variety 
of clouds and weather conditions, great variety of peoples and 
personalities, and He has given a great variety of spiritual gifts and 
ministries to His people.

Rebellious man has found a great variety of ways to express his sin (the 
works of the flesh). So too religious man has found a great variety of ways 
to express his own will in matters of religion. But I don't think either of 
these can be ascribed to God or be rightly viewed as expressions of God's 
manifold wisdom.

You have also raised an interesting question which I will pose as follows: 
"Can a believer, who truly knows the Lord, be in a state of religious 
bondage?"

You wrote:"I for one do not believe -- to use your words -- that any man (or 
woman) is "in bondage to a religious system" if they truly know the Lord."

If I read the Book of Galatians properly, it seems that Paul was 
demonstrating that the Galatian saints and even the apostle Peter had been 
"entangled again in the yoke of bondage" relative to old covenant 
regulations imposed upon a new covenant people!

Does not Galatians 4 contrast the old covenant, which God designed to bring 
bondage, with the new covenant, which God designed to bring liberty? Is not 
bondage the inability to be and do what God intends for His people? Is not 
liberty the ability to be and do what He intends for us?

So to the extent that any of us embrace or believe teachings that are false 
or contrary to scripture (i.e. believing and practicing old covenant 
principles in new covenant times), are not we in bondage to an old covenant 
religious system even though we know the Lord?

Furthermore, as the Lord brings such things to our attention and we embrace 
the new covenant in place of the old, are we not brought into greater 
liberty and enabled to be and do what God intends for us?

Or is it your belief that every child of God in Christ is in perfect liberty 
even though his or her religious mindsets have not yet been transformed and 
renewed?

Your brother in Christ,
Bruce

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