House Church Talk - Re: Yet another newspaper article...

[NigelTree at aol.com]

In answer to Jeff's point I believe that there is only one "church" in a  
town or location, which will be made up of believers that worship together in  
different "places of worship" within that area. This is true whether they  
worship in buildings called "churches" or in homes. If this is true it doesn't  
diminish the number of worshippers and true believers if some move from one  
"place of worship" or "format of worship" to another. However, I agree that it  is 
sad that so many Christians cannot seem to get on with each other. I have  
seen so many acrimonious church splits, including within home churches, that one 
 almost despairs at times.
 
I do take your point about the concern of whether small groups will keep to  
the true faith and not go off on some sort of tangent, but agree with Glenn 
that  by and large we keep each other on the right path. However, we always 
thought it  important in our home church that we should have an outsider who 
agreed to make  himself available for any of our members to speak to if they had 
any concerns or  disputes with what was being said or done within our home 
church. We chose an  elderly "elder" from another "church" who has much experience 
and wisdom.
 
Every blessing in our Lord Jesus Christ
 
Nigel Tree
Prudhoe Home Church, Northumberland, UK