A Personal Journey

About 30 years ago now, my wife and I began to sense a need to change in our Christian fellowship, but I resisted it. I was a part of this fellowship when I was a teenager and returned to it at around 21. I had seen people church shop from place to place. I had been through a divorce and saw many other relationships break up. I did not want to be like them.

After serving as an elder for about 15 years I began to worry about the influence of New Age teachings. Some were beginning to think they were equal with Christ! When I attempted to address this I was looked down upon as one of the unenlightened ones. Don't get me wrong, these for the most part were wonderful and loving people. We still love and appreciate them but feel some are seriously deceived.

Our meetings were never closed to only "clergy," but eventually they became more focused on the opinions of the leaders. I always believed and taught that leadership should be a plurality of elders according to 1 Peter 5 and Acts 20:28. But now my voice was not being heard anymore. It was one of the most difficult times of my life. Then we ran into some friends that we had not seen for a while and began to get together. We connected and two other families joined us. They had been in "house church" many years before, but that is the first time I heard the phrase. It was like a light went on inside of me, and I was off to the races!

After searching "American Online" I found others on an email list. Then I began finding books and articles that encouraged me on this path. It was a wonderful time, and we have had many from around the country visit our home and we visited some of their homes as well. While we all did find many things in common, one thing I eventually learned was this: I could not assume we all had the same vision or goal.

What has been important to me for 50 years now was God's plan for the Church, His body as detailed in the book of Ephesians, Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12-14. I had hoped that once the clergy/laity problem was out of the way we could continue to develop in that plan. I agree that titles were a problem for some, but others really wanted to eliminate important functions as well. They wanted a "leaderless" community, and worked very hard to suppress those who were called and gifted to teach or lead.

Some with this thinking would join us from time to time and bring tension with their fear of all things traditional. I can understand these fears as I have had them as well. In the end it is God and His will that matters. From my 72 years on this earth I have come to understand His will mostly from what the Holy Spirit has brought to life to me through the bible. It was a major life changing event when I learned to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and He would add what I needed. For me that includes obeying His calling me to preach and teach His Word from the bible to anyone who will listen.

My hope is that this new generation of people seeing the possibilities of house church, simple church, or whatever it is called, will become more open to they way God designed for His Church/Ekklessia to grow.

Ephesians 4:10-16

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

NIV