Very interesting points on all sides. Also, thanks for pointing out that I don’t see licensing as a necessity.
The Apostles were not licensed, so such should never be a necessity…accept if legality would apply. For example, in the state of Ohio a minister cannot perform recognized marriages if he isn’t licensed with the state to do so. The State of Ohio requires that all ministers applying for state license to marry be licensed with their particular denomination, organization, or church body. A copy of this license must be submitted to the state. So, if a minister doesn’t desire to marry believers in Ohio it certainly wouldn’t be an issue. But I’ve read somewhere that some house churches just independently license their own pastor or elders for legalities like this.
Here’s a good question:
What do you guys think about a, “statement of faith”? Should a house church have a “statement of faith” that keeps the fundamentals of their faith generally stated? Such a statement could be as in-depth as the UPCIs “Articles of Faith” or as simple as the following five statements:
1.) We believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God.
2.) We believe in the Oneness of God in Christ Jesus.
3.) We believe in full Apostolic salvation as taught by Peter in
Acts 2:38.
4.) We believe in biblical Christian living.
5.) We believe in the soon return of Jesus Christ.
…or it could be just one statement:
1.) We believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God.
So would there be any value to, “statement(s) of faith”?
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