I met a couple who are a very modest Christian couple with three beautiful children. They believed a like us and my wife and I really hit it off with them and so we invited them to church. They explained to us that they believed in “house churching”. I had never heard of it before and so Scott explained to me that they don’t believe in what they called the “institutional church”. They, and about 6 other families, meet in their home for worship on Wednesday nights and on Sundays. They explained that they don’t believe in pursuing property nor do they have a building program. Their house church has already started two other house churches in our area and occasionally they all come together in a rented facility but all three groups are autonomous and meet in member’s homes. They don’t believe in having salaried pastors either. Scott, who is the pastor of the assembly that meets in his home, also works full time. He explained that, like Paul, he felt called to work for his living and offer the gospel free of charge. His assembly only takes up offerings for outreach efforts, cook outs, in support a local charity, or to help someone with a specific need. He strongly advocates that every member put back something in a savings account so that they can be free to help any among them who may find themselves in need. He strongly advocates what he called “giver to getter” benevolence. These guys are really on fire and are about to launch another house church assembly in our city, making four house churches in our area. He explained that it costs nothing to launch a house church. All that is required is a called man of God who is willing to open up his home to being a place to preach the gospel. Scott also stated that a house church can be established almost anywhere and therefore it’s the perfect model for urban or inner city growth of the church. They are not incorporated in any way and they are not considered a “non-profit organization” so they are not subject to the IRS limitations most churches are faced with. He invited me to a meeting and told me that the only offering we were asked to bring were two covered dishes; because they have a pot luck meal once a month at which they have communion. My wife and I have become so busy we’ve lost touch with them. But some of the things Scott and I talked about were really interesting and have struck a cord with me.
I’ve started studying the house church phenomenon and apparently they believe that they are following the model of church growth and government taught in the New Testament. Most who are part of the house church movement believe that the following verses illustrate that the early Apostolic church met in house churches in biblical times:
Acts 2:2
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
At first, though they met in the Jewish temple (until thrown out), they celebrated as Christians from house to house,
Acts 2:46
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Acts 5:42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
When Saul (before he became Paul) sought to persecute Christians he knew where he could find them...in their houses,
Acts 8:3
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Saul was converted in a house,
Acts 9:11
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
Acts 9:17
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Peter got away to pray on the housetop,
Acts 10:9
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
Peter preached to and converted Cornelius in his house,
Acts 10:22
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
They gathered and prayed at Mary's house,
Acts 12:12
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
Paul taught publicly (markets, resturants, coffee shops?) and from house to house,
Acts 20:20
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
Paul rented a house and preached from this house for two years,
Acts 28:30-31
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Aquila and Priscilla hosted a church in their home,
Romans 16:3-5
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
A church gathered in Aristobulus' house,
Romans 16:10
Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
A church gathered in Narcissus' house,
Romans 16:11
Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
A very active church gathered in Stephanas' house,
1 Corinthians 16:15
I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
Another reference was made to the church gathered in Aquila and Priscilla's house,
1 Corinthians 16:19
The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Some of Caesar's servants and/or family had become Christian and met in the palatial dwelling of Caesar,
Philippians 4:22
All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
Nymphas hosted a church in his home,
Colossians 4:15
Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Onesiphorus may have hosted a church in his house,
2 Timothy 1:16
The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
False prophets attempted to gain entry into the houses where churches gathered,
Titus 1:11
Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
Philemon hosted a church in his home,
Philemon 1:2
And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
False prophets were not to be welcomed or blessed in houses where the church gathered for worship,
2 John 1:10
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
What fascinated me was that when I researched early ecclesiology I discovered that Christians didn’t begin meeting in buildings dedicated to religious service until nearly 250 to 300 years after the time of the Apostles. The implication is that the Apostles turned the entire region upside down by advancing the gospel in household churches. This is called by house church advocates, “saturation church planting”, and is a strategy used in Africa, the Middle East, the former USSR, and China. The goal is to completely saturate a local region with numerous house churches. They believe this model is superior in that it has little to no overhead, is highly mobile, and can be started anywhere. It can also fly under the radar in areas that are hostile to Christianity. Their focus isn’t growing an established “church assembly”. Once a house church starts to become too large for a single household they appoint leaders and launch a second house church. With this process one house church becomes two, two become four, four become eight, and so on. So their focus is to multiply assemblies (house churches) throughout a region, not to grow a single assembly in one location. Their meetings are typically humble, ecstatic, and informal. If there are members with musical ability the members sing in worship and praise as they would in a conventional church service. Baptisms are performed at the riverside, in bathtubs, pools, Jacuzzis, or in any other kind of facility that would allow enough water.
Personally, I think that a licensed minister would be best in order to maintain some accountability.
What are some of your thoughts on this sort of thing?
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