Going to "church" doesn't make one any more a "Christian" than sitting in a garage for two hours three times a week makes one a "car".
"Church" as they call it is good for learning and corporate worship on occasions. More times than not, it's just emotional hype demanding more money to keep the "system" alive. Many believe in this "system"... I don't.
I think of Christian families on the frontier. They would settle some land and on Sunday mornings Paw would give a reading from the Bible and he'd teach his family. They'd have confession, discussions, and prayer. Periodically they’d get a circuit rider in the area and they’d gather in someone’s home or construct a small chapel.
I new a guy from Tennessee named Scott. Scott was a pastor in a small “bapticostal” church down in Tennessee and he resigned from ministry because he felt like all the “corporate” demands were killing his spirituality and even alienating his family from the congregation (politics). After resigning from the pastorate he became an advocate for house church networks and moved to Ohio. The last time I saw Scott was at a house church meeting in Dayton about three and a half years ago. At that time he hadn’t graced the doors of a traditional “church” for over 6 or 7 years. But on Saturday and sometimes Sunday afternoons…his home was packed with guests and saints from all over town. The grill would be going, kids in the swimming pool, and Scott greeting guests. Scott would open with prayer, we’d have dinner, break bread (the Lord’s Supper), sing as many songs as we desired to sing, and then Scott would sit in his recliner and open up the Scriptures to us. We’d be sitting on couches, love seats, folding chairs, some saints sitting or laying in the floor by the hearth. Scott would open up a text, the background, the context, the language…and we’d not only learn… we’d ask questions and share our understandings. EVERYONE taught EVERYONE. After the meetings got going, you’d not even know if Scott was “in charge” or not… truth is… Jesus was leading through His people. Prophetic gifts would be in operation and many times a guest would just break down and weep. None of these attending were “members”. No dues or tithes were collected. We are admonished to look out for one another and be generous to one another. A woman’s car broke down. A few brothers went in to get her some wheels that she could use AND helped her pay for her car’s repairs. It was precious. No positions. No buildings. No money. It was all Jesus. The “elders” were like spiritual fathers or mentors. They weren’t men with a “position”. They were men with a ministry. A good number of those who would attend were from different churches. They’d come to Scotts for real fellowship and participation (things they weren’t getting at their traditional churches). Scott worked as a truck driver for a local company making local deliveries during the week. If you so much as TRIED to offer him money… he’d politely turn it down and tell you who would really be able to benefit from the gift. Scott didn’t want a salary. Scott opened his home, his family, and his life to share the gospel… and he wanted nothing in return.
For me… that was “CHURCH”. This systematic meeting in a sterilized building with offices, a theater (or sanctuary), the pre-service Christian concert, the offering plates, the financial portfolios, positions, licenses, salaries, pastoral car allowances, everyone dressed in their Sunday “costumes”, that we’re all familiar with is so PHONY to me. I attend a church today that is basically a house church network. I could do without the big institutional system and just thrive in the house churches. It’s real, it’s gritty, and it’s organic Christianity.
When I was just getting into the house church movement, Scott’s house church would occasionally meet at coffee shops, malls, and parks. We’d do all the things we’d do in Scott’s house…but now it was in public. We’d invite total strangers to sit in with us and “join the conversation”. Scott’s favorite was to invite a stranger in and ask the stranger to share with us what they think about Jesus. We had a time! Lol
And there have been occasions when due to work I can’t attend anything. That’s when I break out the bread and the wine and partake in the Lord’s Supper quietly in my living room. Then I’ll study the Scriptures and pray until I feel one step closer to being conformed into the image of Christ. Sometimes I’ve included my son (when I have him) and my lady friend and her daughter (when visiting). I allow the kids to share the meaning behind the Lord’s Supper.
Does a Christian need “traditional church”? No.
But to grow and have fellowship a Christian must gather with other Christians. Those Christians can be from a traditional church, the neighborhood, a work Bible study group, a house church, or even their Christian family members. You see… where ever two or more are gathered in His name, Jesus is there in their very midst.
Folks, technically speaking… one doesn’t need the Sunday show.
I’m reminded of a quote that I dearly love,
"Let not him who worships under a steeple condemn him who worships under a chimney." ~ John Newton
This would be a great thread to name drop....
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