The House Church Movement
I spent a good 7 years in the HC/Organic/Intentional blah blah movement directly are probably 8 around it. So a major portion of my faith and understanding on how the church should operate is based on being in groups of believers who attempted to live as closely under the direct Headship of Jesus Christ as possible. Our meetings were open and participatory and every believer was expected to move in the Spirit for the edification of another. To most people this sounds like unruly chaos. In reality I’ve never been in single chaotic meeting like this ever. It has always been fairly seamless. I’ll admit that at times we’d wait on Lord and sit quietly to hear his still small voice. That make take an hour or more. Usually we found that we needed to repent corporately or personally. As soon as we did boom someone got healed or a prophetic word or a teaching. In a setting like community where you are all a team working toward one goal you are forced to live out the teachings of Jesus. Forgiveness and dying to self must be in play 24/7. Although this is awfully uncomfortable and often off putting to many Christians there is nothing better for transformation and lessons in humility.
Being apart of a community is not all roses though and there are some negative things about being apart of a House Church
1. Most organized churches are suspicious about you or your group and they assumer certain things about why you meet the way you do. The result is you get cut off from a lot of fellowship with other believers. In fact, if they ask what church do you go to? And you tell them you meet in homes expect to get some dirty looks or to be treated as less than.
2. If you don’t grow you will die. Sometimes your group gets into a flow or dynamic that seems like a peak. You are all getting along and you all can trust one another. This often makes it difficult for others to feel like they are apart of your group. Second since all the ministry is done by the people and there is a pressure for all to participate newcomers don’t get the pew buffer that allows them to just sit back and watch for a few months before deciding whether or not to join. THe thing is you need new blood to come in and add aspects of Jesus that may not be on display with your current clan.
3. The church can become very insular. Often times evangelism and outreach fall by the wayside. This is multi layered but it is mainly because it’s hard enough to get a group of Christian’s to participate let alone to do that and reach out to new people. Also most people even the unsaved are only familiar with traditional church models. So when you win someone to the Lord and invite them to one of your meetings they instantly think cult. So this often makes you nervous and slightly ashamed of how and why you meet.
4. Most church services are only as good as the leaders leading them. In the case of shared leadership the church life is only as god and healthy as the people involved. If you have a church filled with people of good character and empowered by the Holy Spirit your church will be awesome! If the majority of folks are broken and not very free to move in the Spirit than you are going to have a difficult road.
Great article… I’ve been a part of a House Church network for over 10 years and a part of the particular church I’m in since its inception about 3 years ago.
I think that looking at the church I’m a part of, your comment about not growing or die is poignant. What ways would u suggest in extending a hand out to people to follow Christ in such a structure? We’ve been the same group of people – give or take – since inception…. How do you encourage extending God’s Kingdom without insularity?
Interesting viewpoints… I have been involved with ‘house churches’ for over 40 years… and it is true that people can get stuck in a rut. It seems like the apostolic ministry that we read about in the New Testament that traveled from place to place and moved among the churches would have helped keep ‘fresh blood’ flowing. I have had the privilege of being a part of such a ministry for the last 30 years – it has been very enriching for me and others.
banjapoet- to me it’s not about the structure as much as it is about Christ. If Jesus Christ has been given a place to truly pour Himself out this will attract people. People need to feel welcomed but they must also taste and see something different in your midst than somewhere else. Then it becomes less about the model or method differences and more about the difference in spiritual Life. If God is pouring out His glory in your midst and love is reigning in your heart hungry saints will stay or at the very least be very blessed. Make an effort for Christ to be you all in all and don’t fret about the rest.
As far as brining in others (perhaps the lost). I’d say that your body needs to pray and wait on the Lord to share His heart with you. Then when He releases you, do whatever He tells you. If you go out of principle you won’t be motivated by love. Otherwise it’s a church growth scheme.
In the end both issues are addressed by the the idea of overflow. If the glory of the Lord is present the overflow is always life and abundance.
Help any?
joeson – I agree wholeheartedly that the thing that would help more than anything is more of the Christ-life within, more of the Holy Spirit moving and guiding in a life. But Paul also mentioned in 1 Cor 15:38 that God has given every kind of life the body (form or structure that pleases him – and we recognize the ‘kind of life’ by the form that it takes. Paul could write about the form of sound words and the form of godliness. The form is a waste without the power, but it does have a form. And power without the form is destructive.
Certainly that form is seen in the life and example of Jesus. The Holy Spirit wouldn’t move us contrary to that life and example. So if there were some that were willing to go out ‘in faith’ like Jesus, homeless and intinerant it could be bless and a blessing – keeping things from getting stale. I have written more about this example at http://www.2and2apostles.com/home/ministry