The "House Church Movement"
[Modified 10/7/07]
"The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house." 1 Corinthians 16:19
For 2000 years followers of Jesus
have met in homes all over the world, where ever the Gospel has been
preached. In the New Testament, this is how Christians
fellowshipped: Acts 2:1-2, 2:46, 5:42, 12:12, 20:20, Romans 16:5, 1
Corinthians 16:19, Philemon 2. There is absolutely nothing wrong
with Christians meeting like this today and there continue to be
many all over the world who do fellowship as the Body of Christ in
people's homes.
Unfortunately, the "House Church Movement"
includes as much deception as any of the institutional religious
systems. That's why we don't advocate joining any "movement" whether
religious, theological, denominational, political, economic,
educational, etc. We homeschool but we warn against much that is in
the "homeschool movement". We fellowship in people's homes, but we
warn against much that is in the "house church movement".
In
the name of "home church" I've seen lists that include, e.g., New
Age flavored "Ground Zero" in Kitsap County, Washington State, which
has included Catholic nuns and promoted anti-war speaker, Starhawk,
a witch!
I've seen discussions in which it was clear that
some home church advocates did not take God's Word as seriously as
they ought. They might as well have been Unitarian for all of their
talk of "tolerance" at the expense of sound doctrine.
There
is one name that often comes up in some segments of the "house
church movement", Gene Edwards. I've
seen some home church websites for him and some against him. As
Dan Trotter, who fellowships in a house
church, puts it (tongue in cheek), there are those who believe,
"Gene Edwards is the Antichrist." and others that, "Gene Edwards is
the fourth person of the Trinity." I understand that many who came
out of the coercive, authoritarian "Shepherding Movement" in the
70's and 80's were blessed by Edward's book, A Tale of Three
Kings: A Study in Brokenness. I bring Gene Edwards up as an
example that there are controversies among house church assemblies
just as there are among the institutional churches. Guruism remains
a problem. All of us must be willing to be open to correction.
I've spent at least ten years now exploring what Christians have
to say on the internet. Unfortunately, many who understand true New
Testament teaching about the Church, are not willing to take a stand
against deceptions within the Church. And many Christians who do
take a stand against deceptions within the Church are sold out to
Institutionalism and the Professional Clergy! It can feel awfully
lonely for people who want to be Biblical on both counts. I'm sure
some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.
What I
recommend is that individual Christians be Acts 17 Bereans about
EVERYTHING! Let's not just TALK about the Bible being our standard
of Truth, but let it be the standard of Truth when it comes to: Who
Jesus is, What is the Gospel, Contending for the Faith, What is the
Church, and how should we function and fellowship.
What I recommend is that followers of
our Lord Jesus trust him for simple New Testament fellowship; not
joining any movement or bandwagon. Consider meeting in homes with
other like-minded Believers and be the Church of Jesus together.
Consider searching the Web for sites that discuss New Testament
Fellowship, Home Church, House Church. Be a Berean and realize that
some will be unbiblical and some will be right on. The Truth will
set you free!
If you fellowship in a house church, I'd like to hear about it. Or if you have questions about this topic, please write me and refer to this page.
True New Testament Fellowship is not New
Four Ways Christians are being Deceived
Frank Viola Promoting Contemplative Spirituality