Home Churches?

Charles Spurgeon from "Additions to the Church"-These first believers were in such a conditionthat their homes were holy places. I beg youto notice this, that they were breaking breadfrom house to house, and did eat their foodwith gladness and singleness of heart. They did not think that religion was meantonly for Sundays, and for what men now-a-dayscall the 'House of God'. Their own houses were houses of God, and theirown meals were mixed and mingled with theLord's Supper. They elevated their meals into dietsfor worship. They so consecrated everything withprayer and praise that all around them was holinessunto the Lord. I wish our houses were thus dedicated to the Lord,so that we worshipped God all the day long, andmade our dwellings temples for the living God. Does God need a 'special house'? He who made the heavens and the earth,does he dwell in temples made with hands?What crass ignorance is this!No house beneath the sky is more holy than theplace where a Christian lives, and eats, and drinks,and sleeps, and praises the Lord in all that he does.There is no worship more heavenly than that whichis presented by holy families, devoted to his fear. To sacrifice home worship to public worshipis a most evil course of action. Morning and evening devotion in a cottage is infinitelymore pleasing in the sight of God than all the cathedralpomp which delights the carnal eye and ear. Every truly Christian household is a church, andas such it is competent for the discharge of anyfunction of divine worship, whatever it may be. Are we not all priests? Why do we need to call inothers to make devotion a performance? Let everyman be a priest in his own house. Are you not all kings if you love the Lord? Then makeyour houses palaces of joy and temples of holiness. One reason why the early church had such a blessingwas because her members had such homes. Whenwe are like them we shall have "added to the churchdaily of the saved."

Chanin,One of the things that has interested me the past few years is the "House Church", "Cell Church","Multi-Housing", and small group church movements throughout the world. I'm with you when you said:"Are we not all priests? Why do we need to call in others to make devotion a performance?"I've had enough of building projects, programs, and PLAYING CHURCH. I want to BE the church, with signs following. ;-) Clutch :-)

Here is half a hymn we sing in our meetings...PART ONE 1 Happy the souls that first believed, To Jesus and each other cleaved; Joined by the unction from above, In mystic fellowship of love. 2 Meek, simple followers of the Lamb, They lived, and spake, and thought the same! Brake the commemorative bread, And drank the Spirit of their Head. 3 On God they cast their every care, Wrestling with God in mighty prayer They claimed the grace through Jesus given, By prayer they shut, and opened heaven. 4 To Jesus they performed their vows, A little church in every house; They joyfully conspired to raise Their ceaseless sacrifice of praise. 5 Propriety was there unknown, None called what he possessed his own: Where all the common blessing share No selfish happiness was there. 6 With grace abundantly endued, A pure, believing multitude, They all were of one heart and soul, And only love inspired the whole. 7 0 what an age of golden days! 0 what a choice, peculiar race! Washed in the Lamb's all-cleansing blood, Anointed kings and priests to God! 8 Ye different sects, who all declare, "Lo, here is Christ!" or, "Christ is there!" Your stronger proofs divinely give, And show me where the Christians live. 9 Join every soul that looks to Thee In bonds of perfect charity; Now, Lord, the glorious fulness give, And all in all for ever live! Charles Wesleyps propriety.. unknown in this sense means 'ownership' not that they were swinging from the chandeleers, although I don't know...

Surely a topic that has come up before here and to be truthful there is a lot of validity on both sides.Some of us are of the opinion that the 'church' can be saved, restored, renovated, revived, repaired, rebuilt..whatever you want to call it.Others are feed up and have pulled out either completely or have gone into the 'house church model'.Sure, I am stating the obvious. I empathise with both. Frankly it's a mess and I am feeling caught in the muck. I have pulled back in recent weeks from attending church and even bible study for reasons I am not even totally sure of, not passivity or ill will...something just isn't right. Been seeking the Lord's direction in ALL things. It's a confusing time, to stay or to go? Hang on or abandon ship? What is it that I am doing to rectify the situation? Where are peoples hearts? Should I go to a different church?Or at all? It's not about me anyway, what would the Lord have us do?Other questions come up; Society is becoming more and more isolated and independent, are we not falling into the same trap by giving up on the local churches?We who are of a serious breath by breath nature of walking with the Lord, is it us who should be attempting to 'rally the troops' or do we draw back because it's just gone to far?If David Wilkerson was to suddenly uproot TSC and plant it in your neighborhood, would you go there?I really don't have the answers, only questions.This much I do know. I only want to do what the Lord want's.Period.If that means staying in the 'system' and praying until He fills the local congregation with His Spirit or tears it to the ground in judgement, what does it matter? Wait, travail, weep, mourn, plead, prophesie, shut-up, sit still or be thrown out. Go to another church, a house church or no 'church'.Are we willing to do what He want's?But, for all that I have this sneaky suspicion that this little excerpt taken from something I received from our brother Lars is happening:"Let us not think, as we plead for revival, that we have to move God to share our concern and burden about the matter. We feel as we do because God has stirred us to share but a fraction of His concern. Our longing is but a feeble, pale reflection of His own. Our exercise of patience should draw us into deeper fellowship with ”the God of patience”, who has manifested such longsuffering towards the sons of men. How long has He waited for us before we began to wait for Him? Let us also remember that for nigh on two thousand years the Son has been at the Father’s right hand engaged in this very ministry of praying and waiting – ”till His enemies be made the footstool of His feet” (Heb. 10:13). ”The Lord direct [our] hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ” (2 Thess. 3:5)."IN THE DAY OF THY POWERThe Scriptural Principles of RevivalBy Arthur Wallis

One of the things that has interested me the past few years is the "House Church", "Cell Church","Multi-Housing", and small group church movements throughout the world.I have also been interested in this, and it is truly a good thing. to be in fellowship with other believers is important in my life. much of what has impacted me over time has come through one of these "small groups."

Society is becoming more and more isolated and independent, are we not falling into the same trap by giving up on the local churches?"where two or three are gathered...""a strand of three is hard to break..."I totally agree. we cannot allow ourselves to separate from other believers. the early church fellowshiped together not just in large meetings, but in it's homes also.

To add a twist to all this.Could it not be said that what we have right here is 'church'?To me it is.Fellowship, meeting together with believer's from all over the planet, daily...Sharing our thoughts and experiences.Sure it has it's limitations, I would gladly feed you all baloney sandwiches if I could get them through my modem without slowing down my connection... :-) It's hard to pick up inflections, to pray, etc.Be we are gathered and in ways that never would have been possible in years past.Thankfully, the Lord had led Greg to start this 'church' if you will, it may not be traditional, it may not be a lot of things.But it is a labor of love from his heart and I for one am glad to have found it and to have found the like hearted members who come to 'church' here.Thanks Greg.

Could it not be said that what we have right here is 'church'?i agree, it is fellowship.

moreofHimI know this will not apply to you but there is a danger in solitariness. One of the old bishops went to see a monk in the days before the monastries. The monk was giving himself to prayer and the subduing of the flesh while living in isolation in the desert. The bishop was impressed but had a single question...but whose feet do you wash?

Hi Ron,Again I like your bottom line:"but whose feet do you wash?"In American English, that translates:"Truth without contact is only religion."ClutchRight brethREN? ( That's brethern without dyslexia) :-D Clutch :-P

Hi Chanin,You said: "But I do believe with all my heart that the Lord is in the process of RESTORATION of His Church. He is slowly getting it back to its original state (the new testament state). He is building/restoring His beautiful Church/Bride one precious stone at a time. He is looking for those who are willing to do whatever He asks of them- to come out from among the apostacy and and do His will."Agreed!The reason that we find so little scripture on how to do church, is that it is more about content than style. Like our musical tastes , much of the time our choices relate more to culture, than any scriptural standard.I believe that when the Word of God is coupled with the Spirit of God, and is reproduced through the man, or woman of God; whatever format you choose to present it in, ITwill work. If ya'll do get something going up in Hebron, maybe you could call it something like the " Cincinatti Airport Christian Fellowship". I could help some on teaching on laughing, and falling down, and I know there are others who are expert on animal sounds. :-D In fact I think I detect some Sacred Cow mooing , even as I type this out. :-D Clutch :-P

:oops:

Chanin,One thing that would help us Western Civiliztion persons, would be to get a better understanding of Covenant. Just like the old song says:"Everybody talkin' 'bout heaven ain't goin there." Everybody talkin' 'bout Covenant ain't goin' THERE either.H. Clay Trumbell wrote a book entitled " The Blood Covenant" about 150 years ago. The Encyclopedia Brittanica recognizes that book as THE single source document on the Blood Covenant.I've read the book several times, and have done other outside study based on the books teaching. I REALLY don't understand the teaching in The Blood Covenant like someone who has been raised in say,an Eastern Culture, where Covenanting is a way of life, taken seriously, and is ingrained into every aspect of daily life.I hope others besides me are following Ron Baileys Devotional, because he is laying a wonderful foundation of understanding about our Spiritual Blood Covenant relationship through Abraham, and Jesus, The Anointed One of Nazereth.Clutch :-)

Mike, Chanin,Shhhhh. I think I hear the lowing of cattle. Don't wiggle Mike; Ron might SEE us. :-DClutch :-P