| CHAPTER SIX: Why House Churches?
CHAPTER SIX: Why House Churches? Questions about House Churches The above illustrations of the church help us to understand how the church can exist in a home, indeed why it may be better to exist in a home. This chapter has been redone as a tract which we use to inform those who are interested in the house church. You are encouraged to use it that way as well. Our purpose is to explain the house church, study its development, and see how this can be applied today. We hope to answer any questions you have. We will look at the following questions: 1. What is a house church? 2. What is a house church like? 3. How does size affect the quality of community? 4. How do house churches work? 5. How do house churches encourage personal growth? 6. How do you get leaders for house churches? 7. How are the offerings used? 8. How widespread is the house church movement? How Does Size Affect the Quality of Community? Size is the real issue. The church should be relational, personal, intimate, and committed. It should be like a family. The Bible uses family terms to describe our relationships to God and each other (father, mother, brothers, sisters, son, daughters, child). Size definitely affects a group's relationships. Social scientists have shown that smaller groups encourage more participation, closer interaction, more accountability, and closer relationships. This is nothing new, our Lord worked with only twelve men that he could build into a community. Spiritual growth happens best in an intimate environment. This needs face-to-face accountability, which depends on size. If one member is not present or leaves for some reason, the church feels his or her absence. This is healthy -- every member is crucial. Because each one is so important, all are responsible to minister to each other. With this kind of commitment, the church becomes welded together with love. If this commitment is not sustained, a house church soon goes out of existence. Growth stops if the group is exclusive, self-satisfied, or becomes apathetic. The group must be encouraged to reach out from the very start. Without this foundation, anything we build, whether a sanctuary church or a house church, will eventually stagnate. In most house churches, the members write their desire to form new house churches into their covenant. How do House Churches Work? The members of the house church are responsible to shepherd each other. The body lends support to those who struggle, to those who are wounded, and to those who want to grow. Members must be willing to give and receive admonition. Each person is assured that even in the worst of times others will continue loving and caring for him/her. These relationships will not be shattered by conflict. Each person needs to know that in spite of difficulties others will remain faithful to him/her. The house church then becomes a family which is committed to uphold each family member. Because a house church is small, people develop meaningful relationships more easily. This encourages each person to take part in all the chores. There are no observers in a household. In a house church, not only do members observe and receive instruction but everyone actively participates in the ministry of the church. The church in the home fosters a high level of commitment. Participants either become significantly involved or they drop out quickly. The house church fosters mutual commitment. People minister to each other concerning everyday problems: family members examine how the Bible speaks to their everyday concerns. The Bible is our authority as we deal with real life situations in a caring family environment. Some of our meetings look like family "pow wows" around the dinner table where we discuss the day's problems and look for solutions. How Do House Churches Encourage Personal Growth? When a group is small enough to meet in a home it is small enough to be considered family. In our culture the family unit is under siege. We need to return to biblical values for both our household families and our church families. The house church affords a unique opportunity to experience family relationships. The household churches of New Testament times had an overwhelming effect on believers. Each member was encouraged to be involved in the lives of the others. By doing this they were able to influence the whole world for Christ. One first-century person opposed to the faith described Christians as "men who have turned the whole world upside down". House Churches offer a unique opportunity to discover and develop our spiritual gifts. Every-member-ministry is encouraged; each member becomes a minister. Small groups integrate personal growth and ministry by allowing the whole church family to minister. Every man, woman, and child is accountable to the group as a whole. Members who otherwise might be mere attendees are responsible for the well being of the others. The house church is soon aware of being the body of Christ, a gathering of "priests" with gifts for everyone's edification. How Do You Get Leaders For A House Church? The house church makes it easy to recognize and develop leaders. Leaders recognize and encourage others with leadership gifts. Because of the small size of the house church, men are readily recognized for their leadership ability, trained, and given responsibility. Ongoing training by the leaders of other house church's and by church planters should assure continued development of capable leaders. How Are the Offerings Used? Because house churches don't need to purchase or rent an expensive building, an enormous financial burden is eliminated. This frees more resources for the relief of believers in need and the ministry of church planting. A cluster of house churches may feel the need to support at least one coordinator ("pastor-at-large"). This can be easily done with as the churches cooperate. How Wide-Spread Is The House Church Movement? The house church is a world-wide phenomenon. Billy Graham has said that "at various church conferences and retreats the emphasis is increasing toward the house church in many parts of the world." Observers note that the church in China is growing at a phenomenal rate. The Chinese meet mainly in house churches. Jonathan Chao of the China Church Research Center estimates that there are between 25 and 50 million believers in these house churches. There are also thousands of small house churches in many other countries. Christianity Today cites reports from North Korea of tiny gatherings of believers meeting in homes. One estimate puts the number of house churches there at over 1000. Reports from Vietnam show that Christ's body continues to grow, mostly in small groups. The Full Gospel Central Church in Seoul numbers over 600,000 and meets in small home groups. In Mexico City, Galo Vasquez, director of Vision Evangelizadora Latinoamericana, expects to see 10,000 self functioning house churches established by the year 2000. The house church has emerged in Europe, particularly in England. The Ichthus Fellowship is a large church made up of small house churches in London. Robert Banks, author of Paul's Idea of Community, has been seen house churches established and developed in Canberra and Sydney, Australia. House churches are being formed in the United States as well. Del Birkey, author of The House Church, has been involved with house churches in Illinois for more than a decade. Lois Barrett, author of Building the House Church has been involved with house churches in Pennsylvania and Kansas. The Grace Fellowship Church in Baltimore, Maryland, states that "house churches are the background of our church. To be part of our church is to be part of a house group." Serendipity Training Manual for Groups, lists churches that have adopted small house groups as a means of growth. We believe that the house church can facilitate the expansion of the church here in New England, the USA, and the world. Through these small house churches, communities can be reached for Christ much in the same way that communities were reached in the first century. We invite you to join us in this exciting adventure as we walk hand-in-hand with millions of other believers all over the world. Back |