What Is Housechurch?
A biblically-based housechurch is an assembly of Christians who have chosen to meet in a home, rather than a building. They may meet at the same location each week, or rotate their meetings from house to house. The purpose of their gatherings is to build each other up in the faith as they worship God in spirit and truth.
Most Christians who meet in homes do so for one of three reasons: some because of negative experiences in mainstream churches; others as a matter of personal preference; and yet others as a matter of conviction--based on the pattern set by the founding apostles and New Testament church. I fall into the third category, having taken a three-year time-out following seminary to rethink "church" from biblical scratch, then build a theology of church based on commands and principles that transcend time and culture.
While I am convinced that church in the home is to be preferred for stewardship reasons, I fully accept brothers and sisters in Christ who continue meeting in buildings. Where, how, and when we do church are largely all matters of conscience and stewardship. As one whose heart's desire is to be as a faithful steward, I believe that housechurch yields the greatest return for that to which we have been entrusted.
This does not address the issue of denominationalism, I realize. For discussion on that topic, scroll down to How to be Non-Denominational.
For an extensive discussion on the subject of house churches, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_church
Most Christians who meet in homes do so for one of three reasons: some because of negative experiences in mainstream churches; others as a matter of personal preference; and yet others as a matter of conviction--based on the pattern set by the founding apostles and New Testament church. I fall into the third category, having taken a three-year time-out following seminary to rethink "church" from biblical scratch, then build a theology of church based on commands and principles that transcend time and culture.
While I am convinced that church in the home is to be preferred for stewardship reasons, I fully accept brothers and sisters in Christ who continue meeting in buildings. Where, how, and when we do church are largely all matters of conscience and stewardship. As one whose heart's desire is to be as a faithful steward, I believe that housechurch yields the greatest return for that to which we have been entrusted.
This does not address the issue of denominationalism, I realize. For discussion on that topic, scroll down to How to be Non-Denominational.
For an extensive discussion on the subject of house churches, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_church
posted by Bill | 9/05/2007
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