Have you heard of the House Church Movement? I am certain that you have, however I doubt anyone is aware of the magnitude of HCM growth. Locations in which Christians are persecuted, the HCM is growing exponentially.
China is the greatest example of HCM growth. There is still persecution of Christianity in China; however it has not stopped the growth of Christianity. Indeed China has tried to control the HCM by licensing some Home Churches.
You may not be aware that the HCM is also growing in North America. George Barna lists the HCM as growing significantly in America:
According to statistics the house church community in North America is numerically about halfway between the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention (which is the second-largest denomination in the U.S.). OpenHeaven.com
The Barna implication is that the HCM is greater in number than the Southern Baptism Convention – the second largest organized Church Denomination in America.
There is a website dedicated to the HCM. The website is labeled House Church Central. House Church Central lists the plusses and minuses of Home Churches:
Plus:
Historical. The house church is the biblical church. All of the churches in the New Testament era were small assemblies that met in homes. While setting up institutional forms of "church" may or may not provide a way to honor God, the movement toward the institution and the human authority that tends to accompany hierarchical institutional structure are not theologically neutral.
Growth. The most explosive growth of Christianity in our own time has taken place in the likes of the People's Republic of China where its only expression has been the illegal, underground house church (more recently the PRC has installed a government-licensed "Three Self" church in an effort to control a movement that decades of political repression has failed to contain). Historian Del Birkey's studies have led him to conclude that the house church is our best hope for the renewal in our times.
Resisting the Culture. Our culture desperately wants to change our doctrines so that it might Christianity to conform to its notion of "civil religion" and "political correctness." The house church has always been for this reason, just as Jesus said that his disciples should be in the Sermon on the Mount. That sermon outlines how the powerless disciple can be salt and light in a dark world (Mt. 5:13-14), how to withstand evildoers (Mt. 5:39) by showing God's love to the world through suffering at the hands of persecution from bullies (Mt. 5:39), foreclosing landlords (Mt. 5:40), and occupying Roman authorities (Mt. 5:41). It speaks of giving and lending to the most hopeless credit risks (Mt. 5:42). It speaks of a praying community ("Our Father, who art in heaven ..." Mt. 6:9) that fasts (Mt. 6:16), gives of itself (Mt. 6: 21), and depends completely on God (Mt. 25ff). It speaks of the non-judgment of individuals (Mt. 7:1), just as it speaks of the need to judge those who would be authorities in spiritual matters (Mt. 7:15ff).
Mission. There are several opportunities in our communities that are especially suited for the house church. An invitation offered to a work-place acquaintance to a home is much less threatening than one to a church, just as one example. Another is the unique value of the house church as a ministry to "the damaged" and the possibility of learning the joy of giving by elevating that practice to a personal level.
Minus:
Authority. House church advocates reject any human authority other than the very real and present rule of Christ, who was inaugurated the king of his church at the first Pentecost (Acts 2). The house church assembles to know the will of its king through the Holy Spirit and to be obedient to that will. Many in the professional clergy, however, understand their role as a "priestly" one in which they are to be intermediaries between the Lord and His flock, being thus trusted through the process with a certain degree of authority. While they seek the benefits of the vibrant Christianity that manifests itself in small groups, and work hard to make small groups a part of the ministry of their churches, many harbor a concern that the groups might become a threat to their own relevance and livelihood.
Heresy. Others argue that house churches, due to their lack of seminary trained clergy, might follow the examples of Jonestown and Waco. In this they have a point, as the New Testament is full of epistles that attempt to correct a legion of heresies in various churches--and all of the New Testament churches were, in fact, house churches. It is hoped that these pages can help house churches avoid this pitfall, taking over the seminary's role to the extent possible in a mere web site. HCC
The biggest Plus apparently is a lack of an organized hierarchy. The biggest Minus is the concern a Home Church might drive off the theological center to the left ditch or right ditch. HCC points of the fear of another Jonestown or Waco, which were both cults with Christian foundations. Jonestown represents a slide to the left and Waco represents a slide to the right. Both interpretations were heretical and based on the charismatic domination of one man.
Of course Christians need to watch out for heresy, however it begs the question: What is heresy?
Roman Catholics officially consider Protestants as heretical (and visa versa). Within Protestantism different Dominations consider their fellow Protestants as heretical. There is the Mainline Churches such as Episcopalian (Anglican), Presbyterian, Baptist et al that may consider the various Pentecostals as heretical. Among Pentecostals “Faith Movement” may be considered heretical. Faith Movement Pentecostals may consider Renewal Movement (Holy Laughter and manifestations leading to repentance and a new life) as heretical. I could on and on but you get the picture.
Thus a question of heresy should be more a question of practicing the Love of God and doing the Works of Jesus. Disagreements can be taken care of in the Judgment. I suspect Believers in Jesus Christ will be surprised pertaining the extension of the Grace and Mercy of God to those who practice Christianity.
As the Last Days approach, I firmly believe it is the HCM that will be of significance to Believers. I still believe there is a purpose for the Institutional Church; however as governments (including America) control the content of sermons and insist on Secular Humanistic moral relativity, it will be the Home Churches that will be the most relevant.
Organized Churches will be under government control and scrutiny, Home Churches will be able to operate autonomously. The autonomy will be under the constant threat of persecution yet autonomous nonetheless.
Then the Parousia will come in whichever way various Christians believe. The pre-mid-post tribulation thing will happen; it is just a matter of when.
John R. Houk
© December 17, 2006
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