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Exactly what is meant
by the phrase "Home Church?" Home
churches, also known as house churches, describe
small groups of believers - even as few as 2 or 3 -
who gather in the name of Jesus Christ. They are
very similar to the earliest churches which were
customarily designated in the Scriptures as
household units. These first Christians, you will
recall, reveled in the fact that they personally
had become the new dwelling place of the Almighty -
living stones in God's spiritual temple.
What is the purpose of
the House Church Network? Our purpose is
to promote, for the glory of God, community and
networking among home church-minded believers.
What sort of
networking? Our continual encouragement
first and foremost. The House Church Network has
just entered the eighth year of operations. We
offer complete referral and informational services.
A usenet
newsgroup, two email
discussion groups, web-based discussion
boards, a prayer
list, a bulletin
board, and an automated Registry
of House Churches are now
operational. A newsletter
is being offered as are some other fine
publications.
The basic
rationale? The undergirding principle
here is that all authority in heaven and in earth
reside in Jesus Christ who reveals Himself through
scripture, nature and by supernatural means, as
well. Knowledge and all ethics are thus derived
from Jesus Christ through the His Holy Spirit.
This means that the totality of life must be
God-directed as we are motivated by gratitude for
the life, death, and resurrection of His Son. The
Home Church perspective is thus a unique world-view
in which every follower of Jesus becomes a
full-time Christian minister or servant. Every day,
every event, every thought, every place become the
domain of the Messiah. The line between sacred and
secular progressively diminishes because Christ
gives true meaning to all things. Every thought is
to be brought captive to Him who is All and in
all."
We thus view Jesus Christ as a Lord as well as a
Savior. We emphasize an actual faith rather than
merely an intellectual one. The execution of deeds
rather than the formulation of creeds. Community
rather than disunity. Brotherhood rather than
hierarchy. Winning unbelievers rather than winning
arguments. What we are for rather than what we are
against. Making a real difference for others as
well as having an experience for ourselves.
The home church platform is perfectly suited for
the implementation of such grand ideals. This was
demonstrated so clearly in the first 250 years of
church history and often thereafter. The Lord is
again stirring up interest around the world in this
unique house church arrangement and He is
activating many. We frequently hear of other
home-related ministries being formed and do rejoice
in God upon their behalf. We thankfully stand in
solidarity with all of them.
This new interest, we are persuaded, could be an
effective antidote for the prevalent religious
system. The "layman" who desperately need the
exercise will, at last, rise up, enter the arena,
and join with the "clergy" who desperately need the
rest. May it happen in our time, Heavenly
Father!
Could you call this the
underground church? Positively not. The
underground church is essentially what we often
confront at the present. Christians in the USA and
Western Europe have gone "to the back of the bus"
with respect to culture - education, compassion,
counseling, race-relations, conflict resolution,
healthcare, law, and the arts. King Jesus has
appointed us to be as lights on a hill, not as
retreatists in a self-made ghetto. The word of our
Commander-in-Chief, in whom all power in heaven and
earth resides, is to go in my Name, not to stay and
retreat. Revival, not survival.
Enlarge more fully upon
this Home Church vision. We can foresee
and thus pray for a heretofore unknown reformation
and revival in three distinct areas. Education,
evangelization, and ministry. The latter ones are
contingent upon the first. As facts must precede
acts, we earnestly pray for the Spirit of Knowledge
to be poured out upon the whole Church and that the
false doctrines and traditions which have crippled
God's people will be exposed and forsaken.
It must not be overlooked that part of the Great
Commission is to "teach the observance of all
things". Critical thinking upon and the resolution
of many of the most basic issues have been long
awaited and is now long overdue. It's time to "go
to court" and remove these basic issues from the
list of disputed questions. We are referring to
essentials like church structure, church authority,
church officers, church meetings, worship, day of
worship, preaching, call to preach, sermons,
ministry, eldership, deacons, ordination,
priesthood of believers, clergy - laity
distinction, etc. Believe it, the jury is still
out!
Being finally energized by the Spirit of truth,
the Church can then enter a new era of unparalleled
outreach that extends to the spiritual as well as
the physical aspects of church and society. The
Christian home of the future will become a fully
operational church, an evangelism outreach center,
and a department of social services - all under one
roof. Every saint will at last awaken to the new
reality that his or her entire life is to be
devoted to a world-and-life-transforming Christian
ministry. The church will then leave behind its
"worship service" paradigm and enter a new one of
worship and service.
Are you ready for such a revolution? Have you
begun to imagine who God is going to touch and
bless through you, your family, and a church in
your house? Have you begun to view your personal
existence here as a full-time servant-ambassador
for the Son of God, ordained by Him to undertake
any task heretofore relegated to religious
professionals? Can you look into the future and
foresee your home or apartment as His official
embassy? Are you prepared to receive the greatest
blessings that come by giving rather than
receiving?
The Lord can easily bring these things to pass
if we would but go down in prayer and repentance
and then rise up in His strength to obey his
commands. The time is now, brother and sister.
History is daily and sadly reminding us that the
clergy, the educators, and the politicians cannot
accomplish the magnanimous tasks that lie before
us. If they can't then who shall?
Well now, this is truly
the "minority report". What association do you have
or not have with the institutional church.
We encourage brotherhood and solidarity
toward all despite several great differences. The
real basis of our oneness is Jesus Christ - not
doctrinal agreement. The degree of involvement and
fellowship will differ in each case but the mandate
of Scripture is to love one another even to laying
down one's own life. Christians should be welcome
wherever there are other Christians and the truth
should always be spoken in love.
Will the House Church
Network become some centralized organization from
which others are controlled or monitored?
Certainly not, our goal is one of
decentralization instead. Our desire is to see
unique House Church Networks form under the
Lordship of Christ in every neighborhood, village,
and city. Each member bound together by the Spirit
of God and the blood of Christ. Mutual edification
and cooperation on the local level - not outside
domination - is the plan in view.
Does the House Church
Network maintain a registry of churches and
interested parties? Yes, we do and we
treasure each entry because it represents one who
is willing to reach out into the unknown. These
entries are located in the Home
Church Registry Interest in this matter is
rising steadily. Praise God. We do not, however,
employ the term "membership" as it connotes man's
attempt to sectarianize and thereby subvert the
unity of the Body of Christ.
Some of these things
sound rather technical. Would you
simplify? Our simple desire is to
see everyone come to know, to love, to serve, and
to share our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ to the
fullest. He is the Way, the Truth, and the
Life.
Who are the main
personalities at the House Church
Network? Jesus Christ only, we trust. He
is more than sufficient. The rest of us are just
brothers and sisters attempting to be the servants
of all and co-laborers with God. If Christ be
lifted up, He'll draw all men unto Himself.
Finally, the
House Church Network, which commenced in 1992, is
strictly a charitable and educational organization
which does not make solicitations for monetary
funds.
May
the God of all Truth direct your mind as you
consider these crucial matters!
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