House Church MovementsA Review – Part 2

Why House Churches Among Brethren?• Some brethren are reading from human authors

(in and out of the church) rather than God’s word (2 Tim. 3:13-17)

• Some brethren are more interested in a social gospel (fun, food) than in the true gospel (Jn. 6:44-45; Rom. 1:16)

• Some brethren want a more casual atmosphere that doesn’t inconvenience (Mal. 1:8,13)

Why House Churches Among Brethren?• Some brethren no longer put an emphasis on Bible

authority (including the authority of elders) in the local church (Col. 3:17)

• Some brethren want a unity-in-diversity brand of “fellowship” with other religions (2 Jn. 9-11)

• Some brethren no longer want to be identified with the words “church of Christ” (Rom. 16:16)

Why House Churches Among Brethren?• Some brethren no longer emphasize Bible-based

preaching, but rather “sharing sessions” (Acts 20:20,27; Tim. 4:2)

• Some brethren no longer want a church “service” (Rom. 12:1; Phil. 2:17; Heb. 12:28), but a church “serve us” (Col. 2:23)

Why House Churches Among Brethren?• Look for this: “Our assemblies are not spiritual

enough. They are too stiff and rigid. We are not allowed to give our testimony. Our worship is stale. It needs revitalizing. All we do is ‘pinch and sip’ the Lord’s supper. We need to get rid of our traditions. We need to make some changes.”

• Look for this: “Well, we do things a little differently where we worship.”

Why House Churches Among Brethren?• Yes, local churches can have members who are not

spiritually-minded and who “go through the motions” with lifeless, mechanical ritual. Yes, local churches can put too much emphasis on a church building.

• What is the solution? Start a house church? No, repent! Loveless Ephesus was told to repent (Rev. 2:4-5). Dead Sardis was told to repent (Rev. 3:2-3). Lukewarm Laodicea was told to repent (Rev. 3:16-19). No one was told to leave and start a house church!

House Church Movements• Many unwarranted, unjustified, and unscriptural

assumptions are made in defense of the house church: “it seems”, “perhaps”, “it is likely”, “from all appearances”, “apparently”, “possibly”, etc.

• Consider F. LaGard Smith’s wording in Radical Restoration: “apparent practice … presumably” (146), “But it is also possible” (146), “Paul might have been referring” (146), “it seems likewise to be the case” (148), “it appears … perhaps” (148), “might also have been” (149), “it is possible” (149)

House Church Movements• House church movements among the denominations

and our brethren are simply fads. They reject large numbers, but in time they grow to be large. They reject public buildings, but in time they end up in a public building. They reject tradition, but in time they develop their own traditions. They reject what is typical, but in time they develop a typical service.

• This is not NT restoration, this is NT destruction!

New Testament AssembliesThe When

• Sunday (Ac 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2)

• Daily (Acts 2:46; 5:42)

• Any day (Acts 4:23; 14:27; 1 Cor. 5:4)

• Regularly (Heb. 10:24-25)

New Testament AssembliesThe Where

• The Temple (Ac. 2:46; 3:11; 5:11-12,42)

• Upper room (Ac. 20:7-8)

• Private homes (Rom. 16:3-5)

• Synagogue / assembly (James 2:2; ASV)?

• Worship not dependent on place (Jn. 4:21)

New Testament AssembliesThe Why

• Worship God (Ac. 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; 4:15-16)

• Edify one another (1 Cor. 11:17; 14:26; Heb. 10:24-25)

• Special occasions (Ac. 4:31; 6:1-7; 11:26; 12:12; 13:1-3; 14:26-27; 15:3-4; 1 Cor. 5:4-5)

New Testament AssembliesThe How

• Order maintained (1 Cor. 11:33; 14:30,40)

• Roles respected (1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:12)

• All participated (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19)

• No dishonor granted (James 2:1-9)

House Churches vs. NT Assemblies

• Assembly abuses, if they exist today, must be corrected.

• However, there is no NT teaching that suggests a local church must meet in a home today. Therefore, the practice of meeting in homes is only an expedient and must not be bound on others.

• Let us follow the ancient paths, not the modern fads!