Home Fellowship?

[seekingthetruth]

What is that?

Is it just an excuse for not going to church?

Doesnt the Bible require us to assemble and fellowship together?

John

 

[Tom Butler]

What is that?

Is it just an excuse for not going to church?

Doesnt the Bible require us to assemble and fellowship together?

John

I suppose some folks would use that excuse.

We have to remember that the first churches (Baptist of course) were house churches. There were no church buildings.

Even today, among Southern Baptists, there are new churches being formed planted all over. Sometimes they start in a home. In a real sense, they are assembling, fellowshipping and worshiping.

 

[seekingthetruth]

I suppose some folks would use that excuse.

We have to remember that the first churches (Baptist of course) were house churches. There were no church buildings.

Even today, among Southern Baptists, there are new churches being formed planted all over. Sometimes they start in a home. In a real sense, they are assembling, fellowshipping and worshiping.

Now Tom

You know that I agree with you that the Baptists blossomed out of the first churches.

But many on the BB say that Baptists are protestant, and came about after the refermation.

Me? There were no "Baptists" in the first century. But, the first century churches evolved in to the NT churches we know today. Baptists are not the only ones, but certainly part of it.

John

 

[12strings]

Back to the OP:

-If home fellowship means a very small church that happens to meet in a home, either because it is a new church, or because it is in a country where churches are illegal, I don't think we can say there is anything wrong with that.

-If home fellowship is simply another term for "small group" that is itself part of a larger church, I don't think there is anything wrong with that either.

-If home fellowship means I stay home with my wife and have our own "church" just because we are angry at all the other Christians and can't find that perfect church we're looking for, then I would say I have some problems to sort through.

 

[mont974x4]

Just because they meet in a home does not mean they are breaking the oh so sacred You Must Fellowship Law.

In fact, in many cases they are doing better at actually being the church than those of us in traditional churches.

They have no financial overhead so more resources can go to ministry.
The people have closer relationships so their less gossip etc and more unity.
It's harder for wolves to come in.


BTW, think of this globally and I would suggest the numbers of home churches versus traditional churches probably equal out.


Of course, the size of the group and the location (form vs. informal) has no real impact on purity of teaching or extent of sin within the group.

 

[Jerome]

That Duggar clan on TV have their own fellowship where they meet once a week for hymn singing, a devotional, and a big dinner with several other likeminded families. They count this as church (First Baptist of Springdale used to be their church home, now they have this 'home church' instead). It seems to be an extension of their homeschool ideologies. They used to just stay at home and have in these few families, but now they all go to one of Jim-Bob's vacant investment property homes.

 

[DHK]

It depends what the "home fellowship" is. There are sects or "cults" that operate this way. People who follow the teachings of Watchman Nee tend to operate only in "home fellowships." Although he wrote one good book, some of his later ones contained some strange doctrines.
Unless the "home fellowship" is clearly identifiable, as in a small Baptist church, then who knows what it is.

 

[Tom Butler]

Now Tom

You know that I agree with you that the Baptists blossomed out of the first churches.

But many on the BB say that Baptists are protestant, and came about after the refermation.

Me? There were no "Baptists" in the first century. But, the first century churches evolved in to the NT churches we know today. Baptists are not the only ones, but certainly part of it.

John

Ah, I was just pushing some hot buttons, yanking a chain here and there. Gotcha.

 

[Iconoclast]

It depends what the "home fellowship" is. There are sects or "cults" that operate this way. People who follow the teachings of Watchman Nee tend to operate only in "home fellowships." Although he wrote one good book, some of his later ones contained some strange doctrines.
Unless the "home fellowship" is clearly identifiable, as in a small Baptist church, then who knows what it is.

:thumbs::thumbs:

 

[seekingthetruth]

:thumbs::thumbs:

You should change your screen name to "Anti-Baptist"

John

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Back to the OP:

-If home fellowship means a very small church that happens to meet in a home, either because it is a new church, or because it is in a country where churches are illegal, I don't think we can say there is anything wrong with that.

-If home fellowship is simply another term for "small group" that is itself part of a larger church, I don't think there is anything wrong with that either.

-If home fellowship means I stay home with my wife and have our own "church" just because we are angry at all the other Christians and can't find that perfect church we're looking for, then I would say I have some problems to sort through.

YOU HAVE SOME PROBLEMS? Really....who's church is it, pray tell? Define church....isn't it where 2 or 3 gather in my Name?

 

[seekingthetruth]

YOU HAVE SOME PROBLEMS? Really....who's church is it, pray tell? Define church....isn't it where 2 or 3 gather in my Name?

Ok, if a home church is needed because there is no biblical local church, then I can agree.

But, if home church is just a form of rebellion, then I cannot agree.

John

 

[MB]

What is that?

Is it just an excuse for not going to church?

Doesnt the Bible require us to assemble and fellowship together?

John

Certainly it does, but if you don't go to church and support it they can't afford to build that enormous Sanctuary across the street from the Governors Manson. Besides if your not tithing to the church your robbing God. Sounds mean don't it?
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
If it seems your church is like what I have described above then by all means fellowship in your home with your brothers and sisters.
MB

 

[seekingthetruth]

Certainly it does, but if you don't go to church and support it they can't afford to build that enormous Sanctuary across the street from the Governors Manson. Besides if your not tithing to the church your robbing God. Sounds mean don't it?
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
If it seems your church is like what I have described above then by all means fellowship in your home with your brothers and sisters.
MB

My church was built in 1810.

Yes we have remodeled since then, but not expanded.....oh except for a kitchen/fellowship hall to eat all that Baptist fried chicken and gree bean caserole in.:thumbs:

John

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Ok, if a home church is needed because there is no biblical local church, then I can agree.

But, if home church is just a form of rebellion, then I cannot agree.

John

I assure you John, there is no rebellion....but there is no qualified Baptist church within an hours drive either & I constantly look. I live in the NE part of the country which is a barren landscape for good Baptist churches.

 

[seekingthetruth]

Certainly it does, but if you don't go to church and support it they can't afford to build that enormous Sanctuary across the street from the Governors Manson. Besides if your not tithing to the church your robbing God. Sounds mean don't it?
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
If it seems your church is like what I have described above then by all means fellowship in your home with your brothers and sisters.
MB

Actually, my church supports about 10 missionaries, and our local Gospel Mission for the homeless. They also have an excellent substance abuse program there.

I work there a couple days a week, and I love to help folks.

What does your church support?

John

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Certainly it does, but if you don't go to church and support it they can't afford to build that enormous Sanctuary across the street from the Governors Manson. Besides if your not tithing to the church your robbing God. Sounds mean don't it?
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
If it seems your church is like what I have described above then by all means fellowship in your home with your brothers and sisters.
MB

Amen to that. :applause:

 

[seekingthetruth]

I assure you John, there is no rebellion....but there is no qualified Baptist church within an hours drive either & I constantly look. I live in the NE part of the country which is a barren landscape for good Baptist churches.

hey man, tell me about it.

I live in maine, and there are very few Baptist churches up here. A Catholic Church on every corner, but few Baptist.

We go to a small one here in our town, but we have to drive 25 miles each way to have our 6 year old in a Baptist School

John

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Actually, my church supports about 10 missionaries, and our local Gospel Mission for the homeless. They also have an excellent substance abuse program there.

I work there a couple days a week, and I love to help folks.

What does your church support?

John

A Baptist Church that actually has a substance abuse program....I'm shocked!!!!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

hey man, tell me about it.

I live in maine, and there are very few Baptist churches up here. A Catholic Church on every corner, but few Baptist.

We go to a small one here in our town, but we have to drive 25 miles each way to have our 6 year old in a Baptist School

John

Now how in the world did you get from Arkansas to Maine? I love Maine....Baxter State forest & Mount Katahdin is a place of fond memories. I'd hike those trails every summer.