Featured "Home Church" vs "The Current Business Model"

The problem that I have with home churches in areas where other churches exist is that it appears the reasoning behind worshipping at home(s) is centered on the worshipper and not God. We are to support each other, fellowship with each other, and engage in worship together. My experience with home churches (and many new ones springing up) is that these people disagree with something that is essential minor or there was an issue that did not go their way so they are taking their Bibles and going home. The idea that it is acceptable for the local church to digress into splintered homes churches has caused issues within the Church (e.g., church discipline, man centered worship, spread of false doctrine).

 

It depends on what you mean by unbiblical. Many mean not to their liking or interpretation. I was speaking from experience. Perhaps my view would be different in unchurched areas.

 

Yes, I suppose having any type of Bible on the Table would be straying from Early Church practice as described in the New Testament. :smilewinkgrin:

I will try. Up until now I’ve been “chatting” off a phone.

It depends. I never thought of Luke describing those saved as getting together as home churches apart from a larger Christian community. I suppose that this may be a legitimate interpretation of the early church as described in Acts, it just is not one I share. But if you mean a group of people are saved and there is no church in the area, so they gather in someone’s home to worship, then I would consider that a church. If you mean five families are fed up with the music or the pastor’s opinion on Freemasonry so they stop going to church and start one of their own, then it’s just a bunch of self-centered people.

If there is an unbiblical practice in terms of essential doctrine so that the church cannot be considered a biblical church (as Biblicist pointed out in another thread) then I don’t see why it would be inappropriate for a Christian to leave. History, however, shows us that typically God uses Christians in these churches to turn them around for His glory. But the bottom line is that all “churches” are not churches.

I think that this is actually covered in my previous answer. Please let me know if my view here is not clear.

BTW, I also reject today's business model.

 

Glad I could help. :wavey:

 

There is a difference, of course, between house churches in areas/times of persecution and voluntarily withdrawing from other believers to form a “house church.” I suspect that future generations will face a time of persecution in our country as believers continue to go incognito by their own design.

 

Only you know of your situation. You are accountable for your own actions, not I, so I do not presume to tell you what to do. Just based on your last paragraph, I don't know that this is an issue to leave the church over (I certainly wouldn't be held hostage over one unrepentant member)...but I don't know, nor am I inquiring of, the whole situation. I wish you the best and will be praying for you (really) as you deal with your church.