What is "Church"... REALLY?
The Saturday before Easter, at 3:30 am, lightning hit a beautiful chapel in Whitney, Texas, built by some friends of ours four years ago. The next day, with the charred and crumbling chapel in the background, the congregation and other supportive souls, gathered for their Easter service on the lawn south of the building. That "church-is-not-the-building" thing became a reality.
What now? Will the sheep scatter, being absorbed into other area churches? Will they shift gears and start meeting in homes, coming back together on a monthly basis for teaching, preaching, worship and guest speakers? Or will the church leaders wait until the chapel is re-built before they even think about meeting there again?
Many years ago, when I was the Assistant Pastor of a 300-member congregation, our landlord sold our building out from under us and left us with so-many days to vacate the building. During that time, we multiplied the church by creating 5 groups, including a Youth Group, who met in homes while we searched for a new meeting place. After that first month, quite a few people asked me why we couldn't simply continue meeting this way, gathering on occasion in a restaurant or hotel that could accommodate us to have an all-church gathering similar to Paul's meeting with the churches of Troas?
The people were actually loving this new Church format and didn't want it to end!
As it turned out, a building was finally found - a beautiful, recently re-modeled structure in a strip center. We couldn't afford it but stepped out on presumption anyway. We resumed our church-as-usual meetings and, within two years, our doors were closed.
Here are a few reasons why I'm a big fan of House Church meetings (NOTE: by saying that, bear in mind I am NOT anti-institutional Church gatherings)...
1) Most churches are 501c3 non-profit corporations. As such, they are shackled to the government for the tax-exempt privilege and can never be entirely free to do as they are feeling led by the Spirit, especially if what they're planning is not considered Politically Correct. I believe the days are coming when this unholy marriage of Church 'n State will backfire and it won't end well.
2) In home gatherings, relationships have a greater chance of developing. Spiritual gifts can be developed. The "one another" verses of the New Testament stand a better chance of being fleshed-out. We can become more like a family. We can strategically multiply into regions and advance God's kingdom in more homes.
3) With no overhead costs, these groups have more money with which to help others in need, within the house church group, throughout the community and the world.
4) It's the way the early Church met. That model failed when people felt the need to get hierarchical and institutional. It's in our genes to form human pyramids, I guess. The early Church folks felt they needed a corporate ladder to climb and we are simply following suit. The lion's share of today's Churches are growing successfully only in 3rd world nations, mostly under persecution.
I've been part of a successful House Church group meeting in Stephenville, Texas at a charming Bed & Breakfast for nearly 10 years. I use the word "successful" because, the way I see it, the litmus test for a church's success is: "Are lives being changed there?" Let's face it, if one were to have a collision with a milk truck, their life would never be the same; likewise, after a legitimate encounter with Christ. We either settle for a Religion with Jesus, or we can develop a dynamic Relationship with Him. It's our choice as individuals.
Imagine your own church being hit by disaster or, literally, going up in smoke. Are you ready? Do you have a plan?
If you are interested in pursuing the House Church model, I'll be happy to assist in sorting out the do's and dont's with you. Just ask! As Jesus said, two or three gathered in His Name is all it takes!
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
Founder, The Church @ Work
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