Why men hate church

[Aquila]

Nitehawk013 brings up a good point. Where do you think false doctrine is more likely to prevail? In a large group wherein they are all forced to sit and listen without being allowed to ask questions, share thoughts, or lovingly challenge a concept in the open?.... Or a place wherein a man can ask questions, share thoughts, and lovingly challenge a concept in the open?

Think of the largest cults on the planet. Mormonism, Catholicism, etc... are they not structures built with the "sit and listen" authoritarian structure?

[Aquila]

When Christian men become spiritually mature... they want a voice. They want a part in this Heavenly drama. They don't want to be relegated to a pew and reduced to a silent and blindly obedient "tithe cow".

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Nitehawk013 brings up a good point. Where do you think false doctrine is more likely to prevail? In a large group wherein they are all forced to sit and listen without being allowed to ask questions, share thoughts, or lovingly challenge a concept in the open?.... Or a place wherein a man can ask questions, share thoughts, and lovingly challenge a concept in the open?

Think of the largest cults on the planet. Mormonism, Catholicism, etc... are they not structures built with the "sit and listen" authoritarian structure?

Yet, often times when house churches are mentioned, "cults" or "siritual abusers" are thought of.

[Esaias]

There is also a practical consideration.

It is not 'decently and in order' for a person to constantly interrupt another while that person is speaking. However, as Paul said, 'one by one', ie when a man finishes what he is saying, others can address what was said, including their questions or why they think something may have been in error.

I have been in 'open meetings' before, and I have never seen any rudeness or 'Oh yeah? Yer just lying, you ole false prophet!' or anything like that. someone earlier mentioned how face to face meetings are not like an internet forum. People generally have some decorum in the 'real world'.

When you add the idea that the men involved have the Holy Ghost, and are all seeking to know God's will, and if they have a spirit of humility and long-suffering, things tend to work rather smoothly.

Might be why the apostles kept admonishing the saints to abound more and more in love towards one another, and to be longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, submitting to one another in love, being humble, and avoiding strife when possible.

All those exhortations take on a new depth when you view them in light of a participatory, open meeting approach to church.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Originalist

Yet, often times when house churches are mentioned, "cults" or "siritual abusers" are thought of.

I think that is typical of anything that is different from the norm. In our culture house churches are strange. However, in the early church it was the norm. And in many very poor countries or countries where Christianity is persecuted it is the norm to this day.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

There is also a practical consideration.

It is not 'decently and in order' for a person to constantly interrupt another while that person is speaking. However, as Paul said, 'one by one', ie when a man finishes what he is saying, others can address what was said, including their questions or why they think something may have been in error.

I have been in 'open meetings' before, and I have never seen any rudeness or 'Oh yeah? Yer just lying, you ole false prophet!' or anything like that. someone earlier mentioned how face to face meetings are not like an internet forum. People generally have some decorum in the 'real world'.

When you add the idea that the men involved have the Holy Ghost, and are all seeking to know God's will, and if they have a spirit of humility and long-suffering, things tend to work rather smoothly.

Might be why the apostles kept admonishing the saints to abound more and more in love towards one another, and to be longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, submitting to one another in love, being humble, and avoiding strife when possible.

All those exhortations take on a new depth when you view them in light of a participatory, open meeting approach to church.

Amen. Everything you said is so true. And I've experienced it personally. House churches are far more like a family dinner with reflection upon our Heavenly Father than debates.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Nitehawk013 brings up a good point. Where do you think false doctrine is more likely to prevail? In a large group wherein they are all forced to sit and listen without being allowed to ask questions, share thoughts, or lovingly challenge a concept in the open?.... Or a place wherein a man can ask questions, share thoughts, and lovingly challenge a concept in the open?

Think of the largest cults on the planet. Mormonism, Catholicism, etc... are they not structures built with the "sit and listen" authoritarian structure?

In a house church where everyone can have a different opinion and spread it around...

Most church groups started SMALL, yes even the Mormons at one time started as a small group

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Aquila

When Christian men become spiritually mature... they want a voice. They want a part in this Heavenly drama. They don't want to be relegated to a pew and reduced to a silent and blindly obedient "tithe cow".

Really? What verse in the bible tells you that?

BTW where was Jesus quizzed and confronted by the spiritual men? Wasn't he always challenged by pharisees?

Moses? the Apostles?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Originalist

Yet, often times when house churches are mentioned, "cults" or "siritual abusers" are thought of.

True.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Really? What verse in the bible tells you that?

BTW where was Jesus quizzed and confronted by the spiritual men? Wasn't he always challenged by pharisees?

Moses? the Apostles?

C'mon Prax... it's common knowledge that Gentile Christians outside of Jerusalem commonly met in their homes. The Jewish Christians met in synagogue until they were cast out. And we have no archeological evidence of an official "church building" until nearly 300 years after Pentecost. Christianity spread like wildfire throughout the Roman Empire. That means they weren't settling into a "come to us" kind of church. It was a church multiplication movement that turned every Christian household into a gathering place. They weren't meeting in very large groups on most occasions. In fact... they met secretly quite a bit. In small quiet groups in homes, barns, catacombs, etc.