The House Church:

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by gloryseeker

"There is a strong reaction against formalism. Also there is a fear of being solicited for funds. 'All the church wants is your money,' is a common complaint. Yet many of these same people are willing to attend a conversational Bible class in a home. There they do not have to be style-conscious, and they enjoy the informal, unprofessional atmosphere."

I have strong opinions about house churches, but understand my opinion is really limited to the American culture. While I know many disagree with me and I have seen people call others names like, "small thinkers" I see core value system in the majority that practice house churches. Maybe it doesn't apply to the handful that post in these threads, but what I have seen there is an overall laziness that comes with those who attend house churches.

For me, this statement in your post sums up the largest majority of those who promote the house church, especially in America.

1. They don't want to conform or really they don't want any authority in their lives.

2. They don't want to give and think that giving is a program for the church to collect money to pay the bills when in fact giving of tithes and offerings is worship.

3. They want a conversational study because they don't want anyone "preaching" at them even though it is through the foolishness of preaching that man is saved, not through conversations.

4. They do not have to be style conscious, or they want to relax where their lazy clothes and drink Starbucks. What ever happen to putting on your Sunday best because you were going to worship the Lord God Almighty? They rather have an informal without excellence gathering so that nothing is required of them.

While I agree that the spectator church doesn't work, and that ministry should include everyone, there needs to be governments and authority structures.

Even the great Apostle Paul who had the most dramatic conversion of anyone was found among the Prophets and did not go out until released by the Holy Spirit and those who were in authority over him. That's my take.

You really should read the book - Pagan Christianity. I just obtained it and am now in the process of reading it, taking the time to check some of the references tendered in support of its claims.

So far I have found its contents to be extremely enlightening. In fact, I even find myself in agreement with many of the things it addresses.

I'm not saying that it has, or will cause me to forsake the institutional church, but it is interesting to learn where many of its practices found their beginning.

I recommend it highly. Again, I would encourage you to make a small investment of your money by purchasing this book, and then take some time to read and compare its contents to what the Bible discloses concerning the issues it addresses. You just might find that some of the views you seem to embrace so tenaciously might be challenged.