Do online communities shut out house church goers?

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I made a change.

Thanks Steve. Congrats on the promotion...taxing as it may be. Nice avatar...lol.

What do you think? Meeting in homes warrant disfellowship across the board....or is fear a factor?

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by old friend

Thanks Steve. Congrats on the promotion...taxing as it may be. Nice avatar...lol.

What do you think. Meeting in homes warrant disfellowship across the board....or is fear a factor?

Not having investigated it at all, I would start by giving them the benefit of doubt. I doubt they are out to single out the home church Oneness Pentecostals. I would like to think it is driven by there desire to keep the group "Apostolic" and the "home groups" movement is much broader than that.

I may very well be wrong.

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I see, however, that in long tradition of Oneness intolerance and need for disfellowship it did not take long for one group to eat their own.

All over house churches ... how silly!!!

Disfellowship is the order of the day.

Indeed. I'm surprised, but then not really....

Hope lives anyway.

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Not having investigated it at all, I would start by giving them the benefit of doubt. I doubt they are out to single out the home church Oneness Pentecostals. I would like to think it is driven by there desire to keep the group "Apostolic" and the "home groups" movement is much broader than that.

I may very well be wrong.

Sure, it would be one thing if someone was invading with some other unbiblical doctrine all in the name of house church, just to be a wrench. Howbeit, these are clearly apostolics.

Besides, there was no offensive push to disrupt, just to be.

I think it says something when we can't just be among, whether in person or online, with fellow oneness apostolics.

Brings Paul's rebuke to mind, in essense.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by old friend

Sure, it would be one thing if someone was invading with some other unbiblical doctrine all in the name of house church, just to be a wrench. Howbeit, these are clearly apostolics.

Besides, there was no offensive push to disrupt, just to be.

I think it says something when we can't just be among, whether in person or online, with fellow oneness apostolics.

Brings Paul's rebuke to mind, in essense.

Not only do I personally agree, I would extend that to most of Christianity in general. Even though vitriol cometh my way saying so!

[Scott Hutchinson]

I'm fine with house churches the early church met in houses,I can accept brethren and sisters that do.

[Aquila]

I think House Church Apostolics have a hard way to go. The traditional church is suspicious and often finds them to be a threat to the religious money making enterprise known as "church" in America. The world hates them because they are Apostolic and believe in one God and the full plan of salvation.

Personally, I'd rather be associated with a house church network than the church's I'm currently associated with. Because so much of it is about making money, gaining "members", property, yada yada yada. I love the simplicity and devotion of house church Christianity. I enjoy getting away from "sermons" that dazzle and getting into reading an entire passage and having strong teaching and group discussion about it. I enjoy not demanding tithes and simply expressing a need and allowing all to give as they feel led of the Holy Ghost. It's all just so much more...free and spiritual. I've spent quite a bit of time talking with a few local house churchers, they are Oneness, but more emergent in their practice. I really believe that the house church method is the best way to network and reach a large portion of the inner cities.

I've become firmly against "mega-churches". I believe they are wicked and distort the true meaning of the church.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I think House Church Apostolics have a hard way to go. The traditional church is suspicious and often finds them to be a threat to the religious money making enterprise known as "church" in America. The world hates them because they are Apostolic and believe in one God and the full plan of salvation.

Personally, I'd rather be associated with a house church network than the church's I'm currently associated with. Because so much of it is about making money, gaining "members", property, yada yada yada. I love the simplicity and devotion of house church Christianity. I enjoy getting away from "sermons" that dazzle and getting into reading an entire passage and having strong teaching and group discussion about it. I enjoy not demanding tithes and simply expressing a need and allowing all to give as they feel led of the Holy Ghost. It's all just so much more...free and spiritual. I've spent quite a bit of time talking with a few local house churchers, they are Oneness, but more emergent in their practice. I really believe that the house church method is the best way to network and reach a large portion of the inner cities.

I've become firmly against "mega-churches". I believe they are wicked and distort the true meaning of the church.

Unfortunately, this sort of extreme viewpoint is exactly what leads other Apostolics to "disfellowship" those who feel the same way you do.

I have attended both large and small churches. Both have their strong points and weak points. I've felt God's presence in both, so I would hesitate to call either "wicked."

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Unfortunately, this sort of extreme viewpoint is exactly what leads other Apostolics to "disfellowship" those who feel the same way you do.

I have attended both large and small churches. Both have their strong points and weak points. I've felt God's presence in both, so I would hesitate to call either "wicked."

Can we feel God's presence in the midst of wickedness?

Oh, yes we can...and so often do.

I too have felt the Lord personally in large meetings and small...yet it is unwise to allow that to be the cure all barometer..indeed it is not meant to be..nor should it steer our acceptance of one's doctrine.

How many times is the true wickedness of a church situation brought to light and all the while aforehand great services abounded?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by old friend

Can we feel God's presence in the midst of wickedness?

Oh, yes we can...and so often do.

I too have felt the Lord personally in large meetings and small...yet it is unwise to allow that to be the cure all barometer..indeed it is not meant to be..nor should it steer our acceptance of one's doctrine.

How many times is the true wickedness of a church situation brought to light and all the while aforehand great services abounded?

So you're okay with calling a church where God's people gather to worship God and be taught the Word "wicked?" I'm not.

Of course it's not a (or "the") barometer. But "wicked" is a bit of a stretch, IMO, no matter how out of sync the church is with a NT ideal.

Furthermore, the church is based on principles found in the Word that are good for any culture and any era. It isn't one-size-fits all, and it doesn't have to work precisely according to the NT model, although the principles should be followed (for success).

Regardless of the feelings regarding home groups or big churches, my point was simply that extreme views aren't really welcome from either end of the spectrum. The same extreme views about big churches lead to the other side of the coin holding extreme (and objectionable) views about home groups. Hmmm...maybe I'm still not being clear. It's the same mindset that says "my way is right" and the rest of you are "wicked." BOTH sides can err to far into that realm, and THAT is what leads to Christians shunning, disfellowshipping or otherwise mistreating other Christians, and actually feeling justified about it.