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

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by T Alan, Dec 7, 2014.

  1. T Alan

    T Alan New Member

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    "No Church is Perfect, If your looking for one that is and you think you've found it, don't join it; You'll mess it up"

    "Big Churches and Small Churches OFTEN times have one thing in common; Sinners in the pews and unrepentant sinners in charge".

    " My experience is, Most Baptist Churches, in my area, have become a "business" and are "marketing Jesus" and playing on emotionalism to draw and grow".


    "Home Churches are not biblical you don't want to forsake the gathering, ya know".
     
  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    If the gospel, if Jesus Christ and His grace and mercy does not raise your emotional level then your leveler is broke.


    I certainly hope we are appealing to the emotions of people. That is why God gave them to us. They are the motivator and the driver of all that we do. Just because they can be misused for wrong things does not make them bad.
     
  3. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    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).
     
  4. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    Could this be the result of the influence of George Barna's ideas on Church growth!
     
  5. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    "Home Churches are not biblical you don't want to forsake the gathering, ya know".


    Maybe, Maybe NOT!!

    There have been thousands of churches which were at one time "house churches". What if you live in an area where there are no good churches? What about churches that are apostate and have excommunicated true believers? Church planting anyone? What about Bible Studies that become house churches?

    I personally know of 5-6 very very good house churches which are very Biblical theologically, and are very missional (it cuts down on overhead expense of Mortgage payments).
     
  6. T Alan

    T Alan New Member

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    Who and how many constitute "We" and isn't the "Home Church" getting that "we" together?

    If it's unbiblical in practice (and I say there is not an "essential minor") and those gathering as that "Church" have no inclination to deal with matter and repent if necessary, should one continue in worship/fellowship there?

    What constitutes the "local Church"? If something "unbiblical" is going on and repentance isn't given then can it continue to be the "local Church" or does it at that point forfeit that claim?
     
  7. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    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.
     
    #7 JonC, Dec 7, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 7, 2014
  8. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    I am not going to comment on whether or not they are Biblical. I will say that back in the late 60's-70's group meetings in homes resulted in a tremendous growth of the charismatic movement. {I believe those dates are correct!}
     
  9. T Alan

    T Alan New Member

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    Thank you, another term for the "BB" Dictionary I am compiling.


    I mean stray from the biblical pattern for the operations of a Church as established within the NT. ie. Free Masonary Bible on the Table, Preacher/leader found to be in ongoing sinful way and unwilling to repent et cetera. (not talking, paint, carpet, facility maint type junk). Teaching and Discipline mostly.

    But if you care to answer the other questions above I would like to know your opinions.
     
  10. T Alan

    T Alan New Member

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    Maybe so. Devil was around then, I'm sure of that. And that mold will grow in darkness.

    But in the mid to late AD 30's and through out the first several centuries I think the Baptist Church grew out of such meetings. ;)
     
  11. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    There you go again--confusing us with facts!!

    :smilewinkgrin:
     
  12. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    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.
     
    #12 JonC, Dec 7, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 7, 2014
  13. T Alan

    T Alan New Member

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    I think I'm bleeding internally :laugh::thumbs:
     
  14. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    Glad I could help. :wavey:
     
  15. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    I don't doubt that and it was probably kept alive through all the years the RCC dominated the same way. If i am not mistaken the "Home Church" kept Christianity alive in Romania during Communist domination and also in China. I would suspect that is true in many countries that try to suppress Christianity. Perhaps future generations will face that in this country!
     
  16. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    And the Church in China as well
     
  17. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    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.
     
  18. T Alan

    T Alan New Member

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    Well, I am down to my last hope for a "local Church" in this area. I left the SBC Church I was in because the Preacher was "plagiarizing" his writings and sermon (all of them) from a Dr. Robert Jeffrees archives and wouldn't repent to the congregation,
    the second where I served as Youth Pastor because the Mason Deacons had issues because I was vocal about thier religion and stopped washing cars for money and having BBQ's, Car shows with 50/50 raffels and began teaching the "congregation should give to support the youth's efforts" and I was told to leave peaceably or be forced out.
    Now after 5 yrs in of membership another place, A 60 year widowed member stood up and slandered me on several fronts a few weeks ago (power trippin) while I was away preaching at a sister Church. I've called the church to invoke Church discipline against her until she repents. If "it" doesn't and she doesn't repent. I'm done there. My House is about all that's left.
     
  19. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    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.
     
  20. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    ^Sorry to hear that. I have a similar testimony, but found a church with others like myself

    Grace and peace

    Bill
     
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