Disconnect

on
I recently went to a church planting conference that is designed around the home church concept. The whole time the guy was teaching he was downing the church as it is using worst case scenario kinds of examples. Of course his way is the "Biblical" way and everyone else is wrong or sinning. Anyway, I don't buy into it.

I have also seen this same crowd whale on the church in one sentence and then ask that same church to let them come and speak and buy their wares. Man you got to love that. "We think you are wrong in all that you do, but I want to come and speak and take your money." That drives me nuts.

You know what, there is a place for home churches. But it's not as big as they claim it is. They should be thanking the churches because that is where they often recruit and get people from. The American church isn't perfect but God is still using it. So if you hate it then you better watch what you say, because it is still part of the Bride of Christ. Don't find yourself fighting God in your Zeal. Remember Saul. He killed Christians because they were wrong in his mind. God had to get a hold of him in a dramatic way to get his attention and then changed his name to Paul. Don't be a Saul. Also stop asking us to buy your stuff. Sell it to your home church crowd.

Ok, rant over. Had to get that off my chest.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Suggest reading MegaShift by James Rutz. It is an extremely exciting treatment of the phenomenal movement of God going on throughout the world. House/institutional church models are not necessarily a matter of right and wrong--but rather a matter of achieving maximum effectiveness for Kingdom expansion. House churches are on the spear tip of the front line of the greatest revival we have ever seen since the incarnation. It's undeniable, and certainly worth exploring further. The simple methods worked for the early church, and are working today. The big churches everywhere are leveraging the benefits as well with great results: small groups, cell groups, cell churches--any way we can get a few saints together in a home facing each other and edifying each other and operating in their gifts will prevail over spectator Christianity. Have the big meetings, collect your offerings, keep your title: just ALSO encourage the saints to enter the battle, edify one another, and fully utilize their gifts. That's how we take ground for the Kingdom.
6/29/2009
Joe said…
Yeah, we are doing just that. We have life groups that meet every week. I could care less about title, tithes and spectator Christianity. Those are the things we are trying to avoid by starting Riverstone Church in the first place. I would just rather not throw the baby out with the bath water. Thanks for your comments.
7/20/2009
Post a Comment