Monday, October 17, 2011

Church at Home?

A common question concerning the church goes something like this, "Is it permissable to be a part of a church family, even if it is limited to your own home?"

The answer to this question is simply, "Yes." But the answer is yes only under certain conditions.

1. It would be right to be a part of a home church, if you were limited to that structure based on financial reasons - perhaps the local church had no public place to meet.

2. It would be right to be a part of a home church, if you were limited to that structure based on the absence of any local congregation that was scripturally organized.

3. It would be right to be a part of a home church, if you were limited to that structure based on the absence of sound teaching in a local congregation of the Lord's people.

4. It would be right to be a part of a home church, if you were limited to that structure because you were working to plant the church in an area where no body of Christ currently existed, and the home church was the beginning of evangelistic work in your area.

But some have limited themselves to a home church for reasons that are not biblical. Perhaps they could not get along with other churches. Perhaps they did not want to submit to an eldership, or saw no need to place membership in a local church. Or perhaps, they just felt like they would rather stay at home for personal reasons. There are times when a "home church" can actually be sinful. People who are against organized religion are against God's plan for religion. God has organized religion, and its name is the "church"!

My one question to those who want to stay at home, when a local body, scripturally organized and sound in doctrine exists is straight and to the point - "If you stay at home, then what are you doing with the gospel of Christ?"

The church's mission is to bring the saving message of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. We cannot do this by leaving it inside four walls, whether at home, or in the local church building.

"To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places." ~ Ephesians 3:10

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