A Movement of God, Or Spiritual Incest?
A Movement of God, Or Spiritual Incest? – CWN: “Now, allow me some personal observations of over 35 years in ministry. The Home Church Movement is nothing new. It is just experiencing a new enthusiasm because of the support of some heavy hitters in Evangelicalism. Through the years I’ve experienced dozens of House Churches. This is only my observation – but without exception – the people involved in these “churches” are people who have been hurt in some church, are struggling with bitterness and have a problem with authority. They are angry at some pastor, deacon or elder and have decided that they will just start their own little church and they draw like minded people to them. Also, in my experience, there is enormous spiritual pride. There is an overwhelming attitude of “no one is as spiritual as we are”. They are a world unto themselves with little or no spiritual accountability outside of their little “congregation”. Thus my observation about spiritual incest.”
Some of what you say here may be true in America but it certainly is not true in China. There is a place for the house Church and there is a place for larger churches. If so many people are starting house churches because they are angry at their traditional church you might ask why that is? Let’s face it, many are tired of playing church a few hours a week and only getting the seeker friendly fluff or emerging mysticism that is now found in most large churches.
Others get tired of paying for the bigger and bigger entertainment centers that they meet in once or twice a week. Having said all that, you do make some good points.
My own main concern with home churches is that there will be few qualified to teach others the Bible. They are likely to depart into some heretical viewpoints. Many people think all you need is a Bible and everyone will understand enlightened truthes by reading the words of some Bible version. However, that is not true, you need good teachers to explain what the Bible teaches in the light of all scripture and God given gifted teachers in the Church.
Date posted: Thursday, August 23rd, 2007 9:13 pm | Under category: church movements
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