House churches

[Teallaura]

It is true that house churches may not be as easily found by the casual seeker... but is this how people come to Christianity? Isn't the traditional means of conversion being actively evangelized or invited by a Christian rather than somebody opening a phone book out of the blue? To this end, it may be that Christians in house churches can invite some outsiders who might be less likely to attend a large church (out of intimidation, preferring a smaller setting, or for whatever reason). If different methods of church can reach different people, as long as we're staying within orthodoxy, I see this as a net positive.

I'm a big believer in 'one size fits all is NOT true of churches'. As long as we maintain orthodoxy, as you said, I think there's a place for every type of church and all have advantages to some seekers.

[Cow Poke]

Okay - extremely difficult. It's still exceptional in small groups to be a passive participant.

Perhaps we're not thinking of the same "House Church" concept. They're not all operating like a "small group" Bible study kind of thing. Ours (and others with which I am familiar) was more like a "small Church" in a house, than a "small group" as in a Bible study.

Smaller groups can develop tunnel vision easier than larger. Mind you, any group can do it, but it's harder to catch and correct in small groups. More so if they tend to isolate themselves (that's not a major concern at present with house churches).

I think that entirely depends on the leadership of the House Church... if they're actively following a Biblical model, I'd think they'd be LESS likely to do what you're saying.

It takes a lot longer to spread a controversy in a big group than a small one - and if a small group factions they tend to reinforce the perceived wrong (circle the wagons) more readily.

And, if there's good leadership, it's much easier to "nip it in the bud", and make a correction.

Again, can happen in any group - but big churches usually overcome small controversies (or completely ignore them) whereas small groups will react to them more. It's a human thing, not a church thing.

Meh... again, if you're talking about a "home Bible study" where everybody is (for lack of a better expression) simply pooling their ignorance (SOMETIMES that's what's happening) that might be true -- but if it's an actual "house Church" with a Biblical model / pastor / proper motivation, I disagree.

And I've actually BEEN there.

[Teallaura]

Perhaps we're not thinking of the same "House Church" concept. They're not all operating like a "small group" Bible study kind of thing. Ours (and others with which I am familiar) was more like a "small Church" in a house, than a "small group" as in a Bible study.



I think that entirely depends on the leadership of the House Church... if they're actively following a Biblical model, I'd think they'd be LESS likely to do what you're saying.



And, if there's good leadership, it's much easier to "nip it in the bud", and make a correction.



Meh... again, if you're talking about a "home Bible study" where everybody is (for lack of a better expression) simply pooling their ignorance (SOMETIMES that's what's happening) that might be true -- but if it's an actual "house Church" with a Biblical model / pastor / proper motivation, I disagree.

And I've actually BEEN there.

I agree it depends on the church - 'more or less likely' isn't the same thing as 'will definitely happen' nor did I imply that it always or even mostly happened.

"Small" is a relative concept - especially in my neck of the woods where few 'small' churches could meet in a home. And I have seen the same sorts of things happen in small churches - and I've actually BEEN there, too.

[Cow Poke]

I agree it depends on the church - 'more or less likely' isn't the same thing as 'will definitely happen' nor did I imply that it always or even mostly happened.

"Small" is a relative concept - especially in my neck of the woods where few 'small' churches could meet in a home. And I have seen the same sorts of things happen in small churches - and I've actually BEEN there, too.

I bet you CAUSED those problems!

[Teallaura]

I bet you CAUSED those problems!

I'm gonna tell your mom you're being mean to me!

[Cow Poke]

I'm gonna tell your mom you're being mean to me!

She'll clobber you with her combat boots!

[Teallaura]

Did not. She was really nice and gave me a cookie. Oh, and she said to tell you she wants to see you - and to bring her her combat boots.

[Cow Poke]

Did not. She was really nice and gave me a cookie. Oh, and she said to tell you she wants to see you - and to bring her her combat boots.

That's gonna be a challenge. She's been in Heaven since 2010. So you're the meanest nastiest foulest meanest (did I say meanest) Christian there ever was cause you KNEW that and was only saying that cause you're the MEANEST! That's how you CHRISTIANS ARE!!!!


And I want to get into that.

[Teallaura]

What? Don't you even visit?


You might as well get into it - you get into everything else....

[Paprika]

The greatest advantage is that you aren't tied to a specific building.

[One Bad Pig]

The greatest advantage is that you aren't tied to a specific building.

Eh, some good, lots wrong with that column. An example, more or less at random:

The column opines that church buildings are bad because the have the problem of real estate; if everyone in the congregation invited a friend, and all the invitees came, there'd be no place for everyone to park. Never mind, for a moment, the sheer improbability of that happening. This is different from a house church. . . how exactly?

[Paprika]

Eh, some good, lots wrong with that column. An example, more or less at random:

The column opines that church buildings are bad because the have the problem of real estate; if everyone in the congregation invited a friend, and all the invitees came, there'd be no place for everyone to park. Never mind, for a moment, the sheer improbability of that happening. This is different from a house church. . . how exactly?

The hyperbolic point about no place to park is that expansion is hindered by being bound to "official" church buildings due to limited capacity. House churches admit expansion much more easily by budding off like yeast.

[KingsGambit]

The hyperbolic point about no place to park is that expansion is hindered by being bound to "official" church buildings due to limited capacity. House churches admit expansion much more easily by budding off like yeast.

And churches with their own buildings generally get around this by adding additional service times, if they are fortunate enough to even have this problem.

[One Bad Pig]

The hyperbolic point about no place to park is that expansion is hindered by being bound to "official" church buildings due to limited capacity. House churches admit expansion much more easily by budding off like yeast.

Yeah, if the qualifications of the leader are ignored. Seminaries have been around for much longer than Mr. North imagines - and even before then, there were minimum age/time after conversion limits which were seldom ignored, these limits having been set by experience. And the idea of getting indigenous leadership involved ASAP in mission fields is hardly limited to house churches.

[Paprika]

And churches with their own buildings generally get around this by adding additional service times, if they are fortunate enough to even have this problem.

The model North sketches is for and to sustain an environment with high growth. That it's unsuitable for your country, which has had, on average, limited to negative growth isn't a flaw with the model, but with your people.