About House Churches
I have been searching for a local house church … or for a body of believers that operates in the way you describe. Any suggestions?
I suggest getting involved in a church of your choice. But don’t stop there. Within that church, find a smaller group of Christians who meet regularly for Bible study and edification. They might meet during the “Sunday School hour,” in a classroom, at a park, at a local restaurant, or in someone’s home.
Within this small group, you will likely find ample opportunities to listen to one another, to build up one another, and to develop into Christian maturity.
My final video may have some other helpful advice: Worship #7 What Do We Do Now?
Does your research logically lead to the home church movement?
My research certainly leads to the advantage of participating in small groups of Christians, regardless of the venue. Small groups can meet anywhere, whether it is at a park, by a river, or in any meeting room, classroom, or dining room.
Yet, the familial and comfortable setting of a hospitable "house" is certainly conducive to the flourishing of Christian teaching and behavior. People tend to be themselves in the relaxed setting of a home, and they are more likely to open up and engage in discussion. In my experience, people are much more edified when they are able to express themselves, ask questions, and even disagree.
By contrast, the formal and ceremonial setting of a “worship service” in a sacred building tends to intimidate people, keep them quiet, and make them less likely to be themselves. I’m talking about the setting of a sacred “house of worship” with sacred furnishings and stained glass windows. When you have rules about dressing in your “Sunday best,” and you hear people shushed into reverent silence, you learn to keep quiet and act unnaturally “proper.” When a church has an oppressive authority structure of religious officials, you also learn to stay muzzled and to keep honest questions to yourself.
How do I find a house church in my area?
I found these three “house church portals” that allow you to search in a given area for a “simple organic church,” as they are sometimes called. I have not used any of these, so I cannot testify as to the quality or quantity of their listings.
https://housechurchconnect.com/
http://www.hccentral.com/directory/
Besides that, you can always pray that the Lord leads you to find other like-minded believers in your area. If you keep your eyes and ears open, opportunities may reveal themselves.
Frank Viola also pushes house churches. Are you saying the same thing that Frank Viola said in the book, “Pagan Christianity?”
My videos certainly have some similarities with Viola’s book. But that book has some fundamental problems. I refer you to Ben Witherington, a qualified New Testament scholar, who has written three extensive negative reviews of the Pagan Christianity book.
In my view, Witherington’s criticisms are largely valid. Yet, even if only 40% of Viola’s claims are true, the modern church needs to rethink the origins of its meeting practices, which I have attempted to do in my dissertation and my videos.