Church in the Home? Or at Home in the Church?

12/30/2006

Before, I was told that “house church” was something we needed to do here in this part of Asia. But yesterday while listening, things were said that showed that house church is not the main thing. Rather, it’s our relationship with the Lord and with one another. We grow deeper, more loving and more concerned for people, by walking together as a big Family of God, helping one another in tangible ways. These brothers have been living this way for many years. For example, when somebody of the family of God has no job, they’re willing to share their resources, so that the brother will continue to live with dignity. Another thing that struck me was their caring way for one another’s children. The children they have, they look at them as their own children. The more we care for each other with the Lord, the more we become closer to each other. So my concept of house church is changed dramatically. Personally, my heart is crying. It is very difficult but good to see how the Lord Jesus Christ lived in the midst of the disciples. He cared so much for them, and He corrected them in their sins, but most of all, He laid His life down for them. So as a part of this big family of the Lord, we also need to lay down our lives for one another—not only our resources, but especially our lives. I’m looking for this. I’m dreaming that someday this will happen in our own community, where love is reigning, and there is peace, joy, and no division among us. With one mind, one purpose, one spirit, and one body, living together, helping and loving one another, caring for each other, and willing to give our resources to one another, so that the world will know that we are real disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

My concept of house church before now was to take this very big church and divide it into smaller parts. That was my concept. But now I see it differently. Instead, it’s bringing the house into the church. In other words, what we do in our own houses, our relationships with our families, with our sons, daughters, with our wives, we should bring all of it into the church. We should act as if these people are really our own brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, because that is what they really are. As I said, I was wrong in my thinking. We have to practice what God has been telling us all along—that we love each other in very physical and spiritual ways. We should not just say, “Brother, I love you until eternity,” and afterwards we forget about each other. Rather, we should practice it in our daily lives, by helping and encouraging each other, and by showing that we care for each other—daily in our lives, not just on Sundays.

•  Church in the Home? Or at Home in the Church?