Home Churches are re-emerging....Seeing that this is how the first church was established why are so many people in Modern day churches opposed to home churches?

Since being here on BPN we have come across so much opposition to Home Churches. Can anyone show in scripture where assembling together in a home is unbiblical and damaging to those who do this? The main scripture used is:

Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

But the following scripture explains what the Lord considers to be an assembly, versus what we are use to seeing or being involved in:

Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Now, back to the subject. How did the early churches meet. They met in homes. This old type of church is re-emerging all over again because there are many who will not set foot into today’s modern churches for various reasons. Many of these people want Jesus but are not comfortable with what they see happening in our congregations.



There are many good examples of church homes in the scripture so where does all this opposition come from.

Priscilla & Aquilla: 1 Corinthians 16:19
The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Romans 16:5
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

Colossians 4:15
Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Philemon 1:2
And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

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Have you forgotten about "the house of Chloe" in 1st Corinthians 1? Home Churches are what the Chinese underground Christians are doing, and they are over 100 million strong, all HOLY GHOST FILLED!

Contrary to belief, all Christian will be forced here soon, especially with two factors coming into play:

-coming persecution of the believers and Jews
-the 501(c)3 muzzle
Thank you for the scripture about Chloe. I am familiar with the underground churches in China. Watchman Nee was a Chinese brother who died in prison in 1972 who was largely responsible for the house church movement in China.
Yes, true. Soon government intrusion will force many underground when it comes to freedom of speech and such. Satan's system is becoming increasingly bothersome to Christians.
As stated, home churches are not new and thus should not be rejected. I think that the opposition you may get comes from the lack of understanding of what a home church is and where they originated. Many don't realize that home churches are from biblical times and thus they object mainly from not knowing. I think home churches are great in the since of those who may not have access to a traditional church or those who are not comfortable with the setting of traditional churches.
Yes, I do believe that it is the lack of understanding that has brought on the objections. I must admit that I never really gave any thought to home churches years ago, but that is because the subject never came up and I was all too familiar with being a part of a traditional church building assembly.

I have come to appreciate the reach of a home church because there is a growing group of people who choose not to go to church buildings for a number of reasons.
Yes you have! Almost all the Churches started off in someone's living room.
True, Home Churches can definitely cater to an untouched group.
I would like to recommend another resource for those desiring to know more about the home church movement - from a Hebraic (Messianic) point of view.

http://www.ctz.org.il/

What often gets lost in the desire to become involved in a 'movement' is it frequently starts off with incomplete ideas of what the movement is really all about, and think that the original start up procedures are the way it is suppose to be done.

Actually, during the formative years of the church, Gentiles and Jews alike met at the Temple or in synagogues during the evening of the sixth day or during the day of the seventh day of the week for Torah (Bible) study. The synagogue is primarily a place of study, while the Temple was primarily a place of prayer and sacrifice. While teaching took place in the court yards.

At the conclusion of the seventh day observances (Shabbat), the believers would meet in individual homes to 'break bread' (eat supper and fellowship) and to discuss the teaching of the day. This is also the origin of the 'first day meetings', later to be called a Sunday service. [Note: Saturday sabbaths and Sunday services were unknown concepts during the time of Christ.]

When the Jewish movement of The Way lost its respected standing among the people of Jerusalem and were being scattered abroad, as Jesus prophesied, then home meetings became the common venue for meetings for study, prayer and fellowship (corporate ministry).

Up until the time of Constantine, about 300 years, the church was actually growing under its 'outside' persecution. When this did not work to kill off this Messianic movement, Satan actually embraced it and made it his own. Enter Emperor Constantine who made the Church his own. Roman paganism was established as the doctrine and worship for the church. All Jewish influence, teaching, and history was either suppressed or eliminated altogether. The church of Jesus Christ was now effectively cut off from it Hebrew founder. Even so. as always, there was a remnant that has survived.

Throughout the history of the western church we find that the the church, its self, became its own worse persecutor! Any expressed doubt concerning the theology or the approved doctrines of the church, were often was met with death.

As Gentiles we are adopted into and became a part of the family of God, we have not become THE family of God. We are grafted into that mighty tree called Israel, we have not supplanted it (the branches have not become the root).

May I suggest then that in addition to taking on the form of the early church, we also consider taking on the theology and doctrines of that same church?
Bowmanwe consider taking on the theology and doctrines of that same church

I think that a key effort would be in this part of your statement, (BRO, BOWMAN) that "church" or the Body of Christ was never intended to be contained to a few, in a house, this is how the church STARTED, Jesus said in

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father

I want to put something correct, I have started some churches, young women's groups and bible studies in my home, but the key was to direct these individuals to church homes of their own, the individuals, I dealt with were not at first, comfortable in an assembly, but we nurtured and taught them the word, and encouraged them to go forth boldly into a body of believers, and walk in accordance to the word of God. Networking with the pastors, ready to recieve them.

It is stopping short of what God expects of us as disciples, to say "I me, my friends and family" Home church as a permanant assembly, is a comfort zone, and ones do not grow in the love of Christ in this type of enviroment.


e.g check out the post of those that advocate this as a permanent mode of worship, they are legalist and everyone that does not agree with them are on their way to hell, have reprobate minds and so on.... their topics are about clothes, and lifestyles, get deep into the word, they have no comments, because their "comfort zone' exposes them to only them, this is a selfish Spirit,

1John 1:7 states that ..But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

This will be the only post I make on this topic, for I discern the spirit of division that prompts it and I will not participate in the devil's handiwork, to counter the gospel of Christ, for me and my household will serve God!

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