Homechurchers - Page 3

[HisBeautifulWife]

Originally Posted by Bluegoat

I'm curious - how do people who choose to homechurch when they could attend elsewhere feel it puts them in relation to the Christian community at large? A private church service seems a bit hard to reconcile with the Bible's messages about spreading the Word and how we are supposed to live in community?

You can spread the word and live in community without putting yourself in a situation to be taught "the truth" by people who have no idea what that means.

I agree that it's time to separate the wheat from the tares. Going to a traditional church gave me a foundation and I appreciate that. But now that I am maturing in my faith God has shown me that I'm doing the right thing.

There are ways to fellowship with other Christians without sitting in church services with them. This thread has actually inspired me to try a little bit harder in that area.

People are so focused on church as a building and legalistic traditions and customs, when they need to be focused on studying and knowing what the Bible says.

[PaulaJoAnne]

Originally Posted by Bluegoat

So would you define a Home church then as a church that just happens to meet in a home? I was thinking of it as an effort to withdraw from the larger community to a small select group, possibly family based, or something for situations when no church was available.

Do you invite people to attend with you, or let people know there will be a service?

We are certainly a church that meets in a home.
Remember that the Scriptures defines the Church as those who Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and as a result a saved.
We as humans have added the denomintion stuff, and have made quite a mess out of His Body.

We do have visitors frequenty. And, we invite whenever the opportunity arises.

I think the above is going to be true for most home/house churches, although a few families do meet alone, because there is simply no one they can aggree with on Scriptural grounds. And boy, do they long for, and search for likeminded Believers.

[PaulaJoAnne]

One thing that we love about meeting in a house, is that, except for the small part that we give to the hosting family to cover costs, all of our tithe goes to missions and meeting local needs, such as unexected medical stuff.
No building costs, no paid staff (which is clearly not something you can find in Scripture) no insurence or childcare needed.

The financial report on what giving was last year from 7 families is rather astounding, to say the least.

[CalaRei]

I understand that this thread is dominated primarily by Christian followers, but I thought I'd pipe up that Unitarian Universalists have what I'd call a "cyber charter church" as long as we're making the "homeschooling" comparison.

It's called the Church of the Larger Fellowship, and mostly seems to provide a home base for those of use who aren't physically close enough to a "brick and mortar" church, or who prefer to celebrate in our own homes. They have resources like a lending library, music, podcasts, and online communities.

If you'd like to check it out, here's a link:
http://clf.uua.org/

[holyhelianthus]

It's odd to me because I think a lot of the arguments for a home church being a community and not just a family are a lot of arguments I hear in favor of public schooling vs homeschooling. Can't it be said for both? Personally I feel you can have a community without having others around you in a schooling or churching environment. Like with HSing you should be able to form "extra curricular" church activities with like-minded people.

[Bluegoat]

Originally Posted by PaulaJoAnne

We are certainly a church that meets in a home.
Remember that the Scriptures defines the Church as those who Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and as a result a saved.
We as humans have added the denomintion stuff, and have made quite a mess out of His Body....

I think the above is going to be true for most home/house churches, although a few families do meet alone, because there is simply no one they can aggree with on Scriptural grounds. And boy, do they long for, and search for likeminded Believers.

I can see how this would work, on the other hand, I seems to me that a person would have to be very very careful about setting limits on what the important points for agreement are. One of the great benefits of a church community is that there are bound to be people we think are wrong, hypocrites, or that just rub us the wrong way, and that we are required to kneel down and pray next to them. if they are willing to make the confession of faith with us, then we are required to simply accept them as fellow Christians.

In the Screwtape Letters, there is a letter where Screwtape advises his nephew to send his "patient" church-shopping, because too much good can come of him staying at his local church with all the average joes who go there. On the other hand, church shopping sets the individual up as the judge of who is a good or right Christian, encourages sectarianism and tends to make people identify minor points with the core of Faith, and tends to hide from people that we all have a certain equality as sinners.

It seems to me that these could all be real dangers with choosing to avoid an open church community, especially if the reason is they cannot find people who hold to an individuals' particular understanding of Faith.

I think the comparisons to homeschooling are only quite minor - our relationship with each other as children of God is integral to who we are and what we are commanded to do; education is something that has many possible goals and could be done well in many different ways.

[PaulaJoAnne]

Originally Posted by Bluegoat

I can see how this would work, on the other hand, I seems to me that a person would have to be very very careful about setting limits on what the important points for agreement are. One of the great benefits of a church community is that there are bound to be people we think are wrong, hypocrites, or that just rub us the wrong way, and that we are required to kneel down and pray next to them. if they are willing to make the confession of faith with us, then we are required to simply accept them as fellow Christians.

In the Screwtape Letters, there is a letter where Screwtape advises his nephew to send his "patient" church-shopping, because too much good can come of him staying at his local church with all the average joes who go there. On the other hand, church shopping sets the individual up as the judge of who is a good or right Christian, encourages sectarianism and tends to make people identify minor points with the core of Faith, and tends to hide from people that we all have a certain equality as sinners.

It seems to me that these could all be real dangers with choosing to avoid an open church community, especially if the reason is they cannot find people who hold to an individuals' particular understanding of Faith.

.

Even though we are meeting with those of like mind, we still have various thought on some things, such as the headcovering.
But in major doctrinal areas, we are all in agreement.
And, we have a general agreement written up for those that would like to view it.

So, no, we do not have a closed church community. All are welcome, but as far as desiring to continue in fellowship, those that find they disagree in major areas, tend to not stick around. And no one is offended by it.

[boigrrrlwonder]

Originally Posted by CalaRei

It's called the Church of the Larger Fellowship, and mostly seems to provide a home base for those of use who aren't physically close enough to a "brick and mortar" church, or who prefer to celebrate in our own homes. They have resources like a lending library, music, podcasts, and online communities.

If you'd like to check it out, here's a link:
http://clf.uua.org/

I'm a UU Christian. I've looked at the Church of the Younger Fellowship - but not joined. Have you used CLF to do home services? I think ideally, though, I'd like to worship with other families in our homes.

Originally Posted by PaulaJoAnne

One thing that we love about meeting in a house, is that, except for the small part that we give to the hosting family to cover costs, all of our tithe goes to missions and meeting local needs, such as unexected medical stuff.
No building costs, no paid staff (which is clearly not something you can find in Scripture) no insurence or childcare needed.

The financial report on what giving was last year from 7 families is rather astounding, to say the least.

You know, I initially thought of doing homechurching just because I couldn't find a theologically liberal, family-integrated church, but this argument has really made me think that I might prefer homechurching, if I could find other families, in general. I really think that our tithes should go to the poor and outcast, rather than just support church infrastructure.

Which brings me to...how do you meet other families?

[PaulaJoAnne]

Originally Posted by boigrrrlwonder

Which brings me to...how do you meet other families?

A simple way, is to post in Craigs list, place an ad in local pennie saver papers, and or put up flyers around the area.

Outline what you believe and what you are seeking, along with an email addy for contact.

[AngelBee]

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