Paul writes to the people gathered in each city in a home. He addresses major letters not to any individual leaders in those groups. He was not addressing any church leader. Today we have the pyramid leadership model in every denomination. Where did we get this concept? Some argue it came from Paul appointing elders in each city and wrote specific qualifications for elders, pastors, and their wives.
They take this as a model that we should as well appoint these people. However, we did not understand who these people were and what roles they played. Paul still continues to address the entire congregation for matters of discipline and order.
He charges the Corinthian church with the sin of incest. He tells them they should have dealt with it. He still calls the whole church to deal with it. It was not a personal letter to any elder or pastor. The whole church got involved in everything. Home church can copy this model very effectively.
We have designated specific roles and powers for officers within the church. The reason we have become an enterprise oriented church especially in America, is because we are business minded. America is a land of opportunity, so we are individualistic and independent.
We have the encouragement from the beginning to do anything we want. The corporate mindset of joint stock companies flowed into the church very quickly and powerfully.
The church is a place where money regularly flowed in. Depending upon the size and economic status of the church it is substantial in most churches. The mega church mentality grew with this money trigger. Tithe became the focal point of all churches regardless of denominational differences. Home church will not collect tithe.
Luring people to give in order to receive a blessing as well as to obey God became a force to reckon with. Very soon people associated their church with God. God was in their church only. Our church is the true church. They sincerely believed that this is the best you can find in the world.
When you slowly inject this kind of indoctrination for years you find the members numb to the idea that God may not be there at all. If God started all these denominations, then to which church do we go? All these church founders claim God spoke to them.
Will God speak to different men at different times to start different groups with very different doctrines and traditions? A home church has no agenda and program except to worship and serve God through the Holy Spirit.
Robert Fenn is a home church pastor, preacher, mentor and bible teacher for over 40 years. His writings reflect his personal daily walk, struggles, victories and failures. He practices home church concepts at home on a daily basis. Loves to share God's unfailing love, protection and guidance to others throughout his life.
Home Church
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