songsofjesus.com

Mega churches, home churches, no churches and TRUE FREEDOM!

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“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”  (Galatians 5:1)

There are some that believe that true freedom comes from escaping the “institutional church”; they would rather sit at home alone for 20 years than be a part of “that”.  The truth is, true freedom is when you can receive from a mega church as well as a home fellowship; when you’re truly free you can accept the fact that God is able to work in either situation, and does.  When you’re truly free, you will see that there are pluses and minuses to both.  There are “bad” home churches and there are “bad” mega churches, and sitting home alone can be even worse for you than being a part of something that you don’t totally like.  If you’re really free in the freedom that Christ has come to give, you will be able to admit that.

I am free to go where Christ leads me, period.  THAT is freedom.  I must add, however…

A word of caution:

I do not believe Christ will lead me contrary to His Word.  We are living in a time of unparalleled apostasy, rejection of God’s Word, downplaying of doctrine, and deconstruction and reconstruction of the church and truth.  It should be understood that anything that I say here is with the understanding that God’s Word is the supreme litmus test of what is and isn’t true.  When I speak about going where Christ leads me and being free to accept other structures, I am talking about outward things like whether to gather in a building or a home, and the various forms our gatherings might take, I am NOT talking about freedom to develop whole new church and life philosophies that are not found in God’s Word.  Be very careful of those who would downplay the need of sound doctrine in preference to an experiential faith.  We are warned:

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons”  (1 Timothy 4:1)

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine…”  (2 Timothy 4:3)

The downplaying of doctrine and God’s Word is a clear sign of apostasy.  If you notice this going on, STEER CLEAR and do not entertain the idea of being a part of whatever it is, be it books, blogs, churches etc.  With that in mind…

Traditional church, mega church, home church?

I wholeheartedly believe in home fellowships and believe the future lies there.  I believe that is the direction God has been leading me for many years.  The early church met that way and it’s entirely biblical.  There are many good reasons to move in that direction that are completely scriptural.  But I am not afraid or blind to the fact that God is working through others who are in structures that are quite different than where I have planted my feet.  And I am not afraid to lift up my feet and plant them somewhere else if that’s what God wants.  I am free in Christ!

I’ve been a part of three mega churches since becoming a Christian, a couple home churches, and a few medium sized fellowships.  Do you know what the common denominator was?  I tried to be where God placed me; I went where Jesus was.  I have seen good and bad things in the biggest church I’ve been a part of to the smallest home fellowship.  I refuse to be a slave by shutting out my options.  I am free in Christ!

This post could be written to traditional churches that refuse to see home fellowships as “real churches”, as well as home churches that see every traditional church or mega church as “Ichabod”.  Do you not see what you’re going?  God will not allow you to put Him in your box either way!  He has a habit of showing up wherever HE wants to, and in the most unexpected places!  If you’re really “free in Christ” you will be able to accept that.

Are home churches a ticket out of apostasy?

I’ve been totally blessed by “mega churchers” and totally freaked out by “home churchers”… and vise versa; apostasy is happening in BOTH.  The sooner we realize that the better.  Home churches are not a ticket out of apostasy; it could very well be a ticket for you to grave error if you’re not careful!  You are not safe either just because you attend a large church that looks “respectable”.  If you’ve just “checked out” completely and are sitting at home all by yourself, you better be very careful- being an “out of church” Christian is an oxymoron.  The last time I checked we’re still “the Body of Christ”; Ekklesia means, “called out ones” not called out “one”.

Ekklesia also has the specific meaning of an assembly or congregation. 

Notice what it says in 1 Corinthians 14:26: “What shall we say, brothers?  WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation…” etc.  Paul assumes the church will come together- it’s a given.  All of the instruction given afterwards makes no sense outside of the church gathering together.  We cannot do these things sitting at home alone! 

I have written this specifically for those who have started on the “Home Church” journey.  I don’t believe God is looking for a bunch of disgruntled malcontents tearing down “The Church”.  Until you are free to see God at work in His Body, whatever the structure, I don’t believe you are yet truly free.

To those who are part of “traditional churches” I would also say, “Be careful that you not speak against the home church movement: These are God’s people too, and just because they meet in a home doesn’t make them any less a “real church”!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”  (Galatians 5:1)

Are you truly free?

Tags: apostasy in the church, church structure, discernment, Ekklesia, freedom in Christ, going to church, home church, home fellowship, house church, institutional church, leaving the church, mega church, out of church Christians, the Body of Christ, traditional churches