Let me just say it that, yes, gatherings of God’s people are important. But here is the problem. We continue to divide up life in our thinking between sacred/holy and non-sacred/non-holy. And, our time spent in a church location or service or gathering (even a house church gathering) is seen as somehow more sacred than our time spent outside of that place, service, or gathering.
This false, dichotomous way of thinking robs us of our everyday identity as God’s, Spirit-filled people and it diminishes our true purpose as light and salt in a world that desperately needs both.
Changing my thinking about ‘what is church’ is more than recognizing that the church (ekklesia, God’s called-out people) can meet anywhere, even informally in homes. The power comes when God’s called-out people become His Everywhere Church – taking His life and light and Spirit, and presence into every situation that we step into with the same excitement and reverence we might have for any so-called sacred meeting.
God is with us. This is the power and truth of the work of the cross. The Spirit of God is with us in every setting and situation we step into. The ‘church’ is the Spirit-filled Jesus-followers who recognize the supernatural presence of God at work in all of life and in every situation:
- A conversation in a grocery story – Everywhere Church is happening
- Sitting in a whirlpool in my gym and someone shares that his wife is having surgery next week – Everyday Church is happening
- At home praying with my wife – Everyday Church is happening
- Lunch with a spiritually-minded friend – Everyday Church is happening
- Serving at the homeless food line – Everyday Church is happening
Everywhere that we go, the Spirit of God is seeking to transform, illuminate, revelate, draw people, heal souls, and more. It is not that we do not believe this, it is that we often draw a distinction between what we see as ‘mundane’ life and what we view as sacred life. We approach it differently and, therefore, we have different expectations and levels of faith as we go.
Missiologist Leslie Newbegin says it this way: “It is in the ordinary secular business of the world that the sacrifices of love and obedience are to be offered to God. It is in the context of secular affairs that the mighty power released into the world through the work of Christ is to be manifested.”
But I would take this even one step further. There simply is no secular business. When we see God, the world, and ourselves correctly, every moment is a sacred one, infused with God’s life and presence and purposes, calling us moment by moment to enjoy and step into the surrendered, supernatural life that is available… everywhere.
Comments
4 responses to “House Church is Everywhere Church”
I am completely house church and completely biblical. Paul tells us to LEARN, its not natural, to not think beyond the scripture. So while I agree with each moment being sacred but wholly disagree that each moment is church. The scripture tells us that when we assemble, yes it can be outside but should be appropriate place, Jesus is manifested in a metaphysical and physical way. The meeting deserves respect because we are Jesus at that moment in a way that we are not by ourselves. The Bible tells us that he has given everything we need for life and godliness which part of that is the scripture. He teaches us that institutional church is wrong because he has shown that church is in s place of respect and how that meeting is to be carried out. You cant do that in a McDonalds but Denneys might be ok if they have a back room you can use. You cant have church in a Walmart but you can behave like a Christian
Part of the problem with institutional church is that it is focused on unbelievers. Jesus tells us it is for believers. We are to edify each other. Sure unbelievers can attend but they are convicted by what is happening to the church not by our being evangelistic. We have the Holy in us but we are not the church wherever we go.
Where 2 or there are gathered in Jesus name, there is church! Love it.
Thanks again for the affirmation and encouragement. PnP On The Road
When you understand that each person IS the church, and there is only ONE church, it is impossible to not be the church or not practice church EVERYWHERE you are, unless you are walking in the flesh. THE CHURCH, the ONE church, ONE bride that Jesus is preparing will NEVER be fully together until eternity. Gathered church is still only part of church life. The scattered part of the church is still church presence in the community doing the work of Godas his ONE church.
Two or three gathered is merely PART of God’s instructions for church – ekklesia – the people called out – the assembly. The work of the church is 7 days a week BOTH scattered and gathered. You can gather anywhere at any time for any reason in any fashion and God knows it and gathers also. Gathered is not MORE HOLY that scattered, unless you have scripture for that.
You must be practicing church when you are scattered to be ready for church when you are gathered. One is not more important than the other.
There may be 60 instructions for what to do when you meet together. There are thousands of instructions for what you do all week long when you are scattered.
God has no greater reward for his people than to reward them for “whatever you do”.
Colossians 3:23,24
WHATEVER you do, work heartily,
AS FOR the Lord and NOT for men,
knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
You are serving the Lord Christ.
Everything we do “deserves respect” because it is for Christ. .
When we obey the Lord in “whatever we do” it receives the greatest reward as the greatest respect from God.
What an amazing thing that God ELEVATES EVERYTHING that is done for Him.
That’s how I see it, but if you have scripture that illustrates your point, let me know.