The Debate Goes On

Yesterday I made reference to Lee’s post regarding questions about the church. I thought he raised some outstanding questions…and most of the comments that people have left are quite challenging and thought provoking.

I decided to sort of weigh in my opinion on the matter here because I didn’t want to make his comment thread any longer than it is.

For those who have not read his post, Lee brought up the debate that seems to be gaining momentum in the United States regarding mega churches verses house churches. Both sides are screaming that “we are right & you are wrong!”

I am coming from the point of view of what has happened at NewSpring over the past five and a half years—so if you think my opinion is biased—it might be…but I am not so sure that it a bad thing.

NewSpring began in a…HOUSE…with about 15 people. We had two things in mind—love Jesus and love people…AND we had a passion to communicate to people that the church is the bride of Christ…and she is BEAUTIFUL and not boring.

Here we are several years later running over 4,000 people. I ask you—have we sinned? Have we broken the heart of God? Should we shut it down…or at least narrow the window of people who can come to around 25 people, mostly Christians…and concentrate on community rather than reaching the community?

Sorry—we can’t do that!

However, I would never disregard the importance of community! I am personally in a home group at NewSpring and the community I experience there is incredible. I would not trade the experience for anything—and I believe God is honored in that.

I, as the pastor, truly feel like NewSpring is following the Lord—we are trying our best to teach people to love Jesus and love others…and God is blessing. Lives are being changed—people are being reached—the poor are being served…and there is so much more that has to be done. We say it all the time—this is a God thing!

So what about the house churches? Are they wrong? Is it a sin to be a part of a house church? I have some thoughts on this as well!

I am personally against ANY group of people who claims to be followers of Jesus Christ…but do not give a flying rip about the hell bound people in their community! I don’t care if it’s 20 people in a house or 2,000 people in a massive building—to neglect the Great Commission is a sin!

So if a house church has the ambition of meeting together for community AND reaching people for Christ—I say go for it. But if the focus is purely inward…just so people can get “their needs met,” then I say it is wrong!

Unfortunately, what I have observed with the majority (NOT ALL) of those involved in the house church movement in the United States has not been good. You hear them NOT speaking of community and unity—but rather how the mega church is wrong and ungodly. What is that? You can call NewSpring a lot of things (and people do), but to refer to us as ungodly is plain stupidity. (Yes, you can quote me on that!)

One of the HUGE problems I hear when referring to house churches is, “There is no way everyone can know me in a big church.” I’m sorry—I wasn’t aware of any place in Scripture that the church was supposed to be about you being known! Do you think everyone knew everyone in Acts 2 when 3,000 accepted Christ—that made for 3,120 people—and no one seemed to mind!?

Once again—mega churches provide opportunities for community in the context of homegroups—and for us it is working.

When the church becomes about knowing people…and that IS something I hear, “I am not getting my needs met…I want this…I want that…”, then problems will follow.

Another thing that the house church movement claims is that they are simply joining a worldwide movement…that churches all over the world are meeting in homes and that we need to be doing the same.

One thing that they neglect to tell you is that the reason many churches are meeting in homes all across the world is because THEY HAVE TO!!! There are places in the world that if believers are caught worshipping together then they are KILLED—so they have to go underground…in homes—wherever, just to worship.

AND I have heard from missionaries when these people are told of the large, corporate worship that we are free to experience here in America—THEY CRAVE THAT—they LONG for that, they wish they could experience that! I have even heard stories from missionaries that have served in India and Africa of people who walked with people from their village for days just to come to a church service where they could worship with a large group!

Another thing I hear from the house church movement is that “we are merely going back to our roots.” I would agree that Scripture clearly teaches that the church met house to house—but one would have to be intellectually dishonest to say that the church neglected the large group meetings in order to go house to house. They prayed at the temple…speaking of the temple—if God wanted to keep the whole thing small then what in the world did He think He was going to accomplish with the building of the temple? Sounds like He’s not against large groups gathering for worship!

OK—I will calm down now. All I am saying is this—the mega church movement is real, it is of God, and should not be condemned. If what the mega church does isn’t your style—then say it isn’t your style—don’t dismiss it as ungodly and wrong…AND do not criticize the people leading this movement—especially when you do not know them! Just pray for them—and if we are wrong then ask God to show us where—He can do a lot more than you can.

And to be fair…I will admit that the house church is a valid ministry—but it’s focus should be on outreach…and NOT merely forming a holy huddle and licking war wounds from the previous week! At NewSpring we choose to do both—large group and small group…and God is honoring this. It is our goal to be obedient to Him—and it is my personal goal…even though it is hard at times—to never criticize what God is blessing.

If you are a part of a house church that is loving God and loving people—PRAISE GOD FOR YOU! I am serious when I say that—I pray that your ministry will increase…and that many people will enter the kingdom because of your obedience to the Lord. We are on the same team, we serve the same God—and though we might not agree on the methods then lets at least agree to do ministry—and if other people don’t do it the way we do it—so be it!

That’s about it for now—got to eat some Turkey!