House Church Movement: An Alternative Approach to Worship and Community

2. Whatisit, really?

3. HouseChurchMovement This modern movement is not the “house churches” of the N.T. Romans 16:5 / 1 Corinthians 16:19 It is part of a movement known as Radical Restoration Authority Tradition

4. HouseChurchMovement Everyone Welcome

5. HouseChurchMovement pleonast.com Steve Atkerson (Southern Baptist Preacher) President of the New Testament Restoration Foundation Del Birkey Pushes for equal roles for men and women in the church Robert Banks Former president of the Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA Robert Banks w/wife, Julia This is an often quoted book by house church advocates Lynn Anderson Professor at Abilene Christian University (Attacks the rule of elders) John Mark Hicks Bible Professor at David Lipscomb University (Along with Birkey pushes for equal roles for men & women) LaGard Smith Most influential (advocates city wide elders) “The very nature of radical restoration is such that the act of demolition is as vital as the act of creation. Invariably, wrecking crews must raze the old structure before they can begin to build anew.” (Pg 39) An Internet site for young Christians—many of whom have no respect for Bible authority, reverence for God; and many are lacking biblical temperance.

6. HouseChurchMovement Eccl 1:9-10 That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, see, this is new? It has already been in ancient times before us. • “The time has come for a new idea in the church . . . We must not allow traditions to continue. Some of our most able ministers are predicting vast and sweeping changes will be seen in churches of Christ in the next few years.” • “Let us dream a moment as we envision what will be happening when this time comes . . .” • Getting out of “church buildings” • Discontinuation of “Sunday School” • Citywide “elders” • -- Alvin Jennings, “How Christianity Grows in the City” (1985)

7. HouseChurchMovement “Whenever churches are located in Scripture they are always, without exception in people’s houses.” “We just do a few things differently.” ~ Conversation ~ J.R.: “Where do you all attend in Tennessee?” (?): “You wouldn’t like it.” J.R.: “Why not?” (?): “Because it’s different.” J.R.: “What kind of different?” (?) “Refreshingly different!” Acts 2:46 ~Temple Acts 16:13 ~ Outside Jas 2:2 ~ Synagogue (?) 1 Cor 11:34 ~ Not a Home

8. HouseChurchMovement It is not just a decision to meet in a private home or storefront. Their agenda is hidden by their rational sounding intent! What is a House Church? This present generation is starving for genuine spiritual experiences and do not trust the traditional church model or traditional religious expression. It is a re-capturing of the values and truths held by the Church of Jesus Christ in its first one hundred years of existence, when every church met in a home environment. A House Church is a group of people who . . . love people through meeting their felt needs. In a House Church nothing can be described as typical, but what you will generally find is passionate praise and worship, interactive dialogue exploring the truths of genuine Christian living, a fuller expression of the Holy Spirit, powerful prayer, a hearty meal, and warm fellowship. -- Dale Foote, (Cool Springs Community Church, Kuna, Idaho)

9. HouseChurchMovement Is a rejection to any organized structure and worship of the church. Attended Florida College Received both his bachelor's degree and his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in Oregon. Was a professor of law at Pepperdine for 26 years before joining the faculty at Lipscomb University as "a scholar-in-residence for Christian Studies." Author of numerous books including Who Is My Brother? (a justification for a broader fellowship to include those advocating doctrinal error and engaging in unscriptural practices).

10. HouseChurchMovement "Then there is our ritualized, sacramental-like 'communion,' which is a direct descendant of Catholicism's highly formal Eucharist" (61). "We have our Catholic and Protestant heritage to thank for the highly-structured worship format which we typically follow" (61). "Some, I'm sure, will have been greatly offended at the mere suggestion that the 'Churches of Christ' as we know them are denominational in name and practice, and thereby fundamentally flawed" (268). "Why are young people so excited when they return home from a weekend retreat? I suggest it's because they have experienced something very similar to 'radical restoration’ . . . look what is happening dynamically at those retreats. There is spontaneity, informality, intimacy, and mutual participation of a type which our young people rarely witness in our more structured assemblies And, of course, there's all that table fellowship which breaks down so many barriers" (235-6). "Before real progress can be made, we will have to undergo a pivotal paradigm shift in the way we perceive even the notion of 'church' itself. Our concept of the church typically tends to suggest organization, complete with hierarchy and dogma. By contrast, the early church (while by no means disorganized) was far closer to being an organism -- less dependent upon formal structure and more spontaneous in action" (37). Make Church like "Camp"

11. HouseChurchMovement Features the Following Smaller groups which are essential for true worship and fellowship. House churches are the exclusive pattern of the New Testament. Eliminate “church of Christ” as the identity of their gatherings. Make the Lord's Supper part of “fellowship” meals. Churches must be “relational” or socially based, rather than “doctrinal.” (Ministering to “felt-needs”). Casual atmosphere in dress and action. Worship services must be mutually participatory for all present and reject preaching or declarative teaching. Reject any “office” or authority (elders) where men have leadership roles to which other members are to submit. Eliminate a weekly contribution and an ongoing treasury in favor of giving only on special occasions for a particular need.

12. HouseChurchMovement House Church Proverbs 6:16-19 16 These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Tampa, FL Houston, TX Nashville, TN Bowling Green, KY Florence, KY Division Local Church Unity

13. Three families came and gravitated to each other—very friendly & appeared to be very “spiritually minded.” • Begin to ask: “What do you think about the elders and the preacher?” • Begin to attack every aspect of worship: • “Giving is not an act of worship,” • “Assemblies not spiritual enough,” • “Need to make changes, such as all giving testimonies before observing the Lord’s Supper,” • “Too stiff, need to become more casual.” • Set out to dissolve the eldership and get rid of the preacher. • Began to disseminate LaGard Smith’s “Radical Restoration.” • Began to make calls and write letters attacking the elders and the church. In one Local Church House Church Proponents Began to infiltrate and carve out supporters. 40 People left; church divided! Prov 6:16-19 “. . . the LORD hates . . . one who sows discord among brethren.” How they work!

14. The name “church of Christ” is prejudicial, leave it off signs and advertisements. • Not spiritual enough and too traditional. • The church needs to be more relational and less doctrinal. • “Declarative” preaching / teaching should be rejected in favor of “mutual participatory” involvement. • Envision a church without walls. • Stone-Campbell tradition. • “Needs driven” contribution. • Use of “prejudicial phrases.” Radical Restorationists Red Flag Statements “Pinch and Sip” “Stale Worship” “Structured Ritual” “Official Clergy” “Sacrosanct Tradition”

15. Whatdotheydo?

16. House Churchand Worship "What all of this suggests is that the primitive church had an intimacy, informality, and degree of mutual participation largely foreign to our own experience…The gathered assemblies of the primitive church appear to have been far more participatory than what we experience; and, almost of necessity, therefore, more spontaneous and informal . . . Just as a family interacts with one another around the house, in the house churches of the first century the family of God actively participated with one another in their mutual worship.” (Radical Restoration, pg. 152, 153). A THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION “. . . Then we eagerly filled our plates and scattered all over the house . . . All afternoon, the talking and laughter never seemed to stop . . .” (Radical Restoration, pg. 145).

17. House Churchand Worship “If you are a Christian you are worship to God.” Mike Root (Spilt Grape Juice, p20) ~ ALL OF LIFE IS WORSHIP ~ “Our lives become worship to God.” (SGJ, p20). “Now, we are a ‘living sacrifice,’ and as such are constantly worshiping God.” (SGJ, p21) “Worship is the cup of cold water given on Tuesday as well as the cup of grape juice taken on the first day of the week.” (SGJ, p25) “The Christian assembly is not the worship . . .” (Mike Root, Empty Baskets, p25) “Worship is a life given in obedience to God. It’s not a when or where proposition, but a what. It’s what we are. You can’t go to it or leave it, dress for it or from it, and you can’t start it or stop it . . . It doesn’t open and close with a prayer; and it doesn’t have a human leader or a special day.” (Mike Root, Unbroken Bread, p115)

18. House Churchand Worship “If you are a Christian you are worship to God.” Mike Root (Spilt Grape Juice, p20) Worship can be Praying or Buying Gas Worship is: Passing out religious tracts—cutting the church lawn--driving someone to the doctor—cooking a meal—attending a ballgame—walking through the woods—playing volleyball, and on and on. “When you and I do the things God intended for us to do . . . We are worshiping Him.” (SGJ, p24) “When we think of worship, we should think of living for God and not have mental pictures of buildings, reverent atmospheres, long faces and structured acts. Worship is synonymous with sacrifice, praise, obedience and service.” (SGJ, p25)

19. House Churchand Worship This tends to: • Minimizing Assembling—“In the New Testament they never mentioned ‘going to worship,’ ‘having a worship service,’ or performing ‘acts of worship.’” (SGJ, p25) [This makes Heb 10:25-26 preposterous]. • Casual/Informal/laid-back— “When believers came together in each other’s houses as churches their corporate worship and sharing together was completely spontaneous with no one leading from the front . . . All present are free to take part without the controlling presence of anyone leading the proceedings.” (www.house-church.org)

20. House Churchand Worship This tends to: • Anything is Permitted—“In this regard, perhaps the most universally-overlooked feature of the Lord's Supper as practiced in the primitive church is that - from all appearances - it was observed in conjunction with a fellowship meal. That is, a normal, ordinary meal with the usual variety of food. However, unlike normal, ordinary meals, this combined table fellowship and memorial was shared among the disciples for the special purpose of strengthening, not just their physical bodies, but their common bond in the spiritual body of Christ…” (LaGard Smith,Radical Restoration, pgs 128, 129).

21. House Churchand Worship This tends to: • Uninterrupted Worship—“When we read passages in the New Testament that refer to Christians assembling together (Acts 20:7), we impose our erroneous viewpoint and say, ‘See they’re coming together to worship!’ That statement is true if you mean it as an extension of their living worship . . . Because they were offering uninterrupted worship.” (Mike Root,Spilt Grape Juice, p25).

22. Where do they get this? -- Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (NKJB) I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship. (NASB) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. (NIV) I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (RSV) “Sacrifice, worship, service . . . are a way of life. You don’t ‘go to it’ any more than a fish goes for a swim. Worship is what you are – a worshiping creature and a sacrifice to God that is complete and continual.” (Mike Root, Spilt Grape Juice, p21)

23. Worship I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom 12:1) • latreia • 1) service rendered for hire • 1a) any service or ministration: the service of God • 2) the service and worship of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law • 3) to perform sacred services • John 16:2, Rom 9:4, Heb 9:1 • A noun form of the verb latreuō (Matt 4:10)

24. A distinction between worship & service Matt 4:10 ~ Then Jesus said to him . . . You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. Deut 11:16 ~ Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, Deut 17:3 ~ who has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded, 2 Ki 21:21 ~ So he walked in all the ways that his father had walked; and he served the idols that his father had served, and worshiped them. Rom 1:25 ~ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator . . .

25. Consider Two Questions! Gal 5:13 ~ For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. QUESTION: If worship and serve are synonymous—are we to worship other Christians? Heb 13:10 ~ We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. QUESTION: If worship and serve are synonymous—did the priests worship the tabernacle? Although all worship is a type of service, not all service is a type of worship!

26. Worship I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom 12:1) Our lives are to be filled with acts of service to God. Acts 27:23 & Rom 1:9 We serve Him by—being holy, reflecting Him in domestic relationships, being good citizens, good employees, and good neighbors. Honoring the marriage bed and raising children to know the Lord, et al. These are the “affairs of this life,” 2 Tim 2:4, but they are NOT worship. Purchasing gas at a Speedway Station is not worship!

27. Worship is something done intentionally Worship Starts & Stops Matthew 2:2 Acts 24:11 1 Corinthians 14:26 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Worship Involves certain acts Acts 2:42 / Eph 5:19 the apostles' doctrine fellowship the breaking of bread, Prayers & Singing 2 Samuel 12:15-20 Genesis 22:3-13 One might drink grape juice for breakfast! Intent is different from drinking grape juice at the Lord’s Supper—1 Cor 11:26, “you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.”

28. Worship is something done intentionally John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. God is to be Worshiped Worship in spirit Worship in truth

29. House Churchand the Lord’s Supper While we were at home, I got to go up to _______, Kentucky . . . We worshipped . . . at a new congo there . . . We were tremendously blessed by our time there on Sunday. This congo has taken positive steps in breaking some of the bonds of traditionalism and toward revitalizing their worship in meaningful ways. This is particularly apparent with respect to Holy Communion . . . . . . The church at _______ is the only congo among NI churches of Christ to my knowledge which has thought through and implemented changes in the practice of Communion and last night I got to be a part of that. --anyomous

30. House Churchand the Lord’s Supper Not just a different way of observing. A complete restructuring!

31. House Churchand the Lord’s Supper

32. J. Stephen Sandifer Abilene Lectureship 2002 A Theology of Eating Assembling to Break Bread Pinch and Sip in Silence Radical Changes Children & unbelievers participating Part of a common meal Women leading discussions Not limited to Sunday

33. Radical Changes “But isn’t it possible to work within the system to bring about any necessary changes?” “. . . The rudimentary concerns which we will discuss . . . Simply cannot be resolved without radically restructuring the church as it presently functions. Indeed, not so much restructuring it, but actually dismantling it by means of recapturing its original definition and meaning.” (pgs 36-37) A Hidden Agenda

34. J. Stephen Sandifer Abilene Lectureship 2002 A Theology of Eating Assembling to Break Bread Pinch and Sip in Silence Radical Changes “Our traditions are so entrenched that we face the same problems Luther, Calvin, Wesley and others did. Change is feared and resisted. A push to correct and restore overnight will result in a church split . . . It is important to educate your elders/leaders first. There is nothing like starting something and then finding that Sister Suzie corners an elder and objects, so he shuts the whole thing down.” (“Pinch and Sip”) A Hidden Agenda

35. House Churchand the Lord’s Supper "Do we, for example, observe the Lord's Supper in the same way as the early disciples…?" (Radical Restoration, p 13) "Without question, on the occasion of its inaugural introduction -- there in the upper room on the night Jesus was betrayed -- the memorial was part of an actual meal being shared" (Radical Restoration, p 129)

36. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses . . . Exodus 12 24 And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. 25 It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service.

37. Not an Ordinary Meal The Passover 1. Fruit of the Vine. 2. Bitter herbs to recall the bitter life in Egypt. 3. Unleavened bread. 4. The roasted Passover lamb. Numbers 9:11 On the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

38. The Passover The Lord's Supper Luke 1:3-4, “it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty . . ..” Luke 22:20, “Likewise He also took the cup after supper . . .”

39. The Lord's Supper After Supper Jesus took only two items (1) Unleavened Bread (2) Fruit of the Vine and instituted a memorial – not a common meal. Luke 22:19, “do this in remembrance of Me.“

40. The Lord's Supper 1 Cor 11:23-25, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

41. “Several things seem to characterize the early celebration . . . It was a full meal.” (Sandifer, “Assembling to Break Bread”)

42. “The meal is a potluck . . . In the middle of the food sits a single loaf of bread next to a large plastic jug containing the fruit of the vine. Each believer partakes of the bread and juice while going through the serving line.” (Steve Atkerson)

43. Paul's Condemnation 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? 33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment.

44. "Here is where one must be careful not to be thrown off track by Paul's ensuing question: 'Don't you have homes to eat and drink in?' (11:22). Nor by his concluding line: 'If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment' (11:34). Far from prohibiting a fellowship meal in conjunction with the Lord's Supper, it is clear that Paul is saying (in current vernacular): If the reason you are participating in the fellowship meal is to feed your stomach, then you'd do better to stay home and pig out!" (131). "One thing is certain: those who object on principle to having kitchens in the church building would have to reconsider that position from scratch. Knowing what we know about first-century fellowship meals, the question isn't so much whether there ought to be a kitchen in the church, but whether the church ought to be in the kitchen." (142).

45. J. Stephen Sandifer Abilene Lectureship 2002 A Theology of Eating Assembling to Break Bread Pinch and Sip in Silence “The Lord’s Supper was originally a fellowship meal not limited to crackers and juice . . . There is nothing in scripture to specifically limit the offering of the supper to Sunday . . . If you have a baptism during the week, immediately after the baptism have those present stand around the new convert, pray for them, and serve communion to all who are present.” (Pinch and Sip)

46. House Churchis notaboutGod Serve US! • Worship Should Be • Spontaneous • Casual • “Me” Oriented "Why are young people so excited when they return home from a weekend retreat? I suggest it's because they have experienced something very similar to 'radical restoration’ . . . look what is happening dynamically at those retreats. There is spontaneity, informality, intimacy, and mutual participation of a type which our young people rarely witness in our more structured assemblies And, of course, there's all that table fellowship which breaks down so many barriers" (Radical Restoration, pgs 235-6).

47. House Churchis notaboutGod Service or "Serve us"? • Eliminate Verbal Discourse(Pulpit preaching) “The very concept of worship focused around a pulpit flies in the face of the dynamic, mutually-participatory house churches of the apostolic age. Houses don’t have pulpits.” (Radical Restoration, p, 211) • Spontaneous & Casual “The gathered assemblies of the primitive church appear to have been . . . more spontaneous and informal.” (Radical Restoration, p 152) "Traditional" Worship is:

48. House Churchis notaboutGod This has led house churches to have – Handclapping and applause, the lifting and swaying of hands, fellowship meals in conjunction with the Lord’s Supper, dramatic scripture readings, female leadership during the Lord’s Supper What can I get out of this? It just is not emotionally stimulating! Church is not fun! This is not relevant for today. Church hardly fills my felt needs.

49. is all about What I Like What I can get Inspire ME! How it makes me feel

50. Psalms 96:7-9 Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. Worship the Lord your God (Matthew 4:10) “I sure got a lot out of that lamb offering!” “That burnt offering was so encouraging.” “I really feel like I’ve been to worship after that blood offering.” “I feel really edified after seeing all the blood sprinkled around!”