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House Churches?

A brother asked for opinions about house churches this morning. This was my off-the-cuff reply:

I think house churches are a great idea, especially in low-population areas. In general, the principle is good. However, every single house church I have actually known has been badly motivated.

Extreme separatism: Can’t find a perfect church? Start your own, and micro-manage the details. Possibly born of …
- Cult-like spiritual arrogance: We know something the rest of you don’t.
- Legalism: We can’t find a church whose members live up to our standards.
Hyper-spirituality/Anti-scholarship: Don’t want none o’ that semetary edikation or book learnin’. I got me a Bible and the Holy Spirit!
Historical obtuseness: This is the way they did it in the New Testament.
Ecclesiastical rebellion: The opposite of Papist ecclesiastical slavery. No authority, no accountability.
Ignorance of purpose (not a plug for Rick warren): Emphasis is on family and fellowship, not worship.

I think house churches have a place, but that place would normally be temporary, until the group outgrew their biggest house. The idea that they should be the norm is just goofy. Garrison Keillor once described late night talk radio callers as “sitting in their basements surrounded by firearms and cassette tapes on Revelation recorded off the radio” (paraphrased). That, I think, approximates the personalities of the house church advocates I have known.

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