People have gotten so used to the way that church is today that it may seem strange to suggest that there is an alternative way to have church. The alternative way is actually the New Testament way. Back then believers gathered primarily in homes to make disciples, to fellowship and worship together, and to share their lives and experience Christ together. Each believer having received the Holy Spirit and being a part of the body of Christ, all came to participate and use their gifts to build each other up. Jesus led and taught them by the Holy Spirit, which allowed him to live in and function through each believer. There were no special church buildings, no special day to meet, nor any paid leaders with special titles - only ministry functions in the body of Christ. More mature believers helped to oversee the churches but no believer had authority over any other believer for they were all brothers and sisters in God’s family. Believers loved one another, gathered and ate together, and shared what they had with one another as a family. They also shared their hearts and struggles with one another so that they could pray for one another to receive encouragement, practical help, freedom and healing by the power and authority of Jesus name. This was the simple New Testament way of life and support system for the family of God (his church) through meeting in homes.
Unfortunately after the original apostles of Jesus died, the mainstream church began to stray from this simple New Testament model. Overseers took on positions of authority over other believers as Bishops and began to control and direct the church where they wanted it to go. The church leaders (Popes, Bishops, Priests, Pastors) also took control of the meetings and began including their own ideas and traditions into their teaching. They disallowed believers to fully participate and added a formal service where believers had to sit and learn what the leaders taught them. Special church buildings (Basilicas) were made for believers to meet in and a special day was given for believers to meet (Sundays). A religious tax (Tithing) was also charged to maintain the buildings and support those running the organization. The leaders prohibited believers from meeting in their own homes or on their own. Instead of following the lead of Jesus and obeying him as the head, believers were told to follow and obey the leaders. The church has remained much the same for the past 1700 years and this church model is accepted by most believers as the way it’s meant to be. Unfortunately this is not what Jesus and his apostles taught in the New Testament, which has stopped Jesus from functioning as the leader and head of His church.
Today more and more believers around the world are wanting to return to the New Testament model where resources can be shared with those who truly need it and Jesus can once again be the head of His church and function through His church body as he intended.
For more information on the New Testament Church model, you can contact Ron at 469-6201 or check the Web site at http://www.edmontonhousechurches.com/ARTICLES.html, which contains the following articles that may be of interest to you:
Basic Principles Of The New Testament Church
Church Traditions And Teachings That Are Not Based On The New Testament
Was There Leadership Authority In The New Testament Church?
Why Believers Met Together
Sharing Resources And The Use Of Money In The New Testament Church
What Is A True Believer In The New Testament?
You Can Start A House Church