WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON NOT "MEETING" AT ALL?

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Permalink Reply by John Lunt on September 12, 2008 at 7:12am

Erin,
Thanks so much for the responses. I attend a simple church weekly, but I have another group of friends who are believers that I walk with outside a gathering context, so I've been asking the question myself more and more and your answers were really helpful. Thank you.

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Permalink Reply by Carole Steinberg on September 12, 2008 at 4:30pm

We have a very small house church, we meet whenever it is possible around everyone's schedule. Usually we see each other a few times a week and we call and text each other everyday. Being fluid works for us. We just became part of a larger group and have a set meeting day. With a larger group it just works out better. I think most people need structure.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa J on September 13, 2008 at 8:54am

Hey Marti,
Our journeys sound very similar. We've done the regular house meeting thing after leaving the IC.

"We then entered a very lonely, solitary time, with very little fellowship with anyone. I hated it, but it was also a necessary part of the process to find our relationship with Him, outside of our relationship with Him via a group of people."

This is where we are now, & I'm not liking it either, but I do see it as part of His plan for us :(

We are hoping to (soon) end up somewhere in the middle, as you are now. In fact, I loved what you've described so much that I printed it out for my husband! Thanks for sharing that...

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Permalink Reply by Scott & Sally Minnis on September 13, 2008 at 9:38am

I see the Holy Spirit moving the body when he decides, I think we need to let God move us to do when and where when He decides, lets get away from schedualed meetings and let ourselves be open to divine appointments

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Permalink Reply by Jason A. Wilson on September 13, 2008 at 4:03pm

Alexander,
I could not agree more. Everything out side the walls are in flux and each day how we go about this is really the question. The answer is each day at a time. The truly important thing is to have relationship no matter what and the rest becomes details. Sorry for got to introduce myself. I am Jason Wilson; my wife Erin is the one who started this discussion. I think she has covered allot about our journey in this so with that I wish you blessing and wisdom for your journey.

Jason A Wilson

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Permalink Reply by Frank Doiron on September 14, 2008 at 6:52am

Hi I am Frank from Canada. I don’t have a picture yet. To meet or not to meet that is the question. And a great question it is. My wife and I have not attended a meeting for almost 3 years. And we are loving it. John, you asked some very good questions.
The answer to those questions highly depends on what sort of person you are. I do not believe house church helps us not to drift, interact with new believers, give more, advance the kingdom. If I am totally honest house church did not help or foster any one of these.
My wife and I are missional. I can answer yes to almost all the questions you asked. The material I want to read and process needs to equip and challenge me to risk and reach out where I wouldn’t before. I found most house church do not want to go there.
Yet if we found a group of people who were missional we would gladly meet together to equip, encourage and pray for one another. Until then we are having the time of our life.
This afternoon we are in a walkathon that we helped plan with 4 traditional church friends. We have raised close to 5 thousand dollars. That money will go to a poor village in Liberia. So I must get ready for that. I probably will have more thought in the next couple of days… blessings

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Permalink Reply by Joe & Michelle on September 14, 2008 at 9:23am

This is such an interesting topic....we are just now exiting the IC. Processing through all that involves and laying down all the "ministries" we are in...thanks for sharing.

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Permalink Reply by Erin Wilson on September 14, 2008 at 12:57pm

Pepper,
I completely agree. I on the other hand come from a long line of pastor's. My grandfather pastored 35 yrs in the A/G, my dad pastored until my senior year in High School and I grow up as a pastor's kid.

We have grown through many different variations on HC, but have always come back to a simple way of living and just BEING, instead of DOING. It is very liberating.

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Permalink Reply by Erin Wilson on September 14, 2008 at 1:01pm

WOW - I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the replies to this post. It is so awesome to see all the different folks from all over the place, that are experiencing the very same effect.

To summarize what I see below... I see those that have come out the IC (Institutional Church), or are in the process within the last 6 years are in an expererimental stage, feeling out were God wants them and meeting them within the "meetings". And those that have been out more than 6-7 years, have rested on a simpliar way of being the church.

Thank you again and feel free to post away, post away!

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Permalink Reply by Marti on September 14, 2008 at 1:27pm

I feel for you! You're welcome to PM me anytime you need to chat... sometimes it's just nice to you know you're not all alone in the world ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Doug Hudson on September 14, 2008 at 2:09pm

Religion implies or states that we must "do" in order to "be". We must do "church" in order to walk in His family. Relationship seems to spring from a place of "be"; "I Am", and from it flows the "do." Religion implies we must gather to experience Him. Relationship says we bring Him with us to any gathering and He is in the middle of us.

After some years of gathering in homes, I have observed that relaxed interaction occurs over the food, prior to the "meeting". As soon as we wrap up the food and go sit in the living room for "church", the relaxation is over and the business is at hand. The atmosphere has unconsciously changed from open, relaxed friendship to "church". I prefer the open relaxed interaction. When people are "real" with each other, something amazing begins to occur. We are too often "not real" with each other in religious gatherings. Wen two hearts connect, and He is there, something amazing begins. I do not think we can organize and schedule relationship.

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Permalink Reply by Dena Brehm on September 15, 2008 at 5:26pm

I so agree with Scott and Deb (imagine that, Deb!)

We started, a few years back, with the whole meeting time, date, agenda, format (though we, in our pride, wouldn't have called it that! we thought we were oh-so-much-more enlightened than that!). We've gradually moved away from all planned things, and now come together because we want to... because we are part of one another's lives, and genuinely love each other. I get the withdrawal pains if I don't schmooze with 'em often enough!

I hear a lot of fear in the "we must do this regularly; people need structure or they'll fall away; we need to use self-discipline" comments. Do we think Jesus can't handle it? Do we think He cannot draw all men to Himself? Do we doubt that He can lead us all (each) into all truth?

I see self-discipline as a self-work. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, but self-discipline is striving.

I gave up striving for Lent a loooooong time ago. Whew!

What a relief to just live in Christ (as if I have a choice -- He went and chose me). What a joy to let Him lead, from the inside out. What a delight to live in His Presence, and in His pleasure...!

Shalom, Dena

"The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the
unquestioned answers."

"We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to
learn that it is God shaking them." - Charles West

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