A Simple Test

God has a way of testing us when we don't even realize it. I was sharing dinner with a group last night. Most of these people don't share my belief that Christians should be meeting in the homes. They attend institutional churches. I was talking to some of the other people who are somewhat open to the idea of home church and I was just describing how for the first 300 years of Christianity people met in the homes not church buildings. Well, the hostess of the evening, who attends an institutional church, said, Well, I'm getting fed where we are going. Also, she said sarcastically, "My grandsons are doing well in the youth ministry at their church. They would'nt get that from their dad by sitting at home. Well, my blood began to boil and I was ready to explode. It was only because of the Holy Spirit that I didn't say anything, but then I reflected on the situation when I got home and realized that this was only a small test. Please share with me some of your times of testing when you tried to express your thoughts about home church versus the institutional church because I need encouragement to stay strong during these times.

Comment by Jim London on December 28, 2011 at 10:21pm: Peter, what do you think of this view? When we meet with God's people, wherever that is, what about sharing our God stories, or what is encouraging us in scripture, or our delight in something God is conveying about Himself, etcetera? Couldn't we always meet together with people with the desire to nurture their hearts toward God. Home-church-institutional-church isn't the first priority when we're chatting among God's people. This evening, we hosted 8 folks who all are in church buildings on Sundays, with their kids in SS, the whole works. My wife and I haven't been inside a church building for almost 4 years. But we had a great time -- talking God for a good part of the conversation, and praying a couple of times when our hearts were stirred to do so. If we're thinking a lot about where each of us are on Sunday, it can rob us of the delight of being His church. Does that make sense in any way? Personally, we aren't out to convert anyone to our lifestyle. We're really interested, though, in being His church with whomever of His children we are engaged with anywhere -- and it hasn't been that difficult. We are who we are, as His children, wherever we are, and with whomever. When He is our collective meeting point, even around a dinner table, He wants to be involved, always. Your thoughts on this?

Comment by Peter Horvatin on December 29, 2011 at 9:55am: Please, let me qualify my statements by saying I am not responding in an angry tone, however some may take it as that. I have been doing research and examining the institutional church versus assembling in the homes for over five years, so I'm not an expert, but I think that I have checked this out and discovered the better truth. So, I don't look at this as trying to convert someone to my lifestyle, but I want to show them that the truth outside of the institution can be so much better. Paul talks about both discerning what is best as well as praying that we could know our Father better.

Phillipians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Ephesians 1:16-17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

My concern is that those who continue to attend the institutional church are following a path that is a lie and they don't want to change. As my wife has said and I agree that "I have to know my audience as well as knowing that "there is a time to speak and a time to be quiet. So, for some of the group that I was with, it is my time to be quiet.

Comment by Marshall Diakon on December 30, 2011 at 12:30pm: Peter, your post is encouraging in that the Spirit of God held control sufficient for your tongue, if not your temperature. {grin}

People still linked or locked with Institutions may be analogous to citizens in/of a nation that has acute problems with the exploitation orabuse of children. Those who are still inside will tend to minimize, defend or deny; to assume that the observations of those outside are askew. While those individuals who have have since emerged from (or avoided) that abusive nation are afforded an opportunity to see things more clearly (if they will step away from any personal anger, pain, frustration...).

Comment by Frank on April 9, 2012 at 10:11am: Good thread!

I speak as a Brit here.

In the days of the wild west, your predecessors ventured deeper and deeper into the west in search of gold or good farm land.

Now imagine some pioneer type going around the shops and homes of some busy eastern town ranting on that there is gold or green pasture over them thar mountains. He spent all his free time trying to shake comfortable people from their comfortable homes and jobs. On enquiry, they heard that it was only his theory, and that he had never even really seen this place he always enthused about.

The likelihood of him successfully getting a load of settlers to uproot and come with him into the wild blue yonder is slight. Eventually it dawns on him that he will have to go ahead, alone, or maybe with just one or two trustworthy souls. He obviously needed to show the evidence of his belief.

He disappears for ten months and eventually returns to tell them that he has actually been there this time, and personally seen the wonderful lush empty land. He also shows them the gold he has panned from the rivers.

Peter, you are a pioneer, they are settlers. Stop fretting and get on with what you are called to do. Let your life show the wonder and delight of being a free man. If your theology is real, (and I believe it is), then they may possibly notice it, but don't hold your breath.

Jesus never went to into church (synagogue) and dragged them out to listen to him. Yes, if invited he spoke, but he then usually got thrown out!

Pioneering is a lonely walk, but you are in good company.

(Got the T shirt!)

A Simple Test

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