Fundamentals: How to Start Gilgal: The Place of Starting

Transcription

1 Fundamentals: How to Start Gilgal: The Place of Starting WThe House Concept We ve previously established that the church in the house has its basis in New Testament Scripture. In today s vernacular we would call it a home Bible study. Home Bible studies are distinct in many ways from what we know as today s church. One unique aspect is that people usually come by way of personal invitation, as opposed to church affiliation. Hence, word-of-mouth is the primary mode for bringing people into the Study, thereby spurring growth. Another fingerprint of home Bible studies is the house-concept it s safe to be at home and to be real. One s home is generally considered a safe place, a place of security. Therefore, church from this perspective becomes a place of grace. In this setting people feel safe to let down their guard, to relate one to another and establish a rapport with each other. 5

2 Pragmatics of Church Building Consider it from the perspective of the prodigal son. Luke 15:27 says the prodigal was safe and sound when he returned home; but outside, he was not. In fact, even before he left home, his mind was not sound; therefore, he left the place of safety. Safe and sound, with regards to creating a church environment, is the Gilgal level the place of starting. Gilgal is the first of the four steps toward sonship and maturity, set forth in 2 Kings 2:1-15. In this critical stage it is important to foster a grace-filled atmosphere in which people feel it s safe to be real; and consequently they are liberated to experience the transformative power of God s favor. That s the precise affect Jesus Christ had upon sinners. They were drawn to Him because He made them feel safe to be real. Case in point: Matthew 9:10, 13 tells us that when Jesus was in Matthew s house eating with His disciples, many publicans and sinners came to hang out with Him. That s no surprise because Jesus the exemplification of the house-concept in action came to call sinners to repentance, to change lives. Hence, when He rebuked their behavior, they still felt safe to be real with Him. As a result, He was able to effect change in their lives. In the Father s house and likewise at home we each are safe, safe to be ourselves. Thus, the Father has established the house-concept as the biblical pattern and perspective for His Church, both in public worship and from house to house. House Calls: The Personal Level of Ministry Another aspect of the house-concept is house calls, or home visitation. This is an extension of the church in the house. Luke 19:1-6 underscores its importance. It tells us that when Jesus passed through Jericho, a man named 6

3 Fundamentals: How to Start Gilgal: The Place of Starting Zacchaeus, desiring to see Him, climbed into a sycamore tree. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. This classic example of a home visitation shows Jesus personally visiting the home of Zacchaeus. The Scriptures reveal He made house calls also to the homes of Peter, Matthew, Martha, Jairus, and the Centurion. Though this was obviously an established pattern for Jesus, it is unfortunate that in today s church, visitation is often a missing link. Nevertheless, home visitation is part and parcel of the Gilgal level. With a small congregation, pastors are able to operate on a more personal, intimate level of ministry, by making home visits. As the church expands, however, it will be necessary for the pastor to duplicate himself/herself in others. These representatives can then help shoulder the load, making house calls in the pastor s stead. Until that time, pastors should personally make house calls, just as Jesus did. By this means, they will be able to establish relationships, while at the same time meeting the needs of the people. When making house calls one must be cognizant that some people might not readily accept a pastor s visit. In fact, they might be downright reluctant or suspicious, fearing the pastor is probably checking up on them. They might think the pastor will require them to make changes in their homes. Some might even feel the pastor is trying to get a little too close. These hesitancies need not be taken as a putoff, however, they tend only to layers of intimacy. Some people are just not ready for their pastor to get that close to them. But since home visitations cannot be legislated or imposed, 7

4 Pragmatics of Church Building it brings to bear that pastors and their representatives must be sensitive to the methodology of the Spirit. He makes the difference. In the example of Jesus and Zaccheus, Jesus simply said, Let s go to your house. Zaccheus had no friends; so, for Jesus to come to his house was very meaningful. At home, Zaccheus was free to be real with Jesus; and in that atmosphere, repentance took place. A real change happened in his heart. That is why we must follow the Spirit s lead. He has the approach that doesn t encroach, but graciously evokes intimacy. Practice Hospitality The art of home visitation and the expression of the house-concept, lies in the practice of hospitality. Thus, Romans 12:13 in the Amplified Bible exhorts us to pursue the practice of hospitality. The word hospitality, (philoxenos) used in the verse, literally translates as the love (philo) of strangers or guests (xenos). The English word hospitality stems from the Latin word for host, hospes, which means guest. According to the 1975 edition of the Reader s Digest Family Word Finder, In biology a host is a living plant or animal from which a parasite, the uninvited guest, obtains nourishment or protection. These two types of host derive from the same root, which gives us our word guest the root meaning stranger who may be one s host or one s guest. Thus, hospitality references a person who graciously welcomes and entertains its hosts or guests. This spirit of graciousness is pervasive in the houseconcept, making the atmosphere guest friendly. Moreover, 8

5 Fundamentals: How to Start Gilgal: The Place of Starting the practice of hospitality guarantees accommodations are made to ensure guests and hosts are virtually free from excessive noise, distractions or constant disturbances. This, in turn, establishes an environment conducive to worship, which prepares the heart for the study of the Word. Now that we have an understanding of the houseconcept, the environment it elicits, and what it effectuates, let us segue into the Bible study itself its format and initial teachings. This spirit of graciousness is pervasive in the house-concept, making the atmosphere guest friendly. Moreover, the practice of hospitality guarantees accommodations are made to ensure guests and hosts are virtually free from excessive noise, distractions or constant disturbances. This, in turn, establishes an environment conducive to worship, which preps the heart for the study of the Word. 9