Modern Manifestations of the House Church

Transcription

1 Modern Manifestations of the House Church Edited By Dr. Gary M. Gulan, 2000 Introduction: Sometime ago I found an article on the internet on "streams of house church" by Frank Viola. It was not copyrighted. I found the article very interesting and helpful. As I was starting a House Church I wanted to use the information but make some changes to the article. There were things in the article that I did not want to expose my people to, so I edited it, while giving him the credit for the original source. He did a great job and his experience and insights were very helpful. In the internet article, Frank was attempting to answer the question, "What are the different streams of house church and how do they differ from one another?" His answer was qualified by six cautions: 1. his observations were based on experience and personal observations; 2. his comments were not to be regarded as an accurate characterization of every group that is connected with it; 3. the purpose of this list is not to create an appearance of denominationalism among those who meet in homes; 4. the list ought not to be regarded as a pattern to emulate nor a template by which to pigeonhole any fellowship or individual; 5. the purpose of the list is to help educate and guide those who are seeking to find a particular expression of New Testament church life in their community; 6. The list is by no means exhaustive; and 7. the list appears in no particular order and implies no particular priority. I believe there is a great value in a over-view list of the manifestations of the house church. I believe the five main questions this list would answer is: 1. Are there other groups of Christians seeking the true N.T. expression of the local church? 2. what is out there as far as house churches? 3. where are we in the formation of our house church? 4. not all houses churches are the same, thus are there ones I should be aware of and possibly avoid? 5. how would I recognize some house churches that could cause problems for my Christian walk? Notice the following manifestations of the house church. The "Denominational" House Church: The George Fox Manifestation. This group is known as The Quakers or The Religious Society of Friends. The "Radical" House Church: The Gene Edwards Manifestation. Gene Edwards had a Baptist background and attended both college and seminary. Gene gives a salvation testimony that occurred on July 17, In 1954 he became the pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. He clashed with the authority of the deacons, the church's traditions, power plays, and the ministerial expectations of the congregation. He left the ministry and went into evangelism. He attended churches in at least a dozen denominations searching for truth. He also

2 studied church history searching for truth. He wrote several books on the history of the first century church. Gene has started house churches in nine states. He has an aggressive writing ministry on the N.T. Church and has an intensive three year training program for house churches. Gene's ministry is centered on "Christ is the priority" and "the need for trained church planters in NT church thought." The "Wineskin" House Church: The Frank Viola Manifestation. Frank Viola gives a superficial salvation testimony that occurred to him at age ten in an Assemblies of God church. He says his real conversion testimony takes place at age sixteen when he says "the lights went on in my spirit." In the years to come he attended a dozen or so of church affiliations. He was very disappointed with what he calls "the institutional church" and sought the church of the NT. He rejects any kind of "pastoral or shepherd" influence over the house church. He follows the "body-life" or "koinoia" concepts. He was greatly moved by the writings of Watchman Nee. He is sympathetic to both Pentecostal and charismatic theology because of spiritual gifts. He seeks to love one another through their differences. He has planted two houses churches. The "Cell" House Church: The Restoration Manifestation. The Morningstar ministries, the Third-wave groups and the Vineyard ministries all have had a part in this group. The Little Flock House Church: The Watchman Nee Manifestation This group is typically centered around Christ, His eternal purpose, and the Scriptures. Most follow the teaching (some loosely, others strictly) outlined in Watchman Nee's "The Normal Christian Church Life" which puts a high premium on the Headship of Jesus Christ, the oneness of His Body, and the peril of sectarianism. Stephen Kaung, who some regard as a protégé of Nee, is a very meek man and has managed to prevent others from enshrining him (in fact, he would no doubt object to the mention of his name on this list!). He is a gifted teacher and lifts up the name of Christ in a glorious way. Deeper life themes are often stressed in these groups. T. Austin- Sparks followed Watchman Nee but stressed the heavenly and spiritual nature of the church more than the practical and earthly side. Sparks (from Honor Oak, England) worked closely with both Watchman Nee and Stephen Kaung until his passing in the early seventies. Sparks, like Nee, was a unique and choice vessel of the Lord in this century who contributed an extraordinary vision of Christ and His Church to the Body of Christ. (GMG - This group has a rich heritage in Watchman Nee. Watchman Nee called his group "The Little Flock." This "pietistic" group started in He stressed holiness and expounded many great teachings of scripture, however, he did have some strange views and he has overlooked some doctrinal truths that could have affected his followers. ) The Living Stream House Church: The Witness Lee Manifestation. This camp is ardent in its belief that the late Lee held the "Divine baton" and was the vessel that God used to recover His purpose and truth about "the local church" across the globe. While "oneness" is a chief tenant of this stream, many regard these groups as exclusive, sectarian, and elitist. The influence of Lee's teachings, which appear in countless books and tapes, is extremely strong on this camp. They even have their own translation of the Bible (The Recovery Version)

3 which is footnoted with Lee's comments. Because Lee worked with Watchman Nee in China, there is much that is helpful in his ministry. At the same time, there are a number of areas where the personalities, emphases, and teachings of the two men are markedly different. (GMG - Witness Lee called his group the "Local Church." Witness Lee was a very dangerous teacher with many doctrinal problems. Lee stressed submission to the local church, authority of the local church over each member's life, and strict discipline. He believed there could only be one true gathering of believers in each city. Lee taught experience was the test over knowledge. His view of the trinity was "monarchianistic modalism" or "Sabellianism" which states God is one person who projects himself as three modes or three successive steps not three separate individuals. Though Christ was neither God nor man but some kind of new mixture. Lee thought man's original sin was a matter of choice to be mingled with God or Satan, and not a matter of ethics of doing what God wanted. Lee's salvation was man being mingled with God, not believe in Jesus Christ. One can see the bias in Frank Viola here if Lee's church is acceptable and that he has something to teach us.) The Bible Doctrine House Church: Ana-Baptists, Mennomites, Methodists, and Brethren Manifestations. This strand of house church tends to rigidly stress a specific pattern for meeting, regarding it as the pattern to follow. Most hold to Reformation theology right down the line and/or party-line fundamentalist themes. They are typically highly doctrinaire and noncharismatic with respect to spiritual gifts. (GMG - This group does not always follow Reformed theology, but I believe Frank Viola is making a point that the "pulpit," the "preaching," and "the Bible" is the center of these churches. These churches believe doctrine in all areas of life is important, not just teachings on the "church" or on "evangelism." One can see the bias in Frank Viola here against strong "doctrine" which might limit him in some way and also he is against those who are not sympathetic to the charismatic movement. There is a rich heritage in this stream, because from this stream came the Ana-baptists, Mennomites, Methodists, and brethren movements. These movements were a "back to the Bible" movements.) The Neo-Evangelical House Church: The Light-Doctrinal Community Manifestation. These house churches tend to color their interpretation of Scripture with modern Biblical scholarship and often contribute fresh insights to old questions. They are highly relational, frequently embrace the social dimensions of the gospel, and hold to nontraditional concepts regarding leadership, Christian community, women's role in the church and in the home, the Lord's supper, etc. (GMG - This group is dangerous because they reject doctrinal teachings found in God's Word, and have redefined the roles of women, leadership, and sanctification. One can see the bias of Frank Viola because of his statement of "modern Biblical scholarship" and "fresh insights.") The Propserity-Faith House Church: The C. Alan Martin Manifestation. Although few in number, these house churches (as well as a network directed by C. Alan Martin) are built around the prosperity-faith teachings of Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Fred Price, Charles Capps, etc. (GMG - This group is dangerous because of the influence and acceptance of the charismatic movement and healing movement. The prosperity gospel of this group is very dangerous also.

4 This group practices "cell" groups to further its cause, extend it outreach, and keep track of its people.) The Sonship of the Latter Rain House Church: The Sam Fife and George Warnock Manifestation. Sam Fife and/or George Warnock are often regarded as the fathers of this camp. Many of these groups meet in intentional communities, are self-sufficient, and often act as refugees for people who need extreme help and can't make it in the streets. They are Pentecostal in nature, adventist in outlook, and place a heavy emphasis on the preparation of God's end-time remnant for the time when the "sons of God are manifested." (GMG - This group has a great heart for the down and outer. It's emphasis is making the church a spiritual hospital. However, this group is dangerous because of the Pentecostal and charismatic influences.) The 3 H's (home church, home school, and home birth) House Church: The Bill Gothard Manifestation. Many are influenced by the teachings of Bill Gothard and believe that God wants virtually all Christians to raise large families which are home schooled. According to some, these groups have often become their own subculture, wholly disconnecting themselves from the larger culture (including Christian) and from anything that is conventional. Some house churches of this ilk have a penchant for keeping the Jewish customs. (GMG - This group is based on the almost cultic following of Bill Gothard. His teachings are dangerous because they contain a mixture of the Old Testament Law and the Mosaic Covenant mixed with New Testament grace, which cannot be done biblically and should not be done in the church.) The Church of the NT House Church: The Acts and Epistles Manifestation; Some of these folks have not heard of any of the above groups. These groups are characterized by a sovereign leading of God's Spirit to meet according to New Testament principles. Many in this group have found their way there as a result finding the modern church of organized Christianity deficient. They have come to see the NT Scriptures paint a different orginazation of the church. They studied: Acts 1:13-14; 2:46; 8:3; 16:15; 17:4-7; 20:20; Romans 16:3-5; 16:23; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1,2; James 2:1-3; and 2 John 10. Based on these 13 passages they have organized a House Church. Using the title of this group is not to suggest that the others listed are not "Spirit-led." For one can be directed by the Holy Spirit and at the same time of ending up in a different place. (GMG - This is a good group if the leaders are Bible based. Some groups use the concept "spiritled" to justify their own passions.) The Eclectic House Church: The Non-Institutional Manifestation. These are those who swim in two or more of the above streams. Conclusion: It ought to be stated that some of the above groups meet on a strictly negative, reactionary basis ("We've got burned in the institutional church, so we're doing church the right way now") while others meet on a positive basis (we've seen a greater vision of Christ and His thought for the Body, so we cannot but meet this way").

5 (GMG - The problem here is that Frank Viola views leaving the institutional church creates a "negative" house church and if one stumbles on the house church from scripture the house church becomes "positive." This may or may not be legitimate. It depends on what the groups does with its teachings.) Further, virtually all of the streams listed above have their own regular conferences.