When you do leave Local Churches, do what a really nice Christian Couple did years ago. They saw the Local Church System for what it was and left it,
with a fervent desire to COME ASIDE from all the Voices in Christianity, and Seek the Heart of Jesus and His Direction for their heart and lives.
They resolved to do nothing but that in their Prayer Times, they Searched the Scriptures and took their direction from them.
They did these two things for many months and The Lord raised them up in our City to be a Voice for Jesus. They moved in the Prophetic, teaching and preaching Jesus and prophesying into hearts and lives. They ran independent Conferences from their own pockets (they did not solicit funds for that, they worked for a living) They also had a
small House Fellowship fortnightly on Friday Evenings, and an occasional Picnic on a Saturday. They also established a Good Witness with their Customers
(they did tree lopping and garden work) People liked them Very Much.
We can do this for several weeks (Seek Jesus with all our hearts, and ask Him to guide us) and find a Home Church (small group of Christians) to Fellowship with or start one of our own – even a Family can do that. In fact, the Israelites Worshipped The Lord in their Houses as a Family.
Friends, we are not called to the same things the Christian Couple did necessarily (conferences and all that) but please do follow their Example. Brad is up there in Glory now……..Enjoying his Rewards. I pray we will follow in his steps, and others found in Scripture. They were approved of God, most Preachers are not these days.
And its very sad because they mislead people in one way and another – they do not Seek the Face of Jesus or Care to do so. They just run a Local Church; follow the System; go through the motions. And guess what Friends? You’re trusting them to be your “spiritual” Covering. That is actually ill-founded, absolutely nowhere to be found in Scripture. You know? the “whose your Covering?” Question we often hear quoted.
No wonder we find in Scripture that The Lord Himself is our Covering. Human Nature being what it is, He only entrusted Himself with that Role – that’s His Rightful Place.
So any Preacher who claims to be “Your Covering” is either ignorant or a liar.
You need to confront them to their face (if you are strong enough to do so) when they tell you that – advising you to avoid Home Churches etc. saying things like “they are rebellious, House Churches are not biblical” ………. can I say, who is rebellious? Mind where you are getting advice from, a pastor with invested interests (his position and his income) OR what your Bible Really Does Say AND how much a Home Church will Benefit You More.
If you are a Sensitive Person or think they would be a bit Pushy or disapproving, simply Leave Quietly – just don’t go there again. You don’t have to give Explanations because some people play on that. Even a Pastor with good intentions may Insist, and you could find it confusing.
Again, Why Consider A House Church?
For starters, they’re not run like an Orphanage: institutional – everyone thrown in together; no-one gets to know each-other; you go through the motions and then go home.
That’s it, pretty much.
No, Home Churches are not remotely like that. They are foremost Inter-Relational with Jesus and Each-Other. It’s FAMILY – because there are less members present and they
Enjoy Coming Consistently each week, you CAN Relate as a Family.
Not so in a Local Church setting – it’s plainly Impossible. Please consider: What things does a Family do? They know each-other personally; they interact together;
they have meals together; they communicate and discuss things together; they go out together sometimes; they share each-others happy moments and support each-other.
That is a Description of a Home Church Friends. It’s a HEALTHY Atmosphere. In contrast to this, Children in an Orphanage don’t Love each-other
because they’re brought up by a System, run by Employees. And that’s a very good illustration of Local Churches.
“All The Best To You!”