Why House Churches?

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

For some years now, I've read on a regular basis the passages in Acts chapters 2 and 4 which describe the early Church. Sometimes I'm moved to tears by the idea of what the Church has been, and of what it can be. At some level, this is what draws me to Lebanon, and to Church planting. I yearn to be a part of a Church that is so vital I'm willing to center my life around it.

Such Churches are not the stuff of ancient history. They still exist today. You may find some of them in Europe and North America, but they are a rare commodity. Our Churches here have become so programmed and attuned to society that we've ceased to follow the Holy Spirit. But, there are places where the Church is in dire need, and there you'll find the Holy Spirit poured out like a mighty river.

There's no better example of what the Church should be than the Church we find in mainland China today. There are today perhaps 120 million Christians in China, with one notable government representative admitting privately that it may be closer to 130 million. By "Christian" here, we mean someone who is so devoted to Jesus Christ that he or she is willing to be arrested and suffer persecution from the government. We don't have nearly as many Christians in the US by that definition.

Even though there are still more than one billion Chinese who have not yet accepted Christ, these Chinese home Churches are already reaching out to the world with the Gospel. One influential group has a vision to evangelize the world between China and Jerusalem:

We believe the Chinese Church can succeed in bringing down the religious giants of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism because the Lord has taught us how to work in a nation where there is great opposition and persecution to the advance of the Gospel. There has been great effort put into evangelizing some of the countries in the Middle East, for example, but without many results. These nations are paranoid and on guard against Christianity coming from America. They have sealed their front doors as tightly shut as they can against Christianity, and they closely monitor every activity of Westerners who come to their country. While they spend all their energy guarding their front doors, maybe the Chinese Christians will quietly slip in the back door with the Gospel!

That's crazy, and very Godly! They really mean to go to the Muslim world with the Gospel. This group has identified several points that are a part of our vision for Lebanon.

1) A new model is needed for working in nations where the government and culture are actively hostile to the Gospel. The Chinese have identified a working model in the secret house Church. They developed this practice as a result of their own oppression. We in the West simply don't understand that. It's also the scriptural model of the first Church. This is how the Church started.

One of the early pioneers of the Chinese house Church movement was Watchman Nee, who had this to say about the importance of the house Church:

Everything must begin at the beginning. When a church is founded, the believers from the very outset must learn to meet by themselves, either in their own homes or in some other building which they are able to secure. Of course, not every church is a church in a house, but a church in a house should be encouraged rather than considered as a drawback.

This is the model which fits our vision for winning the Arabic speaking world for Christ. Rather than fighting for the right to build Churches, we will bring the Word of God to homes and families. The Arab world will be won by the Holy Spirit, not by our sweat and blood.

We want to begin with this model in Lebanon itself. Even though that country is open to evangelism, there are areas where it is dangerous to preach the Gospel. The Churches of Lebanon can learn, in their own country, how to plant house Churches throughout the Arab world.

2) The Arab and Muslim world is on their guard against missionaries from the West, and heavily monitors and limits their activity. In some nations such as Saudi Arabia, the door is not open at all.

There are many obstacles to Americans in reaching the Arab world, from historical grievances about the Crusades, to contemporary resentment about our unquestioning support for Israel. They are suspicious of every Westerner, and expect us to send missionaries.

3)There are groups who can share the Gospel better than Americans or other Westerners in these Arab and Muslim nations. The cultural barriers are not on guard against them.

The Lebanese are one such group. They work and live in all parts of the Arab speaking world, even areas that are sealed off to the West like Saudi Arabia. What is missing is a move of the Holy Spirit in Lebanon to empower the Church for this work. Yet, as I am often reminded, God has promised that "In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field and the fertile field seem like a forest?" So we are looking for a move of the Holy Spirit according to God's promise, a prophecy of great things to come.

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

This mission will follow the Holy Spirit. The Gospel will be preached in the Churches and homes of Lebanon. It will be preached in the wretched Palestinian refugee camps and the militant strongholds of Hizbollah. The Church will learn how to thrive under persecution, and carry the Gospel to the heart of the Islamic world. We expect, and will desperately need the miraculous power and intervention of the Holy Spirit. Of their own experience, the "Back to Jerusalem" movement says:

You need to understand that miracles are not something we should seek after in themselves. Miracles are not a toy for us to play with. They are an integral part of the Gospel. We are not called to follow miracles, but the Bible says signs and wonders will follow us when we preach the Gospel (see Mark 16:17-20). The miracles therefore act as evidence that the message is true.

It's been far too long since our Churches here in the US wondered at, and perhaps feared the power of, the work of the Holy Spirit. My own Baptist predecessors knew that power well. Men such as John Smyth and Thomas Helwys were known to be followed by miracles and healing as they preached the Gospel. It was their fidelity to the truth of scripture that led them to practices such as the anointing with oil of those in need of prayer and healing.

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.