Why not have church in the house?

It’s Sunday morning, and I am getting out of bed. I look in my closet and search what I am going to where. Why? I am going to the building, the church building. I am heading to the place where I will see a many with a smiling face, most I haven’t even seen all week. I go downstairs, read my bible and do a little exegesis on the scripture the Lord has given me for the day. There is also a grieving in my soul. I am going to the church building, seeing many with a smiling face, most of whom I have not seen all week (I’ll try not to repeat this sentence again lol).

I am writing this post at my frustration of getting up every Sunday morning, to go hear a good exegesis of the scripture, sing a couple of songs, take communion and the shake hands with so-called believers for a couple of minutes and head right back hom. It has nothing to do with the congregation either (which happens to be predominately white, I love my white brothers). What bothers me is doing the same thing over and over again, almost as if I am acting. Now, I admit, the sermons are straight from the Lord’s Word, but I wonder is this the way God calls us to do what we call “church”. Does God call us to dress up in nice clothes, and listen to a good sermon? Why do we have to go to a building? Why can I not interact with a small group of believers in my home or theirs? I am just thinking about why there seems to be this underlying rule that every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ must go to the church building. We must sing songs in this order, we must take communion, we must do a corporate prayer, and then we must listen to the pastor preach a message from the bible. Trust me, I am not against those who enjoy this, because I do it myself. I am not speaking against it neither, I am pondering thoughts in my mind. Now let’s look at the scriptures:

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46)

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42)

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. (Acts 8:3)

Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. (Acts 11:14)

Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. (Romans 16:5)

The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1 Corinthians 16:19)

Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. (Colossians 4:15)

I chose these select verses because in the New Testament, I see the word house being used several times. The scripture paints a clear picture as the house being an intimate place where the body of Christ can worship the Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word oikos oy'-kos decribes the house as:

1) a house a) an inhabited house, home b) any building whatever 1) of a palace 2) the house of God, the tabernacle c) any dwelling place 1) of the human body as the abode of demons that possess it 2) of tents, and huts, and later, of the nests, stalls, lairs, of animals 3) the place where one has fixed his residence, one's settled abode, domicile 2) the inmates of a house, all the persons forming one family, a household a) the family of God, of the Christian Church, of the church of the Old and New Testaments 3) stock, family, descendants of one

So there’s a lot of meaning comprised here in this word house. The house is a place of dwelling, a place were there is life. This where my questions come from. Is the church building a real dwelling place? You can answer yes, but the thing that crosses my mind is at the church building a person can put on a good act. But at a house, or going from house to house, how much of an act can be put on? In an intimate fellowship in the home, can believers really hide their lives? I would think not. If believers followed the scriptures, would there really be a sermon? Would everybody be allowed to interact? These are some things I think of.

Let me further explain. Let’s take for instance Bob. Bob is not a Christian. He goes to church every Sunday, a good reformed church at that (just thought I’d add that in there lol!). He is involved in Men’s Ministry. He comes every 2nd Saturday morning to the local IHOP to talk about the bible and men stuff. Bob talks about the good things, laughs and has excellent breakfast. In church, he puts on a big smile, holds his bible just right and acts like he is adhering to the great expository preaching coming from the pulpit. Plus, everybody seems to like Bob. He makes sure he speaks to all the members before he leaves to go home. When Bob goes home though, he cusses out his wife constantly, abuses his children, and is an alcoholic. Bob is stressede from work, and Bob also has become depressed. He has many thoughts of suicide. Bob still manages to make it to service though, it’s something he has known to do all his life. His daddy and mommy did it, and he learned how to do it himself. But Bob hates his life, and no one at the church really even knows it!

Now let’s flip the scenario a bit (this is not advocating house fellowship, I am trying to make point). Bob (same Bob) is invited to a church that meets from house to house. This church believes in aligning their church like scripture as much as possible. He is invited by a buddy named Jim, he goes fishing with. Actually they were going on Sunday, afternoon, but Jim said he had to meet with his brothers and sisters first and then he would come. This prompted Bob to ask about the brothers because he knew Jim was an only child. So, Jim explains it was his church he was speaking of. This sparks Bob’s interest and Bob asked if he could come with him. So when Bob arrives, kids are running around the house they are meeting. Somebody goes a calms them down. Bob is waiting for the service to start but he notices the people are just laughing and sharing in conversation. Bob tries to identify who the pastor is but he can’t figure out who he is. Then the so-called service begins. First, without anybody saying “time to begin”, Jim stands up and reads a scripture. Then someone else stands up and prays. No announcement or nothing. Then a sitting next to Bob a old lady says “God laid this hymn on her heart to sing”. She sings. Then the pastor speaks on the same scripture that Jim read. Bob is amazed because Jim didn’t tell him how the church ran. He just said “come!” Then another man prayed. Then another man spoke a word of encouragement, and Bob was amazed. Everybody was sharing, so Bob desired to speak. He felt he needed to repent of his sin and admitted he knew nothing of who Jesus really was, until he entered this house. Why? Bob was not in a place where he could put on an act.

Now both were just scenarios, the point is how much of an act can you put on in a small house congregation. See, it’s harder because the confinements of the house cause people to be intimate and be who they are in Christ. I think a lot of times many can put on a good show every Sunday in the church building. Some do not, and I praise God for that. But how many Bob’s are out there that do act? They know they can put on the act at the building they go to. Nobody will ever know. Yes, there are church buildings that meet and God is doing wonderful things with. My question is would it be better or more biblical to meet in the house? These are just some of my thoughts, my friends. Here are some websites to check out:. Of course I cannot forget this; I leave you with a scripture:

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (2 Corinthians 5:1-2)