One of the greatest innovations in church planting is the return of what was common during the first century, the house church. Really, this can't be called an innovation, on one hand it's not a new idea. However; on the other hand, house churches are not the complete "New Testament" model that many proponents claim. What needs to be understood about any church today, house or local, is that church today can never be a replica of the "first century" church for simple reason, we no longer live in the first century. In fact, we live in the 21st century and we live in a world that is unique to the culture of today.
I believe that everyday I come to different understanding about our Great God and His working manifestation on this earth called the Church. I don't believe that God wants us to have a first century church today any more than He wanted a 21st century church back then. I believe today He wants His church to be relevant to the people of today in each and every cultural context that exists in this diverse world we live in.
So what does that look like in CA? In the west, we are going through church transition as the emergent group (which I agree with in many areas) is throwing off the traditions of the past and reaching out to a post-modern society. Here in CA, every church in an emergent church, one emerging from a dominion of darkness in a cultural that at times can be truly hostile to the Gospel. House church is not a statement about what Christian community should be, instead it is a necessity of survival. A house church offers a reproducible model of church planting. House church offers security from being noticed by a hostile community. House church offers a chance to spread through familiar networks. House church offers to many communities an affordable way to "do" church. Truly, a house church is a great way to go for the church around the world to spread quickly and effectively from community to community.
Here's the rub, most "M's" (see subtitle of blog) are ill prepared to be part of, let alone start, a house church. Most come from a local community of believers that meet in self-owned buildings or something similar. So how does an ill prepared church planter experience community like in a house church so that he can participate in the starting of a movement of such churches? Simple, go join a house church.
That is exactly what we have done since arriving in CA. We have begun to attend a house church with other ex-pats (a common term referring to those of us living in one country while being from another country). Now, this is not an indigenous church. We are not attending a church filled with nationals at this moment for a few reasons. One reason echos what I have stated above, the need to learn. The other has to do with not wanting to become an obvious presence in a small group of national believers without knowing very much language and less culture. Lord willing we plan to visit some national congregations when we are bit more prepared to interact as equals.
So what do we do until then? We study the language, we look for "like-minded" nationals, we pray, we evangelize, and we observe. Pray for us during this time while we experience Christian community in a house church. Pray we will see those things that can be reproduced in a national context.
