An Introduction To: 

The Modern House Church Movement English/Spanish

By R. Cody Smith

The New Reformation

People from all around the World are discovering a new way to be the church today. Known by various names: Home Churches, Organic Churches, Simple Churches, and House Churches. What they share in common is new found freedom from religious traditions, expensive buildings, hierarchy of authority, and professional clerics, things that often impede the Biblical functions of the church, and our ability to actually live out many of the things we profess to believe. 

House churches simply adopt original New Testament values such as: the priesthood of believers, recognition of Jesus Christ as the head of the Body of Christ and the only true authority in His church, and the first century tradition of meeting in homes.  It comes as no surprise then, that this movement is experiencing growth at historical levels. In the process they are experiencing: 

A House Church Drama

Laughing and shouting is heard coming from the den, the football game is over and just in time. Patty calls out from the kitchen to her husband Ralph, “It’s time to start a fire in the barbeque.” The four men continue their revelry as they adjourn to the patio. Bryan, Greg, and Rick supervise as Ralph kindles the fire, and it isn’t long before the whole house is filled with the delicious smell of grilled burgers.

The children who have been playing in the back yard are called in, and they all find their way to the table. The meal begins by passing a small loaf of bread around the table, each gives a spontaneous word of thanks or praise as they pinch off and eat a small portion. After going full circle, someone says amen, but a lively conversation about Jesus continues even as they dive into the awaiting food.

After eating a single cup is passed around; there is reverence but mixed with excitement, everyone knows what it means, it’s the reason they’re together. The Lord’s Supper has become a real supper, and the church has become the Body of Christ. After eating nobody gets up--the dishes will wait--as Rick grabs a Bible and begins to read spontaneously, Candy exclaims, “That’s one of my favorite verses.” They continue each taking a turn reading a few verses, then pausing for the near constant flow of comments and nearly as many questions, even the children participate.

Rick has been a Christian longer than most of the group, but you might not recognize that he is the leader. Occasionally he calls on one of the quieter people in the group, drawing them out, encouraging them to share their thoughts. At other times he sits, quietly listening as they freely express their understanding of the scripture passage. There is no right or wrong interpretation, no question is thought foolish. Everyone is affirmed in his or her value to the group, and when someone goes off on a doctrinal tangent the Spirit of God has a way of bringing them gently back to center.  

After a while the conversation winds down, and Ralph picks up a guitar and begins a gentle time of worship, between songs people often share about personal struggles, or problems that they face. The group responds by gathering around to lay hands on them and pray. The hope is that no one will leave carrying a burden alone, they have been committed to God, and are now shared by all. Afterwards people continue to talk, and even though it’s getting late, no one really wants to leave, it seems there is no place that they would rather be.

This fellowship won’t wait for an entire week to pass; more like an extended family, they truly share each other’s burdens, mentoring one another each day through life experiences. As Wolfgang Simson succinctly points out, “Most of life is informal, and so too is Christianity as the Way of Life.”

On Friday mornings Greg and Rick get together for coffee. Greg has founded many groups like Rick's and is a sort an honorary house church coordinator in their city. He regularly devotes his time to a growing number of men like Rick. He is Rick’s spiritual mentor, keeping him accountable while helping with the inevitable challenges that arise in any kind of group relationships. Notably, none of these people receive a salary; this is truly a labor of love.

These intimate gatherings could have gone unnoticed, except that the whole neighborhood is abuzz, about how they all chipped in and painted an elderly widow’s house last month. Living Christianity seems to be spreading like a virus, and the biggest challenge is going to be splitting into two groups in order to accommodate all those who want to join. Bryan’s wife Brenda recently shared with the group that she felt at home the first time they visited, like part of a new and wonderful family.

Everyone that encounters a house church is amazed at how simply it meets all the requirements of being The Church, and fulfills many needs better than any other kind of church. Perhaps this inherent simplicity and flexibility explains why house churches seem to be growing and thriving everywhere.

A Modern Global Movement 

        China

In 1948, in it’s effort to stamp out Christianity the newly formed communist government of China expelled all Christian missionaries from the country. Left behind were approximately 30,000 leaderless Christian converts. The Chinese Government then established a state controlled religion; participation in any other church would be punishable by imprisonment and even death. 

These orphaned Christians were forced to go underground, they met secretly in homes, keeping their faith alive by word of mouth and from the few portions of scripture that they could find. Often copying by hand a page or two, perhaps a whole book, very few had a complete Bible available. 

Forty years later when some open communication with China resumed it was discovered that the unbelievable had occurred. Without Bibles, without missionaries, meeting secretly in homes, the fledgling Chinese house church had grown to include an estimated 80 million people. By many standards China could be considered the most Christian country in the World today. Considering the persecution undergone in the process, we will assume that these are not just casual members of a church, but serious committed Christians.  

Three things distinguish these churches:

        India

Some of the fastest-growing networks of house churches are in India. One group in Madhya Pradesh has started 3000 churches in the past six years including 60,000-70,000 new converts. House churches are often started as a result of spiritual power encounters, and then led by untrained pastors, they meet in the homes of the new believers. Their methods have become a model for churches all across India.

In the midst of growing persecution by the Hindu majority, one church alone seems to be thriving. We continue to receive reports like this:  

Many say they are simply disappointed at the churches inability to deliver on the Bible’s promise of an abundant Christian life. Today these people are beginning to find what they are looking for in simple, intimate churches that meet in homes.

Western Europe, North Africa, Ethiopia, Vietnam, England, Australia
The stories are the same. Humble, often untrained men and women of God are receiving a common vision that is setting the church free from denominational and religious restraints. They are simply taking God at his word, and leaving the results up to him.

       México

There is ample evidence to indicate that God is already at work sowing the house church vision in México. While some have already established house churches, others are still looking for some of the missing pieces. Scattered far and wide, it is our hope to locate all these individual leaders, and create a national network to encourage, train, and pray with one another. 

The Church Comes Home 

“House churches emerge when truly converted people stop living their own life
for their own ends, start living a community life according o the values of the  Kingdom of God, and start to share their life and resources with those 
Christians and not-yet-Christians around themselves.” 
Wolfgang Simson

What is a house church? 

Let us begin first by clarifying what a house church is not: A house church is not a cell, or appendage to be added on to an existing church structure. It is not an evangelism, church growth, or discipleship program, although these things will certainly happen. It is in fact not a program at all; instead it is a way of life being restored to us. 

Many movements throughout history have started in homes and then simply became smaller versions of the institutions that they had left behind. For this reason it is important to understand that it’s not about houses at all. More importantly it’s about the freedom found in the house church setting, whereby encouraging one another to trust Jesus, by putting into practice what He said, we can become, not just believers, but doers of the word. This is the place where church ceases to be a meeting we attend, and becomes an integral part of our everyday life, where we live, work and play.

A house church usually consists of 12-15 followers of Christ who meet regularly in a home. Their purpose is to affirm one another in their common journey; to know the living God—Jesus, to glorify, and to worship him. A healthy house church puts into practice the twenty-two things that Jesus commanded us to do for/to/and with one another (share each other burdens, etc.). This loving interaction does not go unnoticed, and soon attracts outsiders causing it to grow and multiply like any other living organic body.

Through simple obedience to the Word of God house churches naturally engage the world around them, and continue the ministry of Jesus; healing broken hearts, and rescuing lost and dying souls. Along the way peoples own needs are met for, healing, fellowship, and spiritual growth.

House churches are Biblically autonomous and answer to no religious hierarchy. This freedom is obtained by making our first allegiance to God and not to religious traditions. This makes Jesus the head and the Holy Spirit becomes our final authority. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit is crucial for house churches. 

All house churches belong to the Body of Christ, as do all other Christian churches no matter how, or where they choose to meet. Since we all belong to one Body, so we also belong to one another. This movement is not against anyone it is simply for Jesus. 

Throughout history there has always been a remnant church of this kind, however this remnant shows signs of becoming a movement. Pioneer house church planter Tony Dale says, “I believe that within 30 years the majority of Christians around the World will be meeting regularly in homes.”