Where You Meet Matters
Sometimes it is the obvious thing that remains so hard to see.
Lately I’ve been struck by the context in which the Christians in the First Century gathered to experience the Life and Community of Christ. I’ve also been struck by the truth that the context of the New Testament is miles apart from the context we Twenty-First Century Westerners experience the Christian life.
For example:
- Early Christians were persecuted and killed by the government, we are privileged by government.
- Early Christians met huddled in homes, around a table; we meet in buildings that rival huge coliseums and event centers.
- Early Christians made the “one-anothers” a central element to their faith, their gatherings and their relationships; we struggle to adapt the 54 “one-anothers” into a typical Sunday worship gathering.
There is just so much more sense that is made in this passage when the church meets in the home. In fact, most English translations get the last phrase wrong – and it has troubled many Christians’ interpretation of the Lord’s Supper for years. Paul warns (in the English translations anyway) that some people who incorrectly take the Lord’s Supper will get drunk, sick…and some have even… “died”– that word died has caused the fear of many that if we don’t have the right mind when we take the wafer and grape juice shot glass, that we’ll be struck dead. Looking at the Greek however, the word is “fall asleep” not “die” – and while that can be a euphemism, think about it logically – when you eat and drink too much, you get sick and you fall asleep. It just makes sense. And it makes the most sense in a household context.
Think about the teachings of Jesus on reconciliation with a brother in Christ, Mt. 6 and Mt. 18. Think about each time that Paul communicates to the elders and deacons in the Pastoral Epistles. In every case they are meeting in a network of house churches!
I’m no patternist, I don’t believe in legalistically recreating First Century culture. But if we want to live out the kind of life that Jesus invites us to – we can’t just pick and choose what that life is! It is a matter of becoming family, living like family, acting like family – God’s Family. Jesus invited his disciples to a Table. The early Christians invited their seeking friends to their Table.
In the End, we will all gather in the New Jerusalem around the banquet Table of God.
Table Fellowship is Christian Fellowship.
Rusty Wimberly 2:43 pm on September 15, 2011 Permalink
I’ve wrestled with this subject over the past 3 years now and most people still don’t get it. I fully agree, the form follows function. The place we gather will most often determine what happens when we gather. With house church being a great forum for “one anothers” it seems to be challenging for other things such as preaching, teaching, outreach and extended times of gifted ministry. The building setting could be more conducive for teaching, evangelism and community outreach…maybe? The bottom line in our culture is some people are not going to feel comfortable coming to a strangers house. All in all, we all need to be reminded that church is not defined by the building but in order to actually follow the Lord in discipleship we need to do it in community.
Mark W 11:57 am on September 17, 2011 Permalink
Rusty — good thoughts! We are finding that having a mix of “regularly scheduled events” both in and out of homes helps new guests feel welcome, AND it keeps the focus off “event” but places faith back into “all of life” where it should be. The book AND by Halter/Smay has been very helpful. Have you read it?
Mark W 11:57 am on September 17, 2011 Permalink
Rusty — good thoughts! We are finding that having a mix of “regularly scheduled events” both in and out of homes helps new guests feel welcome, AND it keeps the focus off “event” but places faith back into “all of life” where it should be. The book AND by Halter/Smay has been very helpful. Have you read it?
Website Hosting 6:57 am on January 19, 2012 Permalink
Really interesting thought and interesting post..