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"God is not the kind of father who casts off sick and erring children; if he were, he would have no children."
- Martin Luther

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Not a thing, if we mean by “house church” a church that meets in a house. One can make all manner of arguments about the best architectural forms for public worship, but no one, I suspect, would suggest that this kind of building or that is, in itself, sinful. The issue with house churches then isn’t with the house, but with the church (or lack thereof). There is a rather great gap between a group of people who are under authority gathering together to worship the living God while meeting in a house, and a home wherein the father, or the parents, decide for themselves that they are a church. The one has biblical precedent and standing. The other is rank rebellion, and a recipe for disaster.

I understand the temptation. It’s not often easy to find a church that does well what it’s called to do. It can get frustrating showing up Sunday after Sunday and being gawked at for not only having a large family, but for keeping them together during the service. It can be maddening when the pastor keeps preaching against judging others, all because he suspects you of judging him. Wouldn’t it be so much nicer, so much safer, so much more comfortable, not to mention, so much more convenient, if we did it ourselves? They told us we couldn’t do school at home, and we proved them wrong. Why not just do church at home as well?

Because we all need to be under authority. Because there is no one on the planet to whom God has said, “You just answer to Me. No need to bother with any human authority. They, after all, are all sinners.” No, we all need to be under visible, earthly authority, for our own protection, and for the protection of our families. That protection needs to be publicly affirmed, and measurably administered. That is, I need to be in a place where a specific group of men, called to this critical role, can confront me on my sin, and command me to repent. Hebrews 13:17 commands that we “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give an account.” How often have well-intentioned Christians left the local church because it failed to honor the Bible, and came up with this program and that, or failed to encourage modesty, or had a praise band, and those whose consciences were too tender to stay, end up in churches where there are no elders and deacons as the Scripture clearly and expressly commands?

Friends, this problem is rampant in our own circles. And here is why. The world told us that we should have only one or two children. We didn’t listen. Our parents told us we should not homeschool our children. We didn’t listen. The elders told us that our children should be in Sunday School and youth group. We didn’t listen. Now remember that I not only believe children are a blessing, that we ought to homeschool them, and that the family ought to be together at church, but also believe that actually doing these things is the right decision. But isn’t it just possible that this is evidence that we have a hard time with authority? Isn’t it possible that we have reached the conclusion that wisdom dies with us? Isn’t it possible that we will have no one to rule over us, despite the plain teaching of the Bible that we must?

I am grateful for the fidelity of families that share these kinds of convictions with me. It is a joy and delight to spend time across the country with friends who see children as a blessing, who teach them at home, and who worship together as families. But what we really need is more humility. We need a deeper understanding of our own sin, more than a deeper knowledge of the sins of the saints at the traditional church down the road. We need a consciousness of our own deceitful hearts, such that we recognize the need to be under authority.

Be sure to check out the weekly (or so) email from Highlands Ministries, The Kingdom Notes, featuring a short, encouraging word from R.C., as well as the latest news, specials, and other interesting things going on in their neck of the woods. To subscribe, send an email to info@highlandsstudycenter.org and tell them that you want to receive the Kingdom Notes. If you have a question for R.C. please send it along to the same address. All questions will be posted anonymously.

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