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Originally Posted by KMK  The problem with meeting in someone's home is that it is not a public meeting. You can bend over backwards to insist that it is public and anyone is welcome to attend, but by and large, no visitor is going to be comfortable going to some stranger's house without a specific invitation. I had meetings in my house every Fri night for years and kept insisting it was a public meeting, but never once did we have a stranger join us.
I think it is very important that churches be as public as possible. So I recommend spending the extra money to get a public building even if it doesn't appear that you need the extra space. It is better to spend more money on a public building than to try to save money by turning church into a private affair.  |
I agree with you in general, but I think we should consider differing situations. In China, going public means definite imprisonment, torture and even death. Remaining as private as possible until Chinese law changes concerning Christianity is the wisest way. And through these underground home churches, Christianity is spreading in China. So praise be to God for that.
In America, many church plants meet in peoples' homes for worship, bible studies, etc. Even established churches have home bible studies and cell groups. But the difference is that established churches worship in a large facility either owned or rented. Church plants meeting in homes do not have the attendance numbers or finances to do so. But the goal and vision should always be to move to a public place eventually.
Tony Evans planted his church in his garage for the first 15 years. During those 15 years, only about 3-5 families came. Today, his church building can seat 5,000 people for one worship service. I believe he has 2 morning worship services.
I know of another church plant in NYC that began with 3 families meeting and worshiping in a basement of one family's house. Eventually, they bought a former post office building, converted it into a church building, and worship there on a regular basis.
The problem is not with worshiping in homes if the goal is to eventually move out of the homes into a public building. The problem is the Home Church Network where the idea is to remain in the homes. Their philosophy is that if the group gets too big, then divide the groups into more available homes, assign new home group leaders, but remain in the homes. The Home Church Network was conceptualized by former missionaries in China, bringing it to America. These former missionaries fail to realize that the Home Church Network philosophy isn't the ideal choice of a church in any country, but is the best choice for China so long as Chinese law bans Christianity. Whereas in America, it is not the ideal choice nor is it a good choice among many. But it is a practical choice for new church plants to get its feet on the ground until it can sustain itself in public.