Duncan, Ferguson, and Sproul: Questions and Answers #3

[@tomfuschetti202]

See Ferguson, Godfrey, Lawson, & Sproul

[@garyviolette5045]

I am a worker in the field in Nicaragua. 4 years ago, i arrived from Seattle with the purpose of finding a solid church family from which to extend. I have realized that the church one attends needs to be Biblically sound. I don't opt for a pentecostal church just because they use the word Jesus in their claims, nor Mormon, not Catholic. most churches here are very syncrestic. It is the Bible, the word of God, John 1:1, Jesus that we owe our authority and devotion to. So, going to church, an edifice, is simply not possible for me. Neither was it for many of the pioneer missionaries. Where did Carey go on his first Sunday, or Elliot or.... I have 70 homes which welcome me in to their house each month, where we study the bible for 30-60 minutes together. It is more of a church than any other to be found I believe, in the entire country. Because we don't teach tradition, or denomination, we teach the doctrines of the Bible, through the speaking of the word of God. my description is not to tout myself, but rather to describe the living out of what I have come to understand as true.

[@wileypaul4823]

I don’t understand 2 Corinthians 5 1 haveing A house not made with hands, is this A new body ?

[@MountCarmel007]

Brothers and Sisters, Please Watch "The Mark of the Beast" by CD Brooks

[@matthewvaughan3245]

Sorry RC, most house church's that I know of were formed from those seeing the church becoming nothing more than country clubs. Tithe's spent on multiple staff salaries, high tec audio/visual equipment for worship service's instead of using money for missions or for the poor. In a big church many can not use their gift's, you come listen to one man for a hour and go home. In the house church I find no end time. It ends when the Spirit says. I seen some service's go for hours, with everyone involved. God does not have just one way for his people to meet ( big church). I have been a christian for 44yrs and have grown way more in a house church than a institutional one. You also have rules and regulations set down by denominations that have nothing to do with the Bible. House church's have but one set of rules, those laid down in the bible. It's not independence they are looking for but freedom from religion. It's relationship not religion that draws us

[@brycetonkin672]

I think the dangers of house churches far out weigh the benefits. It is born out of this radical individualism that is so aggressively fracturing Christendom today. But more so than that, I think the biggest concern is what you admitted, that your rules are purely biblical in the sense that these churches have no creeds or confessions or doctrinal statements. Where is the accountability in such a system? You think that escaping church politics is a good thing, but that just speaks to a misunderstanding of the church. There are rules and regulations within denominations, which are heavily based on Scripture, which ensure the stability and sound teaching. They ensure you have an educated pastor who is trained in how to study scripture, who has a deep understanding of theology, who is taught how to prepare sermons and preach on a wide variety of topics. They ensure there is a clear and well laid out doctrine by which the church can order itself. That doctrine must of course be based only on Scripture, but doctrine is vital. For instance, a layperson may read the Bible but not quite see the Trinity. Having a doctrinal statement that professes that belief and explains it’s biblical origins so that any member of the church can easily have a jumping off point to understanding and deeper study is something that should be treasured. Most house churches are really just Bible studies. They may be beneficial in some aspects of spiritual life, but they are lacking in the deep community and deep teaching that the church provides. Do not run from doctrine. Confessional, doctrine based, organized churches are a gift to us. They keep churches from starting through their governing boards, they keep laypeople from falling into false teaching through their clear systematic theology and doctrine. To think that you and your small group of friends have a formed a house church that is more biblical based and theologically rich than churches that have been slowly built up for hundreds of years based of the careful work of thousands of dedicated theologians is frankly very arrogant.