House churches 'more satisfying'

According to Barna's latest research "house churches are more satisfying to attenders than are conventional churches". The difference is about 15-20 percent. Barna describes a "house church" as "a group of believers that meets regularly in a home or place other than a church building. These groups are not part of a typical church; they meet independently, are self-governed and consider themselves to be a complete church on their own... not associated in any way with a local, congregational type of church."

Interestingly Barna found that "half of the people (54%) currently engaged in an independent home fellowship have been participating for less than three months, and three out of every four house church participants (75%) have been active in their current gathering for a year or less." This is an indication that the house church phenomenon is spreading rapidly in the States.

I'm just a bit cautious when he uses words like "satisfying" and "attending", and even saying that 76% of house churches have "formal teaching time" (read: sermon). This raises the question: what is house church all about? Is it a mini-version of church-as-we-know-it with a bit more food on the table, or a dangerous unit in a new Jesus movement?

Comments

[Paul]

Een beetje laat, maar alsnog een goed en gezegend 2007 toegewenst!
Wil je mijn URL in je Dutch bloglist bijwerken? Thanks, Paul

[tony palmer]

Hi Marc

I share your fears… yet I have another… they meet independently, are self-governed and consider themselves to be a complete church on their own... not associated in any way with a local, congregational type of church.

Independence is a phenonima of the Post-Modern myth… rather than seeing the Biblical tenent of “inter-dependence” (refer to Ephesians and the body’s inter-dependant need for sustained growth). All living organisms are symbiotic, and require sybiosis for sustained life … independane is not a biblical grace. It is counter-convergence and shuns unity. This sound reactional to me… a rebellion in oposition to the Submission & authority of “over-pastoring” and extreme leadership.

For centuries the Protestant Reformers have been beating the Roman Catholic Church with the fact that NO CHURCH HAS IT ALL… but the church universal represents the fullness of God corporately …are house churches going back to the egotistical “we have it all” approach after the RCC has agreed that we TOGETHER represent God together?

And if HOUSE CHURCH cuts itself off from the local church, how do they ever expect to influence the Community and City God placed them in…? are we seeing the birth of a “sect” or a move of God? House Church leaders have great responsibility to root out rebellion and reactionary christianity… I am pro-house church… but our Communities are part of the church, not independent for her… we seek to serve the Body and the Head…not our selves.

Peace brother!

Tony Palmer †
Community Minister

[Douwe]

"This is an indication that the house church phenomenon is spreading rapidly in the States"

Jumping to conclusions? - Although I second the thought that house movements as a phenomenon is growing, the figures you state here can also be indicating that house church believers don't have a long breath in "attending services" (just teasing) and drop out soon, to be reintegrated in a local church, or a different movement.

[Marc]

Re: Tony - Thx for your input. House churches are of course part of the universal church, and individualism and sectarianism are not good for any expression of the Body. But I think that Barna for the sake of definition and measuring the phenomenon wanted to make a clear differentiation between house churches (as a valid expression of church as such) and house groups that part of a congregation or cell churches.

Re: Douwe - Think it's a bit too early days to draw that conclusion. Barna's research doesn't back this up. I think Barna is right that there's a shift going on. Whether this shift is substantional long-term is something to be seen. But he has been continually monitoring the church landscape in the States for nearly 20 years now, so I assume he knows what he's talking about when it comes to interpretation. My only concern is that as he now "converted" to organic thinking, he runs the danger of hyping it up, which could become counterproductive.

Also check out the interesting conversation on Andrew's blog:

http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2007/01/george_barna_on.html

[Are Karlsen]

I think we have some problems with semantics here. And the understanding of the nature of the christian community.

What is a church? What constitutes a church? A building? A pulpit? A pastor? Neither of which is found in the New Testament.

The "house church christians" thinks it is the gathering of the believers itself that constitutes the church. Wherever it takes place. The Spirit of Christ will be there, anyhow.

Independence - yes, most house churches regard themselves independent of hierarchical church structures. But we want to give ourselves to the community and to be submitted to each other as servants.

How shall a house church relate to the "local church"? All churches and all christians are part of the local church. Is it important to be represented in some board? In that case, in which board?

Most "house church christians" are thinking in other relational terms. What counts, are the personal relationships to their fellow christians and to their neighbours. That is more important than some christian-political representation.

Most house churches do not intend to build local hierarchical structures based upon traditional religious leadership. Every member is considered equal, and it is possible for every member to be seen and heard in every gathering.

House churches will not rectify all shortcomings of christians churches. They will bring with them many, new problems. But what the Church now needs, is a new dynamism.

House Churches is build upon an inspiration from the community life in the New Testament and on principles of the revivals in our protestant history. My prayer is that house churches will be a vessel for new power and new dynamism into the Church of Christ.