The Necessity of the House Church


By Dr. Ken Matto

Acts 2:46 (KJV) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

It seems we have come to a time in church history when the organized church has come to a point where the great majority of them have stopped bringing the truth from the Bible and have lowered themselves to become fanciful political entities and also they have become entertainment centers. When I speak about political entities, I speak of the fact that the majority of pre-tribulation churches have become nothing but war mongering assemblies in favor of bombing every country into rubble for the purpose of protecting their rogue idol called Israel. All one has to do is listen to the poison that someone like John Hagee spews. That man does not know the true Gospel. The political nation of Israel was never prophesied to become a nation according to the Scriptures. The truth is that they lost their rights to the land as the Scriptures teach.  That is just one aspect of this phenomenon called Israel which most churches have idolized and made it the center of their teachings. If one truly studies this issue, it would never be taught in a true church because it would have been found out to be a false teaching better yet a heretical teaching. The true Israel which is taught in the New Testament is the body of believers.

The second problem with most churches today is that they have become entertainment centers. With their full bands and the pastor dressing like a putrid slob, they no longer teach the true Gospel because it is absent from these entertainment centers. People go into a church and cannot even identify what bible version is being used because they are so watered down and false. There is only story telling from the pulpit because of an unqualified pastor who chose to go to seminary and start a church so he doesn’t have to go to a regular job. These false pastors choose their cronies to be elders so their position is locked up and they never have to worry about being tossed out. Instead, those who bring the truth from the Scriptures are the ones tossed out.

These are just two problems with the modern church that has become pandemic in the Christian community. I live in an area where there are about 15 churches and not one of them brings about a true Gospel. In fact, one Episcopal church in the area has an annual event of blessing motorcycles and bicycles. What a pathetic show of ignorance. No wonder there is no Gospel being preached in these churches. The first denomination to be formed was the Moravians in 1457, then others followed such as Presbyterians, Baptists, etc. It seems the day of the organized church has come to an end and it is time once again to follow the biblical standard of meeting in houses. There are major advantages about meeting in houses and I wish to bring to light some of the advantages of attending a house church over an organized church. Now let me be clear, there are still some churches out there which are still faithful to the word of God and continue to bring the truth but they are far and few in between and getting scarcer by the week. This is why I would advocate the formation of house churches and I give a number of reasons why I do.

Control of Sermon Topics
How many times when one goes to a church they hear only a story or they hear all about Israel and not the true one found in the Bible. In a house church, one can control the topics of what is preached. Instead of these Hollywood prophecy sermons you can aim at true Gospel growth. Now with the internet, we have access to thousands of good sermons through sites like www.sermonaudio.com where you can set your computer up and place some speakers around and have your choice of quality sermons for free. You can also have a member of the house church bring the message each week so you have the choice of listening to a sermon on line or having a member bring the message. This will insure that good teaching will be available each week.

Donations Collected can be Properly Distributed
Part of the weekly service can be a collection of funds and instead of the money going into a black hole in a church, especially for big salaries and benefits, they can be designated for the work of missions. One week they can be sent to, for example, World Missionary Press, and the next week they can be sent to Trans World Radio, the following week to Africa Inland Mission, or a single mission can be decided upon and it can be supported every week. One person can gather up the funds and forward them to the mission. It would also not be wrong to give a few dollars to the one hosting the church in their house, especially in winter when extra heat must be used to warm a large room or in summer when air conditioning is used.

Control Bible Versions
If there is one judgment upon the churches, it is the confusion or as my friend Will Kinney puts it, “Bible Babble Buffet.” The host of the house church can insist that everyone use the King James Bible so there is no question as to what is being taught. One of the most confusing thing in the churches is the multiple versions used in every assembly which causes nothing but confusion and causes the people to lose their place in understanding of what is being preached. All these churches with their pastors push these modern versions because they claim they are better but the people are being sold a bill of goods and unfortunately they willingly accept these false claims of the modernist. God has something to say about modernism. Jeremiah 6:16 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Jeremiah 6:16 speaks about the old paths which is the good way that will help you find rest for your souls. It is the old paths that we are to seek, not the modern paths because the modern paths have shown to be utmost failures. The old King James Bible is where the power and stability is for a godly Christian walk.

Control Unwanted Subjects
Instead of having to sit through nonsensical messages from the pulpit, the house church can remove those subjects which do not engender growth and replace them with meaty subjects that can cause Christian growth, which is what the church is supposed to be aiming for for all its people. It is not about the pastor’s ability to tell stories, it is about growing the Christian in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 (KJV) And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Control the Size of The Gathering
There is a great advantage of having a small congregation because everyone would actually be able to know each other. A group can be limited to 10 or 20, depending on the size of the house available. If you look at these mega churches like Joel Osteen’s which house over 43,000 people or North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia under Andy Stanley which has about 30,000. Can you really have any intimate fellowship in a group that size? I can guarantee you that if you attended a large church, you would rarely have any true fellowship because no one knows anyone. They walk in and they walk out and that is the extent of their commitment. If you have a group of 20 and it starts to get bigger, then you can start another group in another home. It is also easier to bring a guest if it is a small group because it is not an overwhelming situation.

Control The Music
You no longer have to walk into a church and cover your ears because the music is so loud and imitates Rock and Roll. Instead, you may have a home which has a piano or someone may play another instrument which may be used to accompany the music. Instead of having to sing all those mantra charismatic songs, you can go back to the old paths and once again sing the old hymns which minister to the spirit and not the flesh. The old hymns are packed full of good biblical teaching which is so needed in the church today. Rock of Ages, Amazing Grace, Channels Only, et al all bring the Gospel message in song.

No Ordination Necessary
Ordination is not a biblically based custom. Ordination started by the Roman Catholic Institution and the Protestants saw it and adopted the practice. Ordination keeps good preachers out of the pulpits and keeps in the cronies. Many years ago I was told by the pastor of the church I attended that I was not allowed to stand behind an eagle in the front of the church which was a stand that had the Bible on it because I was not ordained. What was going to happen? Was a lightning bolt going to hit me? Ordination just continues to perpetuate the “good ole’ boys network.” It keeps a tight grip on denominations and excludes those who are truly qualified to preach. The concept of ordination creates a division in the church between the ordained and the laity. There is no such thing as a super spiritual class of clergy which is above the rest of the congregation. In a house church, one who is truly called as a pastor can minister. The pastor is not a ruling office in the church. It is a spiritual gift like that of helps or teachers. Ephesians 4:11 (KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Many denominational clergy arrogate to themselves the title of pastor/teacher based on their erroneous understanding of Ephesians 4:11. That verse separates pastor and teacher as two different ministries. Now a pastor is a teacher but that does not exclude others from being a teacher that are not called to be a pastor. 1 Corinthians 12:28 (KJV) And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28 shows that teachers are a separate ministry from pastors. Hebrews 5:12 (KJV) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Hebrews 5:12 teaches us that when Christians mature, they ought to be teachers. This verse alone tells us that there is not just “one” teacher in the congregation, namely the pastor but there should be a multitude of teachers.

No Registration as a 501C3 Organization
There is another major advantage of having a house church and that is no registration as a 501C3 entity. When a church incorporates, they automatically become a state entity. In other words, incorporation means that you are a state sponsored church and are subject to government rules. This means that if a church wants to maintain its tax exempt status, then they must teach and preach only what the government allows and if they cross the line then they lose their tax exempt status. The reason why churches have membership is because members are considered stockholders under the laws of incorporation and are required for the church to maintain legal status. It is no different than a corporation which issues stock. The reality is that the government and that includes the IRS cannot legally touch the church unless there are improprieties but the church is a protected entity under the Constitution.

Bill of Rights - First Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Congress is not allowed to respect any specific religion in this country and if you notice, it also states that it cannot make laws to prohibit the free exercise of religion which means that Christians are allowed to practice their faith and the local authorities cannot stop them nor prohibit them. If they make an attempt to do so, they are in violation of the Constitution and are setting themselves up for a civil suit. So Christianity can be practiced in a home or other place outside of the established church and their buildings. What this means is that a house church is free to assemble which is also a guarantee under the first amendment. It also states that freedom of speech is guaranteed under the first amendment which means that a preacher or teacher can teach whatever they want without the law condemning them. In a 501C3 church, the pastor is limited in what they are allowed to preach and because most pastors are more concerned with their beloved tax exempt status, they will not teach about the issues which especially affect the church. A house church has a tremendous backing in the first amendment. For those who are concerned about not being able to deduct what is given to the house church, answer this question, Who is your benefactor, the IRS or God Almighty?

Keeps Out Unwanted Teachings Like Tongues
Another great aspect of house churches is that if a person comes into the assembly and brings some type of false teaching, they can be rebuked and rejected immediately without a meeting. The house church environment can be kept purer than established churches since large churches need a lot of donations to keep themselves afloat. So many churches tolerate false teachings just to keep the money and the members flowing in.

Rejects Unqualified Pastors
Many years ago if a person believed they had the call to the pastoral ministry, instead of going to seminary right away, they would join with the pastor of their church and begin to do some of the pastoral duties as a trainee. It would be during this time that a person would come to know if they have the calling or not. Today’s seminaries do not even ask the person if they have been called and how they came to believe they had been called. All one needs to get into Bible college and seminary is a checkbook. If you can afford to pay your way, you will be accepted and this method has created many unqualified pastors who are getting into it so they do not have to go to work in a 9 to 5 job. I personally know a man who didn’t feel like working in a regular job so he came to the elders of a church I attended and told them he got the call and it cost the church $21,000. It’s funny, I didn’t know that God called unbelievers to the ministry. Psalm 50:16-17 (KJV) But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? {17} Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. As you can read in Psalm 50:16-17, God does not have good things to ask and say to unbelievers who attempt to preach. By the way, as far as I know, that man is still unsaved. The house church has the ability to guard its teaching ministry very closely and to reject anyone who brings unbiblical teachings. It is a shame that many people sit in churches each Sunday listening to the blathering of unqualified pastors who try to work their way into people’s hearts with cute stories that lack any biblical substance.

No Church Bosses
In most churches there are some who are church bosses and nothing happens without their permission. Most of the time these people are the wealthier ones and have high positions in corporations thinking that gives them the right to carry their position into the church. You know the reality is that if a person is a Vice President of a company, once they walk out the door at 5 PM, they are no longer VP of anything. Their authority is limited to the company and they are just regular citizens outside that corporate environment. I have been in churches where elders have become church bosses and everyone had to walk on eggshells around them. 3 John 9 (KJV) I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. In 3 John 9 we read about a church boss named Diotrephes and what the Scripture reveals about him is what it reveals about all church bosses and they want to have the preeminence among the people. In other words, they want to be something in the people’s sight. The house church can eliminate someone with this type of attitude. That is not to say that there is no biblical disciplines but the one with a superior attitude needs to be quashed.

Remaining Biblical Is Easier
Have you ever been in a church where the congregation votes on something which is perfectly laid out in the Scriptures? What about denominations voting on women elders or pastors? Recently some denominations had voted on whether to allow sodomites to hold pastoral positions in churches. Sodomy is an abomination unto the Lord and the denominations are voting on such things? This is what happens when the Bible is tossed aside and political correctness takes its place. If a denomination rejects the sodomite pastors, then they can lose their tax exempt status if a law suit is brought on that denomination by one of the “tolerant” sodomites. So instead of facing that dilemma, they will just allow them into the pulpits. In a house church, a sodomite can visit but he cannot teach or preach plus he cannot bring a law suit since the house church is not a vassal of the state through incorporation. A house church is free to preach what they want on any subject matter under the first amendment. State churches have surrendered their first amendment rights through incorporation.

Meetings Can Be Moved If Needed
Unlike a church building, the house church meeting can be moved. If a host family is going on vacation or there is sickness, then the assembly can be moved to another home or location. This is a good aspect of house churches. In fact, the house church can meet at someone’s home for a month and then at another’s home for a month. This means that one home will not be the only one hosting and can allow the responsibility to be shared by others with homes.

Small Groups Promote Intimacy
Another aspect of small house churches is the fact that you can actually get to know the people you are worshipping with and this results in closer friendships, so when someone goes through hard times, they can actually call on someone for help without having to introduce themselves. Try building an intimate assembly in a church of 25,000, it will not happen. I have visited churches where not one person even spoke with me and this is also the testimony of others I have spoken with. In a house church, you will be part of the small congregation immediately and by the time you leave, you will think you have known everyone for 10 years. Spiritual intimacy makes you want to return the next week.

Summary
The advent of mega-churches and the influx of false teachings which has attacked Christianity and caused the churches to become weak is only one reason why Christians need to consider house churches. The majority of churches have become dangerous places for the true Christian. What I mean by that is the poisonous doctrines and teachings which spew from the pulpit and are held by those in the congregation are a detriment to the true Christian. The mainline churches have failed and are no longer bringing true teachings except for a very few and far in between. Christians need to escape that ungodly environment or they may become influenced by the false teachers and their teachings. The New Testament church met in homes and they were a lot stronger than what we have today. It is time once again for us to seek the old paths and reject the modern paths. With so much satanic teachings and shenanigans being brought into and happily accepted by the church, it is time for true Christians to leave that environment and start house churches where people can come and grow. It is not even a question of convenience but it is a question of necessity. 1 Corinthians 9:16 (KJV) For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

Romans 16:5 (KJV) Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:19 (KJV) The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Colossians 4:15 (KJV) Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Philemon 2 (KJV) And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

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