OK. We ARE the church. We (plural)… God’s people… the body of Christ… are THE church (singular). That’s true, and very important… but only part of the picture. The New Testament also mentions ‘churches’ (plural) 36 times.
I’m not going to get into any Greek here, because this little truth is simple enough without it. (Nothing against getting into the Greek.) In this context, though, I’m only talking about the plural ‘churches’… gatherings, or assemblies, or meeting places of Christian believers.
In the New Testament, I see two general, but distinct, types of churches: public, and private. A couple places where the Bible mentions both, are:
Acts 2:45 “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”.
Acts 20:19 “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, AND from house to house”. (Emphasis mine, of course.)
It’s not one type of church versus the other. It’s ‘AND’. Both are good. Both are necessary. Each has a particular purpose.
Don’t make too much of my definitions. Of course there are many variations, and exceptions… through history, and across cultures. I’m just trying to keep it simple, and applicable to the USA today.
First, the private house church, which I’m calling a ‘personal invitation’ church: There’s an inherent comfort and intimacy here, by the very fact that everyone has been personally invited to be there. Everybody there is at least a friend of a friend. You feel welcome… honored… and cared for. It makes it a lot easier to open up, and receive from each other, and the Lord. When the Word of God is shared, and the gifts of the Spirit operate, it can be very personal… up close… face to face. And, if they’ve got food, you don’t have to feel backward about accepting some good eats.
Even in this small private church, there is still order. Usually, the one ‘in charge’ is the host or homeowner; or someone the host, or those gathered there, have honored, as they recognize God’s authority in that person. If someone bucks against the host or the authority, they probably won’t get invited back. That’s a lot easier than kicking a troublemaker out, or barring them from attending an ‘open door’ church. And that’s a good thing… and comforting for those who do get invited back. However, it’s also easier to just not invite someone because they don’t agree, or don’t conform to the beliefs and teachings of the host or authority. Control and freedom… good and bad… at some time is going to be a challenge in any church, regardless of size or structure.
Those gathered together by invitation are much more likely to be of one heart and one mind. That’s definitely a good thing… for worship, or prayer, or just the freedom of the Spirit of God to move. (Think upper room. Acts 1&2.)
The small house church has an advantage of being able to change the whole order very quickly as the Spirit leads. Just like it’s easier to turn a small boat than an aircraft carrier, a church in a living room can turn on a dime… from friendly fellowship, to worship, to prayer, to testimonies, to teaching, to food, and back again… in just about any order. Great for letting the Spirit of God lead. God can do amazing things in small spaces. (Of course, a large public church can flow with the Spirit too… it’s just not as easy to get everybody turning together.)
There’s also a downside, though. Living rooms are smaller (generally) than public meeting rooms, or church buildings. Residential parking can be limited. The host has to limit the invitations. So some don’t get included, even if the host would like to include them. Or maybe the host just wasn’t aware that someone was being left out. Could be disappointing (or worse) to not get invited.
The other type is the public church, which I’m calling an ‘open door’ church. Those are the kind where anyone, even an unbeliever, could come in whenever the doors are open. They don’t need any personal invitation. If they have seen advertizing encouraging everyone to come to a specific place at a specific time, they’ll feel at least somewhat welcome. But a real open door church means open hearts to the needs of others. If the ‘greeters’ are checking membership ID’s at the door… not so open. What visitor is going to go out saying, “Wow! God was in that place!”, if they didn’t personally feel welcome.
A couple scriptures where I see an ‘open door’ kind of church are these:
1 Corinthians 14:23-25 “If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.”
James 2:2-3 “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:”
These are examples of churches or assemblies, where uninvited or unfamiliar people could walk in. There was something publicly recognizable about this meeting that would make them feel free to enter. Most people would not feel free to just walk in the door of some private home in a residential area, even if there were lots of cars, and they heard singing in the house. (At least in present day America.)
So, if someone just got saved watching a gospel crusade on TV; or God grabbed their heart through a preacher’s YouTube video; they’d be much more likely to search for an ‘open door’ church in their community. Same with someone who had become dissatisfied with the lifeless routine of their current church, and they’re searching for something with real power. Or the person whose life had just fallen apart… who’d finally hit bottom, and they’re ready to return to their Father. Or the desperate ones now looking to God for answers for the first time in their life.
Yes, God could send someone their way, supernaturally, by His Spirit, to personally help them, and invite them to a ‘personal invitation’ house church. It happens. But it’s far more likely that they would check out some ‘open door’ church that they had seen or heard about. In that case, for a church to have a sign out front giving the dates and times of the services is a plus. So is the fact that most public open door churches have services on a day of the week when most people are off work. It all makes it easier for a stranger to find a church where they could go to hear the Word of God to set them free; and be plugged in as a member of the living, breathing, growing body of Christ… THE church.
Please don’t get the idea that any open door with Jesus’ name over it is OK. There are plenty that call themselves a church, which have no connection to THE church… the living body of Christ. Also, this in no way means that an ‘open door’, or public exposure, should ever be considered as fulfilling the church’s commission to GO! Take the gospel of the kingdom to the ends of the earth!
Again, it’s not public churches versus private churches. THE church would be SO much better off, if there were less ‘versus’, and more ‘and’. God has established BOTH in His Word. Ideally, it would be good if every Christian could have the benefit of both… as diverse functions in the one body… with many joints CONNECTING them together. Not running on separate tracks; but operating in the unity of the Spirit, building up each individual believer, and working together that the whole body of Christ may become that glorious Church that our Savior paid so dearly for!
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