Choosing House Church, Part 1: Beyond Personal Preference

In this article series, we’re taking a look at a few scriptural precedents for what it means to be the church and how the house church structure empowers Christians to follow these precedents.

But first, let’s address the elephant in the room.

Asking “Why house church?” inherently raises another question: “Why not the institutionalized church?” Or even for those who try to be a part of both, it raises the question, “Why isn’t the institutionalized church enough?”

Unfortunately, we often find that people assume the answer to that question comes down simply to personal preference. People sometimes think that house church is meant for those who prefer discussion and intimacy, while institutionalized church is meant for those who prefer robust musical performances and structured children’s ministries. They think about house church and institutionalized church in terms of which one is a “fit” for them. 

For the large majority of the Christians in house churches that we’ve met, though, that’s not the case at all. Actually, most would tell you that if they made the choice based on their own natural leanings, they would prefer larger settings, more structure, and less intimacy. It’s only as the Lord has renewed our understandings and desires that we have come to submit to, appreciate, and now desire this way of practicing our faith communally. 

Instead of personal preference, though, we would all point to one major reason why we’ve decided to pursue our faiths within the house church structure. That reason: we wanted a structure that supported and empowered us to more easily submit to and imitate the scriptural patterns for the church—much of which often goes against our own natural preferences.

While not holistic, the three main scriptural patterns we want to look to in this article series are 1) the church working as a body in which every part works and has a function (Ephesians 4:11-16), 2) every member of the church serving as part of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:4-5) and an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:16-20), and 3) Christians being known as disciples of Christ by our love for one another (John 13:34-35). In the next three articles, we’ll take a much closer look at the passages of scripture relating to these patterns.

Before we dive in, though, we need to acknowledge that pursuing a more supportive structure for following these patterns inherently brings two pieces to the discussion. The first: the practical ways that the house church structure, by design, enables Christians to follow these scriptural patterns (but does not magically guarantee their success in doing so). The second: the practical ways that the institutionalized church structure, by design, hinders Christians from following those scriptural patterns (but does not by any means guarantee their failure to do so).

That also means that before we can dig into any of the details, there’s something we have to make absolutely clear:

We love our brothers and sisters in Christ who attend institutionalized church services.

We do not consider Christians in house churches as the only “real” Christians. We do not consider Christians in institutionalized churches as our enemies, nor as our “competition.” If anyone says otherwise, we would consider that a major red flag pointing to some unhealthy, divisive, and harmful issues going on in their heart. We would encourage you, as Paul does, to warn and then avoid anyone who would aim to divide the church (Romans 16:17, Titus 3:10).

We know and have seen how so many Christians in institutionalized churches are actively, authentically pursuing to know and represent Christ and to spread his kingdom. We know and have seen how so many are also striving to make their faith communities ones where they can embody the biblical examples set before us.

We believe that the large majority of the time, Christians in both settings have the same heart and desires for the Lord and His people (and that neither side is made of people doing it all perfectly).

It’s exactly because we believe that we share the same heart–that we are united, not divided, in our faiths–that we also would encourage every brother and sister towards a different structure for practicing that same faith. Because we would have them start from a systematic, structural foundation that better serves that heart. Even if, as for many of us, that foundation is at odds with what they would personally prefer or be most comfortable with.

With that said, we’re ready to dive into the most foundational scriptural pattern that we believe answers the question, “Why house church?” and its natural follow-up, “Why not the institutionalized church?” Check it out in part 2 of this series, Choosing House Church: Functioning Body Members.