My Opinion on House Churches?

A friend recently asked me about my view on the movement (actually, movements if you travel and/or study deep enough) which are also called Home Church by some. So here it is in December, 2025.

First, there are at very least 3 streams of strongly connected house churches (and likely more) that I'm aware of throughout the world. They have their similarities and differences as per all churches, denominations and such.

Some hc movements are in China and other shall we say "difficult" places, and some find difficulty with local authorities, neighbors (parking, zoning, etc.) right in the U.S. re. various issues.

There are many benefits and of course, usually some of the same issues in various traditional churches throughout the world. Obviously you need toilet and cooking. etc. options for however many people gather. There are other practical issues but let's keep this brief.

The guts and heart of it all are people who don't "fit in" or don't feel like they do -in typical church settings, aren't comfortable in various gathering traditions, lacking opportunity to know and be known, heard, cared for in ways that seem more legit and real to folks, a sense of community. Thus, house churches often provide for folks where "the norm" leaves them cold and always feeling like outsiders.

Much of this is typical to -any- gathering ("church", New Testament definition "assembly" of Christ-followers, called-out-ones) but there are those discontent who continue to be so in small groups (ala trad. church small groups) or who indeed find a home and sense of place and community they've been desiring in a house or home church.

No matter the issues with mega or at least larger fellowships of believers, the more people and more money the more services, options and often greater outreach becomes possible. Anyone who wishes to dispute that practical reality can but it's useless in my view as most of my readers do live in a capitalistic world where money and not hunting/fishing/gathering/gardening are what feed us and "keep the lights on"... so a larger church at least at the practical level- often offers far more options -which in part is why they exist across the wide world.

Having said all this, you might say I, my wife and family live in the largest "house church" sort of setting in Chicago if not the Midwest and perhaps beyond here at Jesus People. We began at 18 years of age and are now 72. But we live in intentional community 24 x 7, 365, so we don't "go home", our church IS home to all who live as members of Jesus People Chicago. And also- we are a member church of The Evangelical Covenant Church. I happen to be an ordained pastor in the ECC (and we have other ECC pastors here and more in progress of pastoral calling).

Further, "home church" is often the term used by various denominations and even some fully independent though more traditional churches who largely or mostly meet in homes, then perhaps gather monthly (etc.) in a large building with all attending, etc.. So variations of house churches happen even in such churches.

NO house church or stream of them are monolithic, not in leadership structure, overall structure or style. Think "Lots of Variables" from one to the next, less variables (sometimes, maybe even often) in a given stream of house churches.

What I wrote my friend who asked:

"So if you consider that the word "church" literally means "assembly" and of course has to do with assembly of "called out ones" who follow Jesus, the issue is not the building or the organization or even church government. You can find house meetings mentioned in the New Testament.

I have said for decades one of the best and worst things happening in the U.K. is the house church movement. Same for the U.S..

It truly comes down to the same thing you see in traditional settings whether local or denominational, fully independent or part of a stream of fellowships:

The character and commitment to Scripture of leaders and -equally- of a good majority of the congregation... that's the deal and has always been."

In conclusion, I've seen sweet, godly and fruitful, productive sisters and brothers in -every- sort of local church imaginable... as well as hurting, seemingly non-maturing, even ornery knuckleheads in -every- style and kind of church imaginable... that's simply reality.

I've never been convinced there is any exact, absolute way of "doing church" laid out as an absolute in the New Testament and so cannot take a "died in the wool... one way... OUR Way!" attitude or position on local churches regardless of form. Form in and of itself never equals substance.

A deep and deeper, growing relationship with the risen Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Best Friend and focus is THE answer regardless of structure though structure (or lack of it) can of course help. One size rarely if ever "fits all" beyond that key relationship of love and obedience in His grace!

Lastly, "wherever you go, there you are".

And as always, thanks for stopping by :) -Glenn