The excerpt below is an essay found in a book by Paul Rapoza entitled The Messiah, The Ekklesia and The Kingdom of God. The book is about 80 pages long and is filled with short essays, most of which focus on the Kingdom of God and His Ekklesia.
Rome was the first official denomination in Church history. If we miss that understanding then we will never truly understand what took place after that or what is about to happen on the earth.
The Church at Rome committed fornication with the kings of the earth (the Emperor of Rome) by taking what was intended to be, for all intents and purposes, an embassy or representation of the Kingdom of God. (Ekklesia) By doing so and identifying with the government of Rome they forfeited the status of an embassy in a sense. What was birthed by that unholy union was a hybrid “Church” that bore the DNA of the government of Rome and what became less and less a representation on earth ruled by Christ via the Holy Spirit.
You will take note that after a time, Rome was eventually called “The Holy Roman Empire” and the hybrid was then called “The Roman Catholic Church.” At that point, the transition of the fornication was complete and the hybrid “Church” grew exponentially in a physical sense but lost much of the spiritual nature of the Ekklesia. That hybrid “Church” no longer represented the Kingdom of God or Jesus as the Messiah or coming ruler of the whole earth. A part of that transition was that another “Christ” was formed of that hybrid was separated from the “Christ” that is the Messiah. Belief in Christ as the head of HIS Ekklesia and the coming Kingdom was replaced with “faith in the hybrid Church.” The concept of the believers being called to a common priesthood serving together among each other as the “Temple of the Holy Spirit” was replaced by the heathen Roman concept of “God” living in a building with a separate hierarchical priesthood separated from the “laity” or common class. Instead of the live interaction by the Spirit among all that was characteristic of the Ekklesia which was a type of forum, other than the separate class of priests, everyone else was merely an audience. A man became the “head” of the new hybrid “Church” as opposed to Christ being the head of His Body and by the Spirit ruling in the assembly.
When the various reformations took place, they separated from the hybrid but still retained the DNA of the mother “Church” to a degree and they also took on that nature and relationship with the governments of their countries. They committed fornication with their own kings of the earth that ruled them. They were the hybrid’s daughters who came out of her womb. Even today, men are following that pattern and partner with the governments of this world in creating an artificial “church corporation” that is wholly dependent upon the government for it’s very existence and identity. That identity serves as a mask to hide the true nature of any believers assembled under that identity.
Now that is not to say that were wasn’t a remnant of people who remained in godliness and loyalty to the Lord both inside and outside of those temporal organizations. The very definition of “Ekklesia” is “the called out assembly.” As long as believers remain spiritually “outside the walls of the city,” they remain in Christ and a functional part of the Ekklesia on the earth.
What we are slowly seeing today is the solidifying and separating of the Ekklesia (the believers faithful to Christ and called out from among the nations of this world) from those that are “faithful” to serve the idol of their organizations. The coming and severe persecutions around the world will largely be used by the Lord to accomplish His original purposes in “assembling” His Ekklesia together knit together solely by the Spirit. It will be the last witness of Christ upon the earth before the end of this age and His return. It is the blood of the faithful martyrs through which that faithful witness is presented to the people of this world and to powers and principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places. That cannot come about with a hybrid “Church” that owes its existence and loyalty to the kings (governments) of the world system that they rule. The Ekklesia that is separate from this world system and ordered from Heaven directly through Christ must rise up to take it’s heavenly ordained place in the plan of God to culminate this age and usher in the return and rule of Jesus Christ.
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In Western society it’s difficult to do life together, but it does happen, it can be sustained and it can be life-changing. I pray these stories encourage you to keep meeting, keep searching and start gathering. This story is told by Tim Germain.
My life growing up had very little Christian influence. A family down the street were the Morris’s. Through this family, I learned that Jesus loved little children and that He loved me. I received my first Bible from them and read the book that had my name in it – Timothy. For some reason, I memorized the 23rd Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd.” It had a lasting effect upon me.
I would get up on Sunday to go to those children’s classes and always prayed before my meals and at bedtime. My father said I was always different. My sister commented that they thought I would be a minister when I grew up.
By the time I was seventeen, following a breakup with my girlfriend, life took on an emptiness that I didn’t understand. Life seemed more like a bad movie, and I was the main star. Outwardly, you couldn’t tell, but inside I was crying – crying for something I didn’t yet understand. I was empty, and life didn’t seem to hold many answers.
The Jesus Movement was in full swing in 1973. I was drawn to it without understanding why. Circumstances required me to return and complete another year of high school at Wentworth Secondary School in Niagara Falls, just so I could enter university and begin a career as a teacher.
I met another girl at that time who told me that the answers to the questions I had were found in Christ. I began to read the Bible again, remembering the 23rd Psalm. One day, I simply cried out to God, “If You are real, please forgive me and make me what You want me to be.”
Immediately, I came into a bright room where a man stood in a cloud. His voice said, “Tim, the reason you are so unhappy is because of your sin, but I still love you and died for you.”
Immediately, I was back on the floor. The next thing I felt was a love that filled every core of my being. Every nook and cranny, every part of my being, was filled with a love that overwhelmed me. I found myself weeping uncontrollably and rolling on the floor.
I experienced such a wonder of the fullness of God. He was what I needed. He was the answer for my soul. He was the reason for my being and for living! That day was a wonderful day filled with glory and wonder.
I had to tell everyone – my family and my friends. “Jesus is real! He appeared to me!”
My dad got angry. “Don’t tell me about Jesus.”
My friends just laughed.
Twenty-one years lost in the religious matrix – and, like the movie, I didn’t even know it.
My transition from institutionalism started with an invitation to a home for fellowship. From that small beginning, my family left the Sunday ritual and found Christ in a wonderful and living way.
We formed friendships among children and adults. We discovered liberty in sharing, teaching, and singing without any program. The learning curve started to increase, and deconstruction was in full swing.
For at least two years, we went through the maze of Christianity – the control of programs, the restrictions of its leaders, and the practices of those who follow the traditions of men that nullify the Word of God.
We discovered our royal priesthood and the responsibility to come prepared, not expecting someone else to carry us. We learned to wait on God as we met and sang out our hearts’ longings. We learned to love one another.
Away with the special buildings. Away with Old Testament order. Away with carnal, worldly practices. Away with titles, tithing, temples, and watching the time clock. Away with preaching and tokens at Christ’s table.
We had a full meal. Giving was from giver to receiver; there was no treasury.
The Bible became a living oracle of God’s revelation, unfolding its deep spiritual meaning hidden within the text. We began to see clearly as we had never seen before. Christ was being discovered in the text, and our union with Him was the Rosetta Stone that made it all come together.
This lasted from 1996 to 2005. I left because of a transfer with my company. There, I put together a DVD to bridge the gap in the conversation about what the apostles gave us and how Christ is building His Ekklesia.
We also had the opportunity to discover our calling, whatever it was.
Our challenges were twofold: doctrine and personalities.
New people were not used to open meetings and were often disruptive because of personality clashes. Looking back, we handled it with everyone present, but it would have been better if we had met with them beforehand and discussed the what and why of biblical assemblies.
In other words, an elder or mature brother could go over the foundation of open gatherings.
The doctrinal issues are many as well. Again, we all jumped in together whenever someone was saying something that did not line up with Scripture. To be led by the Spirit is learned in an environment where others recognize it as well – not just in the speaking. Everything is to be judged by Scripture.
Our children have all grown up in this family environment. Some have remained in the faith that their family taught them, while some have not. Each person is responsible for his or her own choices upon entering adulthood.
Let’s face it: nothing is always without challenges. But through prayer and grace, we attempt to lead our children by our example and endeavor to keep the unity of the faith in the bond of peace.
Continue to pray for your prodigals, that they may come to their senses and return to the Father’s house. Encourage your family, as they are the ones carrying His testimony.
Those who are gifted and want to serve will find it challenging but rewarding. Remember what Paul said to the elders of Ephesus: “Feed the flock, taking heed to yourselves,” which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers to feed the flock of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
Pray for discernment about how to lead and be an example to the flock. Keep yourselves in the love of God.
Let the Bible be the book to read, and resist the temptation to rely too heavily on commentaries, but always have good tools for study. I personally have used Vine’s New Testament Words, Thayer’s Lexicon, Strong’s Concordance, the Interlinear Hebrew and Greek, and Sword, which is also a good study tool.
Since my wife passed, I have not gathered with others on a continual basis.
Let the journey begin, and let Christ be preeminent in everything.
My website is here, there are a variety of ministry topics.
I’ve always been fascinated by hearing stories from people who follow Christ under persecution. As Westerners, we may wonder how well our own faith would hold up and what church would look like when persecution knocks on our front door. The following is a Facebook post from Wendy Click and is well worth reading. It’s a bit long, so grab a cup of coffee, relax, and let your heart be open.
Giving My Love Back to America Lessons from the Chinese House Church By Wendy Click (2019)
When I came to America, I felt very thankful.
Wherever I went, one of the first things I wanted was to thank the Western missionaries who came to China more than 100 years ago. They told people about Jesus. They helped Chinese people. They started schools and hospitals. They brought new ways of learning and new technology.
Most of all, they brought the message of Jesus Christ.
Their prayers, tears, hard work, and even their blood were not wasted. The good news about Jesus took root in China. Many Chinese Christians over the years were changed by that message.
I am one of those people.
Today, I want to give that love back. I cannot pay back the gospel, because no one can. But I can serve Jesus in America. I can pray for this country. I can tell Americans about Jesus.
I believe God has not forgotten what the Western missionaries gave up for China. I also believe God can use Chinese Christians to help the American church today.
This is the story of what I learned from the Chinese house church. And this is what I think American Christians can learn from it.
The Church Is Not a Building
The idea of a house church may sound new to many Americans. But house churches are not new. They go all the way back to the New Testament.
The first Christians met in homes and in public places.
Acts 2:46 says: “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”
Paul also talked about churches that met in homes. In Romans 16:5, he said hello to “the church that meets at their house.” The same kind of words appear in 1 Corinthians 16:19 and Colossians 4:15.
This does not mean Christians must only meet in homes. We can worship in church buildings, homes, schools, rented rooms, or other places.
Jesus said: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” – John 4:24
The place is not the most important thing.
What matters most is this: Is Jesus at the center? Are people learning from God’s Word? Do they love each other? Are they living as His followers?
The church is the body of Christ. A building can help the church, but a building is not the church.
How the Chinese House Church Began
The story of Chinese house churches is not simple. It cannot be told in just one way.
Western missionaries had already started churches in China before the Communist government took over. After 1949, things changed a lot. The government took control of churches. Religious freedom became very limited. Many Christian leaders were put in prison or forced to stop public work.
During the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, almost all public Christian worship was stopped. Churches were closed. Bibles were taken away or destroyed. Many Christians were put in prison, publicly shamed, forced to work hard, beaten, or hurt in other ways.
But the church did not disappear.
Christians met quietly in homes. Families prayed together. Believers memorized Bible verses. They met with family and trusted friends. In some places, people traveled to faraway areas to worship.
The house church was not first planned as a way to grow the church.
For many believers, it was simply the only way to stay faithful to Jesus when they could not worship in public.
That difference is important.
We should not make the Chinese house church sound perfect or romantic. It grew in very hard times, and it had its own problems. But persecution taught Chinese Christians something that many comfortable Christians can easily forget:
The church can keep going without buildings. The church can keep going without big budgets. The church can keep going without fancy programs.
But the church cannot stay strong without Jesus, the Bible, prayer, and people who follow Him faithfully.
A Voice from Chinese Church History
One important person in Chinese church history was Francis Wilson Price, also known as Bi Fangyu.
Old records from the Chinese Christian movement say that Price cared deeply about the future of the church under Communist rule. He believed Christians needed to get ready for a time when public church buildings and groups might not exist anymore.
So he encouraged Christians to find ways to keep living out their faith in families and small groups.
His work became part of a bigger effort by Chinese Christians to prepare for hard times.
The goal was not to create a cool new kind of church.
It was about surviving and staying faithful.
This history is important when Americans hear the words “Chinese house church.” The name did not first mean a modern way to save money. It meant believers who kept following Jesus when the normal ways of worship were taken away.
What Persecution Taught the Chinese Church
During the Cultural Revolution, many Christians learned to value things that had become hard to get.
They valued the Bible because Bibles were hard to find.
They valued prayer because they never knew if they could meet publicly the next day.
They valued Christian friends because they needed each other to keep going.
They valued sharing their faith because faith was not something to hide.
They valued helping each other grow because every Christian needed to know how to follow Jesus without always depending on a paid pastor.
In some places, believers memorized large parts of the Bible because written copies were rare.
Some Christians copied Scripture by hand. Others hid Bibles where they hoped the authorities would not find them.
The Bible was not just a book for Sunday morning. It was their spiritual food.
One older believer once told about hiding a Bible in a container because authorities were searching homes. Stories like these show how precious the Bible became to people who were being persecuted.
Their suffering became like a classroom.
The Holy Spirit was their teacher. The Bible was their textbook. Life itself was their classroom.
This does not mean suffering is good. It means God can still shape His people even when they suffer a lot.
Prayer Before Programs
One of the biggest lessons I learned from Chinese house churches is how important prayer is.
Many early gatherings did not start with fancy programs. They started with prayer.
Believers prayed for their families.
They prayed for their churches. They prayed for people who were suffering. They prayed for others to be saved. They prayed for God’s will.
In some places, Christians met very early in the morning to pray. In other places, they prayed late at night. Fasting and prayer were also common.
I have seen Chinese believers pray for one or two hours with great focus.
They did not always say, “God, give me what I want.”
Often they said, “Lord, what do You want to do?”
That difference matters.
Prayer is not a trick to make revival happen. Revival is God’s work. But a church that prays is a church that knows it needs God.
The simple truth is this:
Without prayer, we cannot expect a strong spiritual life.
Hunger for God’s Word
The second lesson is hunger for the Bible.
When the Bible is easy to get, we can easily take it for granted.
When Christians know that owning a Bible might cost them their freedom, the Bible becomes precious.
Chinese believers copied Scripture, memorized it, listened to Christian radio, recorded sermons, and shared Bible teaching with each other.
This created a culture where regular Christians were expected to know the Bible.
The result was not always perfect teaching. House churches also struggled with weak training and wrong ideas.
But the hunger was real.
American Christians have almost unlimited access to Bibles, sermons, books, podcasts, conferences, and study tools.
Our challenge is different.
We have the Word.
Do we hunger for it?
A church can have great programs and still be weak if God’s people do not know God’s Word.
Every Christian Must Become a Disciple
Another lesson from the Chinese house church is that ministry cannot belong only to paid pastors.
In many Chinese house churches, regular believers learned to share the gospel, pray for others, care for new believers, lead small groups, and teach the Bible.
This does not mean everyone has the same job.
The New Testament clearly teaches that people have different gifts and different ways to serve.
But every Christian is called to follow Jesus.
Ephesians 4:12 talks about preparing God’s people “for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
So the pastor’s job is not to do everything.
The pastor must help God’s people get ready to serve.
A healthy church does not create an audience.
It creates disciples.
Discipleship Is Life on Life
One strength of a small group is that people can know each other better.
In a large church, someone can come for years and no one really knows what is happening in their life.
In a small group, it is harder to hide.
People can share their struggles. They can admit their weaknesses. They can pray for each other. They can encourage each other. They can correct each other kindly. They can be happy together and sad together.
Romans 12:15 says: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
This is not just a Sunday activity.
It is Christian life.
The goal of discipleship is not just passing on information. It is helping one life build another life in Christ.
Paul’s relationship with Timothy is a good Bible picture of this kind of discipleship.
Mature believers should help newer believers grow.
Parents should help their children follow Jesus.
Older Christians should encourage younger ones.
Church leaders should prepare believers to serve.
Life should build life.
Sharing the Gospel as a Way of Life
Chinese culture also makes it natural to invite people into your home.
Inviting someone for a meal can open the door for talk, friendship, prayer, personal stories, and sharing about Jesus.
I remember how my husband and I prayed before meals when we visited China. A young relative noticed. Later, when he came back to America, he felt strange eating without saying “Amen.”
Simple habits can become strong testimonies.
The church does not have to wait for a special outreach event.
Sharing the gospel can happen around a dinner table.
It can happen in a phone call. It can happen through friendship. It can happen when a Christian listens to someone who feels lonely.
America has lots of material things, but loneliness is still a big problem.
The church should be a spiritual family where people meet both truth and love.
The Strength of the House Church Is Not Its Small Size
It would be a mistake to think small churches are always better than large ones.
Size is not the Bible’s measure of spiritual health.
A house church can be unhealthy.
A large church can be healthy.
The real question is whether the church is faithful to Jesus.
The strengths I have seen in healthy Chinese house churches include: Prayer. Hunger for the Bible. Sharing the gospel. Caring for each other. Personal discipleship. Sharing the work. Simple ways of organizing.
These are not just Chinese values.
They are Bible values.
The Money Question
House churches can also run with less money.
Meeting in a living room does not cost as much as keeping a large building.
This can free up money for missions, sharing the gospel, helping the poor, discipleship, and other work.
But saving money should never be the main reason for choosing a house church.
The church is not a business whose goal is to cut costs.
Money is a tool for ministry.
Whether a church meets in a big building or a living room, its money belongs to God and should be used carefully.
The Dangers of the House Church
Chinese house churches also have serious weaknesses.
We should not make them sound perfect.
Because many house churches work outside formal systems, it can be hard to hold people accountable.
Some leaders can become too controlling.
Some believers may not have good Bible training.
Wrong teaching can spread quickly.
Gossip can hurt relationships.
Personal boundaries can be crossed.
Money can be misused.
And strong leaders can sometimes control people’s lives too much.
These dangers are not only in China.
They can happen wherever Christians meet.
The New Testament keeps warning believers to test teaching, think carefully, and hold leaders accountable.
A house church is not automatically biblical just because it meets in a house.
The question is whether its teaching, leaders, relationships, and practices follow the Bible.
A Warning About Wrong Teaching
Some Chinese house churches also had groups that treated strong emotional experiences as proof of being saved.
In some extreme cases, people were pushed to seek long emotional times, visions, heavy crying, fasting, or other physical signs as evidence that they were truly forgiven or born again.
These practices can seriously twist the gospel.
Salvation rests on God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not on how strong a person’s feelings are.
Christians should tell the difference between real repentance and spiritual pressure.
We must also tell the difference between the Holy Spirit’s work and human pressure.
A church that does not teach sound doctrine can easily be fooled.
That is one reason good Bible teaching and leaders who can be held accountable are so important.
Authority Must Be Accountable
Another danger is leaders who have too much control.
In some Chinese house churches, cultural respect for authority can make people afraid to question a leader.
But Bible leadership is not absolute personal control.
Peter told church elders not to “lord it over” the people in their care, but to be examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2–3).
Christian leaders are shepherds under the Chief Shepherd. They do not own the church.
Whenever a leader claims special power above the Bible, controls people’s personal choices, demands blind loyalty, misuses money, or hurts people, the church must respond with careful thinking and proper accountability.
The same warning applies in America.
Gossip and Privacy
House churches also need wisdom about privacy.
When people meet in someone’s home, family life becomes more visible.
Money differences may become clear.
Marriage problems may become known.
Children may get involved.
Unbelieving spouses may feel uncomfortable.
Gossip can spread easily.
So healthy house churches need clear boundaries.
Private information should stay private.
Personal details should not be collected unless needed.
Concerns should go through the right leaders, not through gossip.
Hospitality must never become an excuse to invade someone’s privacy.
Love needs both openness and healthy limits.
What I Have Seen in America
I have lived in America for many years.
When I first came, my English was limited, and the Chinese church became an important place for friendship.
But as I got to know American Christianity better, I began to see another side of the American church.
America has amazing Christian resources.
There are seminaries, churches, publishers, conferences, Christian schools, radio programs, TV ministries, podcasts, websites, and countless books.
Yet resources do not automatically make people spiritually mature.
I have met Christians who know very little about the Bible even though they have gone to church for many years.
I have seen churches with many activities but very little prayer.
I have seen believers who come every week but do not know how to share the gospel.
I have seen pastors under heavy pressure.
I have seen Christians leave churches because of personal hurts.
These problems should not be used to attack the American church.
The church is made of people who are still being changed by Jesus.
China has its own failures.
America has its own failures.
Neither Chinese Christians nor American Christians should think they are better than the other.
We need each other.
Why I Believe Chinese Christians Have Something to Give America
The Western church brought the gospel to China.
Now I believe Chinese Christians can bring something back to the West – not a new gospel, not a new teaching, and not a replacement for the American church.
We can bring personal stories. We can bring a fresh love for prayer. We can bring hunger for the Bible. We can bring a culture of welcoming people into our homes. We can bring a willingness to share the work of ministry. We can bring stories of not giving up.
Most of all, we can remind each other that the church belongs to Jesus Christ.
I do not believe the future of the American church depends on copying the Chinese house church model exactly as it is in China.
Instead, I believe American Christians should return to the Bible foundations that Chinese house churches had to rediscover in hard times.
Prayer. The Bible. Discipleship. Sharing the gospel. Fellowship. Sacrifice. Holy living. Mission.
My Own Journey Back to the House Church
My own story has made this very personal.
I grew up in China during a hard time in its history.
My family was not Christian.
Yet from childhood, I knew deep inside that God existed.
As a young woman, I finally went to a Christian church and was baptized.
My faith later caused conflict with my job and my family. For a while I moved away from the church.
But God drew me back.
I remember standing in a church and looking at the cross. I was overwhelmed by the truth that Jesus had died for me.
I began to cry.
I knew I had wandered away, but I also understood again how deep God’s grace is.
From that point, my life changed. I began studying the Bible. I listened to Christian radio. I served in the church. I shared the gospel with friends. I began to want more Bible training and ministry.
Eventually, God led me into marriage with an American Christian man who shared my desire to serve Jesus.
In 2001, I came to America.
I did not know then how God would use my life in this country.
Coming Back to America with Thankfulness
Several years later, I began to feel a burden for Chinese people living around the world.
But slowly, I began to see America differently.
I had first come here as someone who received.
Now I began to ask: What can I give? How can I serve? How can I pray? How can I share Jesus?
One day while praying, I found myself crying out:
“God, I want to preach the gospel. I want to share Your Word.”
Soon after, I was invited to a house church gathering in America.
When I saw the words “house church,” I was deeply moved.
It felt familiar.
It reminded me of the Chinese believers who met in homes, prayed together, studied the Bible, and encouraged each other.
I realized I did not have to go back to China to serve Jesus.
God had brought me to America.
And maybe part of my calling was to serve the American church.
“Do Not Give Up on America”
During one prayer gathering, several of us knelt together and cried out to God for America.
We prayed: “God, do not give up on America.” We confessed our sins. We prayed for the church. We prayed for families. We prayed for revival.
My husband, who does not speak Chinese, was deeply moved by the atmosphere of prayer.
That experience reminded me that the deepest need of the American church is not another program.
It is not another building. It is not another ministry brand. We need Jesus. We need His Word. We need to turn back to Him. We need prayer. We need disciples who actually follow Jesus.
What I Believe About the Future
I believe God can bring spiritual renewal to America.
I do not know exactly what that renewal will look like.
It may not look like the revivals of the past.
It may not happen through one denomination or one ministry.
It may take place in large churches, small churches, homes, campuses, workplaces, families, and online groups.
But wherever real followers of Jesus are formed, the church is being made stronger.
Haggai 2:9 says: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house.”
The final hope of the church is not any particular model.
It is Jesus Christ.
He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Methods may change. Buildings may change. Cultures may change. Generations may change. But Jesus does not change.
The Love Goes Both Ways
More than 100 years ago, Western missionaries crossed oceans to bring the gospel to China.
They did not know exactly what would happen.
They prayed.
They gave up a lot.
Some died.
But their work produced fruit.
Today, Chinese Christians live in America.
Some of us have received Bible training here. Some are serving in American churches. Some are starting new churches. Some are praying for this nation. Some are sharing the gospel with their American neighbors.
The direction of ministry has changed, but the gospel has not.
I came to America carrying thankfulness.
Now I want to give that thankfulness back through service. I want to pray for America. I want to love the American church. I want to share the gospel.
And I want to see Chinese and American Christians serve Jesus together.
The answer is not Chinese Christianity replacing American Christianity.
The answer is Christians from different cultures returning together to Jesus.
The church belongs to Him. The mission belongs to Him. The gospel belongs to Him. And the glory belongs to Him.
I received the gospel through the sacrifice of others. Now I want to spend my life helping others receive it.
That is how I hope to give my love back to America.
You can read more about Wendy Click by following her on Facebook. Search “From China to America house church”.
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A short, concise 45-page synopsis of church history, this book explores the significant role that meeting in small groups has played throughout the history of the church. Author Michael Albrecht also looks toward the future and considers how we must prepare, particularly if the West is exposed to persecution. A portion of his thoughts is included below.
After we have looked at the history, present-day situation, and future of the house church, we note that small, flexible gatherings of believers have always existed throughout history, despite often being marginalized and despised by the mainstream institutional churches of their day. These small fellowships have carried Christians through times of persecution and tribulation and were not to overcome by the enemy. Whilst there is a justification for larger public church gatherings, as God has been using the small and the large church during history, He has faithfully shown up where people genuinely met in His name. That’s where God’s true church is being found.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt 18:20)
Small house gatherings despite being simple to establish, have specific dynamics that need to be adhered to, if they intend to become strong havens of teaching, worship, and discipleship. They will offer the ideal ground for future times of persecution, as they can be established everywhere even outdoors and easily disguised as family gatherings. Members have a high degree of relationship, which makes them strongholds of mutual support in times of crisis and suffering. They must remain outward focused for the Lord to achieve His Great Commission through them, even if public churches no longer operate or are being rendered unbiblical by a totalitarian government, as the Chinese example shows.
There are reservations in the population due to negative propaganda about house churches which have slowed down their natural growth and make us somehow ill prepared for coming times of persecution, but as history showed, in times of crisis faithful believers will quickly rediscover the benefits of home gatherings and will take hold of them to continue serving Christ in numerous ways.
It is difficult to say at this stage, whether the “church in the home” will become the new generally accepted “normal”, or whether believers will gravitate to some sort of “hybrid church”, or online fellowship model, as this depends on regional demographic factors and the intensity of future persecution. In rural areas the emergence of self-sufficient Christian communities following the example of the Amish or Hutterites would be conceivable.
During the Great Tribulation when mentioning the name of Christ alone will lead to the death penalty, there will be no other meeting place for believers than the “church in the home”.
God is pointing us not only to the New Testament example of the “church in the home” but reassures us that no matter our surrounding outward circumstances, He will protect His people as they meet in His name and calls to us as in:
“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” (Rev 22:7)
Great insight from prolific author David Emechete, especially if you have a prophetic or apostolic gift. Below is a reminder about true discipleship. You can find out more about David by clicking here.
In the first century, after Jesus died and rose again, the leaders of the Christian faith went out boldly, preaching the good news and winning many new believers. Yet, one thing they refused to do was to gather disciples for themselves. None of them had disciples. They never saw themselves as great teachers who deserved followers. They saw themselves simply as lowly servants. The early Christian leaders referred to those who believed not as their disciples, but as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Yes, the new believers were called disciples, but not of Peter, Paul, James, or any other leader – they were disciples of Jesus himself.
The early leaders understood something that we seem to have forgotten today: Jesus is alive. When He gave the Great Commission, He said, “make disciples of all nations,” baptise in His name, and teach to obey His commands. These new believers are to be disciples of Jesus Christ, not disciples of the ministers. Gathering disciples around oneself would be breaking away from the living Christ and starting a personal movement. This was unthinkable for the early Christian leaders. They knew they were not founders of a new religion, but witnesses of a living Lord. Paul, for instance, sharply rebuked the believers who began saying, “I am of Paul” or “I am of Apollos” in 1 Corinthians 1:12-13. He pointed them back to Christ, the only true leader of the Christian faith.
Jesus Himself gave a very clear instruction when He said, “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.” (Matt 23:8). In those days, it was disciples who called their teachers “Rabbi.” So, by telling them never to accept that title, Jesus was teaching them not to have disciples for themselves. They were to see every new believer not as their disciples or students to be ruled over, but as a brother or sister to walk with. This is exactly what the first Christian leaders did. They understood Jesus perfectly and obeyed His voice. They never allowed themselves to be called Rabbi, and they never claimed anyone as their disciple.
Sadly, today, many have abandoned this way. Some Christian leaders now proudly gather disciples for themselves, as though it is a badge of honour. Yet this is not the way of Christ. It is not the way of the first Christian community. We cannot claim to understand Jesus better than those who sat at His feet, ate with Him, and were personally taught by Him. These men, who received these instructions directly from Jesus, knew exactly what he meant. When He instructed them not to be called “Rabbi” they understood that he didn’t want them to have disciples, and they refused to have disciples. Every believer was a disciple of Jesus, not of any human leader. Jesus told them that he is their only teacher, and the apostles understood that he meant every new believer is to be Jesus’ disciple, not the disciple of the minister who led them to Christ.
In the true Christian faith, discipleship is not centred around a ministry or a single leader. Discipleship is something that happens within the Christian community as a whole. Jesus, being alive and present by His Spirit, discipled His people directly. Believers do not grow by blindly following a single human teacher. No single minister is meant to be responsible for a believer’s spiritual growth. As a minister, you are not the one discipling that believer, you are merely a vessel meant to play a part in Jesus’ discipling of that believer. The responsibility of that person’s spiritual growth is solely in the hands of Jesus. You are meant to simply play your part and leave the rest to Jesus.
One major way believers are to be discipled is by living together closely in Christian communities, observing one another’s lives. As they see Christ-like virtues displayed in their brothers and sisters – kindness, patience, forgiveness, love they are moved by the Spirit of God within them to recognise these virtues as true expressions of Christ’s nature. It is the Spirit of God who teaches believers which virtues are truly Christ-like. As they observe these virtues in the community, the Spirit bears witness within them, helping them know what to imitate. In this way, believers are discipled by Christ Himself, not by any one man or woman. They learn from living examples of Christ’s character shining through many different members of the community, not from the personality or teaching of a single ministry.
This is why the Neighbourhood-based Christian Community is very important. For true discipleship to happen, believers need to live closely together, observing Christ living in the life of each member. Discipleship is not about sitting under someone’s ministry, listening to their teachings week after week. True discipleship goes far deeper than simply hearing words spoken from a platform. It is about observing Christ-like virtues lived out in the daily realities of life. Believers need to see with their own eyes how love, patience, forgiveness, humility, kindness, and courage are practised in the small and big moments of everyday living. It is not enough to hear lessons about love; believers need to see love in action. It is not enough to hear sermons about forgiveness; they need to witness a brother or sister forgiving a wrong, even when it is painful.
Discipleship is not a classroom where people gather information; it is a living community where believers see the life of Christ expressed through real human lives.
This is why, in order to have true discipleship, we need the Neighbourhood-based Christian Community. It is within the closeness of living together, sharing life, and facing struggles side by side that believers truly grow. They do not grow merely by sitting under the ministry of one leader, no matter how gifted that leader may be. They grow by watching Christ being formed in the lives of those around them. In this way, Christ Himself is the one discipling them. His Spirit within them bears witness when they see something that is truly of Him. Their hearts recognise the beauty of His character displayed through the actions of their brothers and sisters. They are drawn to imitate these Christ-like virtues, not because they were ordered to, but because the Spirit of Christ inside them calls them to it.
Thus, discipleship in the Christian faith is a practical, living experience. It is not the work of a man’s ministry. Ministers are meant to play a role by carrying out their God-given ministries. No minister is meant to shoulder the responsibility of discipling a believer. True discipleship happens when believers can look around the community and see the character of Jesus being revealed in the way others treat each other, in the way they handle trials, in the way they remain faithful even when it costs them everything. This way, believers are not just taught the words of Christ; they are shown the life of Christ. And seeing that life, they are transformed into His likeness by the Spirit working within them.
True discipleship in the Christian faith is a living, breathing work of Christ within His people. I will say it again for the sake of emphasis: discipleship is not about one leader raising followers for himself. It is about Jesus raising a family for Himself. It is about believers encouraging, observing, learning from, and loving one another, all under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. No ministry has the right to claim the role of discipling believers. That role belongs to Jesus alone. He is the only true Master and teacher, and we are all brothers and sisters under His leadership.
Today, if we want to be faithful to Christ’s command, we must return to this simple and powerful truth. We must tear down the walls of personal empires built on gathering disciples for men. We must stop this genuine but misguided effort to shoulder the responsibility of discipling a fellow believer. If you truly want to see the restoration of true discipleship, then rejoin the living work of Christ in the Christian community. Seek the emergence of the Neighbourhood-based Christian Community. It is there, among brothers and sisters walking together in humility, that Christ Himself teaches, shapes, and raises His disciples for His glory.
David has a strong online presence. His books are available on Amazon, he shares regularly on Facebook at facebook.com/david.emechete, and his videos are available on Youtube.
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I just started reading What Is Neighbourhood-Based Christian Community? by David Emechete and found this in the preface. It reveals the heart of the author, and perhaps it will resonate with you as well.
The truth is difficult but necessary to face: the way we’ve been practising our Christian faith for centuries cannot continue. It brings shame to our King’s name. The world sees Christianity and mocks God. They mock our hypocrisy, our lack of unity, and our failure to be a positive force in the world. We are called to be an expression of God’s glory and wisdom, demonstrating His love, holiness, integrity, and higher civilization. Yet, here we are, there is little difference between us and the people of the world. In fact, in some instances the people of the world are better than us. Some of us may think we’re fine, the body of Christ is fine the way it is. But if see how things were originally meant to be, you will mourn because of the current state of the body of Christ.
Let me share a story from the Bible that perfectly captures what I’m trying to say:
“When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord’s Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed. With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: ‘He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid. But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy.” (Ezra 3:10-12)
This passage moves me deeply because it mirrors our situation today. Those who had never seen Solomon’s temple were celebrating, thinking the new foundation was magnificent. But the elders who remembered the original temple’s glory wept. They knew what had been lost. Similarly, when you truly understand how Christian faith was meant to be lived, you can’t help but weep at what we see today. Many of us think that what we have today is fine, some of us even celebrate it, but if only you can see the glory that God originally intended for His people. I’ve found myself crying – yes, actually crying – when I see fellow Christians behaving just like people who don’t know God, when I visit churches and find how much it is dominated by the flesh, when I watch religious leaders more interested in building their own empires than nurturing God’s people and Kingdom. I weep because I have glimpsed the Father’s heart and seen how gloriously He originally intended things to be. What we have today is far from it.
David has a strong online presence. His books are available on Amazon, he shares regularly on Facebook at facebook.com/david.emechete, and his videos are available on Youtube.
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As part of our meeting, we watched a YouTube video from History of the First Christians. My friend Rachel asked who the person or ministry behind the production was, and her question sent me on a quest to find out.
I was surprised to discover that the incredible young man responsible is David Emechete, a 32-year-old from Nigeria. He is also a prolific writer who has already published 15 books, with more currently in progress. Below, David shares a little about his life and journey.
My name is David Emechete, and I was born in Lagos, Nigeria. I grew up in a busy city and was raised in a home where different church traditions were represented. My mother attended an evangelical church, my father attended a more traditional local church, and I also had an uncle who belonged to another denomination. As a result, I grew up attending three different churches and became familiar with various expressions of the Christian faith. This experience taught me to embrace the body of Christ as one, regardless of denominational names, traditions, or styles of worship.
I gave my life to Christ when I was fifteen years old after experiencing a deep conviction in my heart. The Holy Spirit continually impressed upon me that it was time to surrender my life to Jesus. At first, I resisted, believing I still had many years ahead of me and could make that decision later in life. For about a month, I wrestled with this conviction, but eventually I realized I could no longer ignore God’s call. Before fully surrendering, I even tried to make a deal with God, asking that if I gave my life to Christ, He would never ask me to preach the gospel. I was naturally gentle, reserved, and independent, preferring a quiet life away from public attention. Yet deep down, I sensed that God had greater plans for me. After months of resisting, I finally surrendered completely and committed my life to Christ.
Later, while preparing for my university entrance examinations, my father passed away, leaving me uncertain about how I would continue my education. During that difficult season, I prayed and promised God that if He made a way for me to attend university, I would dedicate myself more fully to Him. Through what I believe were miraculous circumstances, my school fees were paid, and I was able to pursue my studies. True to my promise, I immersed myself in Scripture, spending countless hours studying the Bible, listening to teachings, conducting research, and seeking a deeper understanding of God’s Word.
During this time, I received a vision while walking to a morning lecture. In the vision, I saw believers gathered together in fellowship, with each person actively participating and contributing, yet there was no obvious leader among them. Although I did not immediately understand what it meant, I knew God was revealing something significant. This led me into months of studying the early church through books, documentaries, and extensive research. As I gained understanding, I encountered teachings unlike anything I had previously heard, which at times caused me to question whether these revelations were truly from God. Despite moments of uncertainty and doubt, I continued seeking God earnestly and trusted Him to guide me into truth and purpose.
In 2024, I left Lagos because I felt the city had become too busy and fast-paced for the kind of community I desired to build. Many people seemed focused on personal gain, and I longed for an environment where people could remain centered on a greater purpose rather than on money or self-interest. I moved to a smaller city in southern Nigeria, where I have been intentionally working to build a healthy and lasting community. Along the way, I sought to avoid repeating the mistakes I witnessed while serving in an organic church in Lagos. Those experiences taught me valuable lessons about leadership, fellowship, and the challenges that arise when people are not prepared for genuine community life.
One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that healthy communities must be growth-oriented. It is easy for groups to focus only on weekly gatherings where people come together, share a few thoughts, and then return home without developing meaningful relationships. Many communities fall into the habit of simply fulfilling a routine, gathering regularly without building genuine connections with one another. However, true community goes beyond meetings and programs. It requires intentional relationships, personal growth, and mutual accountability.
Too often, people focus on inspirational messages that make them feel good while ignoring the weaknesses, habits, and character flaws that damage relationships. A strong community encourages people to grow in areas such as relationship building, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and social intelligence. Spiritual growth alone is not enough because we are all human beings who are still learning and maturing.
Our flaws do not disappear overnight, so we must learn how to manage them while continuing to grow together. For this reason, I believe every healthy organic community should place great emphasis on relationships because lasting transformation happens when people support one another, grow together, and learn to live in harmony despite their imperfections.
Today, my passion is to help cultivate Christ-centered communities where believers grow together in love, maturity, and authentic relationships. I believe this is one of the most powerful ways the world can witness the life of Christ through His people.
David has a strong online presence. His books are available on Amazon, he shares regularly on Facebook at facebook.com/david.emechete, and his videos are available on Youtube.
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It’s so great to meet wonderful people from around the world. Scott and Marla Schiele have been ministering together for more than 36 years. Without social media, we would never have had the opportunity to hear their stories. I pray these testimonies encourage you to keep meeting, keep searching, and start gathering. It’s difficult to do life together, but it is worth the effort.
We are Scott and Marla Schiele, and for the past 36 years, we have had the privilege of walking through life and ministry hand in hand. Scott was raised in Columbia Falls, Montana, and Marla in Caldwell, Idaho.
Our journey has taken us around the world, providing opportunities to pastor wonderful church communities – both traditional congregations and organic house churches – direct a year-round camp and conference center, and organize large-scale ministry events. Throughout these experiences, our passion has remained constant: equipping leaders, making devoted disciples, and teaching a Christ-centered approach to leadership across many nations.
When not traveling and ministering, Scott works as a skilled craftsman and builder. For more than three decades, he has specialized in constructing and remodeling commercial spaces, private residences, and custom homes. His hands-on experience has given him a deep understanding of every stage of the building process.
Marla comes from a rich heritage of faith, with five generations of believers preceding her. Through genealogical research, she has also traced her family lineage back to Roland Taylor, one of the martyrs mentioned in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Scott’s faith journey took a different path. Although he grew up attending a Lutheran church with his family, it was in his early twenties that he experienced a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. The love of God and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit have profoundly shaped his life and ministry.
Whether we are traveling internationally to train pastors and leaders or gathering with our local house church each week, our mission remains the same: to see lives transformed by the power and love of Jesus Christ.
Family is one of our greatest joys. We are blessed with four incredible adult children and their spouses, all of whom love Jesus deeply and serve faithfully as leaders within their church communities.
Marla was raised in a rich spiritual heritage. Her grandparents pastored churches and Bible schools, imparting to her a legacy of ministry and a passion for investing in the lives of others. From an early age, she carried a desire to contribute meaningfully to the body of Christ and to help others grow in their relationship with the Lord.
Although she was raised within the traditional Pentecostal church, Marla eventually sensed the Lord leading her beyond familiar structures and into a more relational, organic expression of Christian fellowship. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, she experienced freedom from many of the traditions and religious patterns that had shaped her understanding of church life. This journey was gradual and continues today, as she regularly seeks the Father’s wisdom to discern whether her perspectives and practices are rooted in tradition or in the fresh leading of the Spirit.
After they were married, Scott and Marla became deeply involved in the Word of Faith movement, which strengthened their love for Scripture and expanded their understanding of faith and God’s promises. Throughout their spiritual development, however, both sensed a consistent call from the Holy Spirit to influence, encourage, and disciple others.
From the earliest days of their marriage, they opened their home to host gatherings and house churches, a practice they have continued for decades. During an extended season of prayer, Scott became increasingly aware of God’s call upon his life to serve in church leadership. Over time, he also discovered a prophetic gifting yet found few spiritual fathers available to provide guidance and mentorship in that calling.
The lack of recognition for spiritual gifts and callings within many church settings, coupled with the absence of spiritual fathers intentionally raising and mentoring spiritual sons and daughters, became a significant burden on their hearts. These realities ultimately led Scott and Marla to reevaluate traditional models of church and pursue what they believe to be a more authentic expression of New Testament Christianity – one centered on discipleship, spiritual family, shared ministry, and the restoration of the original patterns of the early church.
Over the past 35 years of leading and participating in house churches, our understanding and practice of fellowship have continually evolved. In the early years, many of our gatherings functioned under the oversight of traditional brick-and-mortar churches. Some were structured according to the cell church model, which often felt like a scaled-down version of conventional church services. While these meetings provided meaningful fellowship, they could also become frustrating because leaders and ministers were expected to follow predetermined outlines rather than respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
One of the ongoing challenges we have encountered is ministering to those who have experienced church hurt. Many become what we affectionately call “Christian tourists” – moving from fellowship to fellowship in search of the spiritual encouragement that comes through corporate worship yet never remaining in one place long enough to develop deep relationships or be discipled. Others, after experiencing the freedom and presence of God in a home fellowship setting, mistakenly assume that proximity to God’s presence automatically qualifies them for leadership. Rather than embracing the process of preparation, character development, and spiritual maturity, they often desire immediate affirmation for launching their own gatherings. When we encourage them to wait for the Lord’s timing and further development, some choose to leave rather than submit to the process.
At the root of many of these challenges is the reality that people often bring with them distorted expectations of what healthy Christian community and servant leadership should look like. Many have been shaped by church cultures that differ significantly from the relational, Kingdom-centered fellowship we seek to cultivate.
In response, we have become increasingly intentional about teaching and modeling the love of Jesus and the values of His Kingdom. We place a high priority on the presence of God, making it the central focus of every gathering. We carefully guard the atmosphere of the meeting, seeking to remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit and gently redirecting the group whenever necessary to align with what He is doing in the moment.
Another challenge involves individuals who unintentionally dominate discussions through lengthy testimonies or extended personal stories that draw attention more to themselves than to the goodness and faithfulness of God. In these situations, we have learned to graciously redirect the conversation by celebrating God’s work in their lives and then inviting others to contribute. Over time, this creates a healthier culture of participation and mutual edification. Those who embrace the culture grow, while those unwilling to do so often choose to move on.
We are intentional about ensuring that every person has an opportunity to contribute during our gatherings. Whether through a testimony, prayer request, question, teaching, encouragement, or insight, everyone is valued and given space to participate. We have found that this approach fosters genuine community, promotes spiritual growth, and encourages every believer to discover and develop their unique place within the Body of Christ.
Authentic relationships have provided others with a unique opportunity to see the bigger picture of Christ’s salvation and the unwavering faithfulness of God. In the context of genuine fellowship, it becomes possible to live transparently and openly, allowing others a glimpse into how both hardships and victories play a vital role in developing a steadfast, unshakable faith.
As we reflect on God’s goodness and give thanks for His faithfulness, we are continually transformed ourselves. Looking back, we can clearly see His hand at work in every season and every circumstance of our lives.
All four of our children were raised in ministry alongside us, traveling to the nations and sharing the Gospel from an early age. Today, each of them remains actively involved in ministry. They lead their own home fellowships, serve in worship leadership, and continue to carry the Good News to the nations. Seeing the next generation embrace the call of God on their lives has been one of our greatest joys and blessings.
Leading a house church is both a privilege and a challenge. It requires leaders to embrace the heart of a servant and genuinely place the needs of others before their own. If we measure our effectiveness by a single meeting or a particular outcome, we are likely to become discouraged. Ministry is a lifelong journey, and lasting fruit often develops over time. In God’s wisdom, some of that fruit may remain hidden from us for a season, protecting us from immaturity and pride while deepening our dependence on Him.
Therefore, be confident in the gifts and calling God has entrusted to you, and minister with generosity and grace. Remain faithful to the specific role God has given you; you are not called to meet every need or carry every responsibility. Learn to delegate whenever possible, empowering others to grow and serve alongside you.
From the very beginning, clearly communicate the purpose of the gathering: to glorify God, to see people restored and healed in spirit, soul, and body, and to raise up, train, and equip disciples who will, in turn, glorify God and make disciples themselves.
House churches that endure are led by men and women who choose to love people first, seek the Lord daily, and prioritize His Kingdom above all else. When Christ remains at the center and love guides every decision, healthy and lasting spiritual communities can flourish.
Longevity in ministry is a choice. Make a lifelong commitment to becoming more like Jesus and to never giving up, regardless of the challenges you face. Embrace the way of the cross, recognizing that every trial, disappointment, and setback serves as fuel in the refining process God uses to prepare and mature us for His purposes.
Hold firmly to the conviction that God can work all things together for our good. Remain teachable, willing to release inaccurate or incomplete teachings from the past and stay enrolled in the school of the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to continually shape your understanding and lead you into greater truth.
As leaders, our motivations must remain pure, and our desire to obey God must always outweigh any fear of man. Ministry was never intended to be a solitary journey. Seek out like-minded leaders who share a common vision and heart for the Kingdom. Together, build as a spiritual family, encouraging one another and advancing God’s purposes in unity rather than isolation.
Scott & Marla can be reached at 918-938-3021 or outpouringintl@gmail.com. Check out their website at www.outpouringintl.com.
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Biblical Church Leadership by Beresford Job is a great resource for understanding the role of leadership in the organic church. I highly recommended his book and also recommend his many blogs on the subject. Links to his sites follow this short excerpt about being a doormat. Beresford explains more in his video link.
There is tremendous significance in the fact that, at the Last Supper (and first Lord’s Supper) Jesus washed the disciples feet and taught them to do the same. I don’t take this particular act as something to be replicated as a normative part of church life today, given that, unlike other things such as the Lord’s Supper and baptism, the apostles didn’t pass any such instruction on to the churches. But the symbolism remains, and we have seen again and again that church leadership is servant-hood, and nowhere is that better illustrated in scripture than in foot-washing example, and church leaders and elders have a special duty in such regard. From many years of experience, functioning as both an itinerant ministry and a local elder, I can confirm that a part of it is having people walk all over you and treating you like a doormat. Indeed, in the Old Testament, the elders sat in the gates of the city and determined who was allowed in, thereby being seen as the way into the city. I am not saying that elders get to decide who is or isn’t in the church, but given that biblical churches meet in homes, and that a church is an extended family, the picture is pretty clear. You don’t get into someone’s house except by walking over the doormat, and that is the function of the elders.
However, when people do “walk all over you,” it does get at least some of the dirt off of them. It goes all over you, of course, but at least it’s coming off them and giving them a chance to be honest about whatever the dirt is, and get cleansed from it in the Lord. Those who do walk all over you may or may not end up being honest about their dirt of course, but at least the elders are there giving them the chance, laying their lives down (just like you lay a doormat down) in order to try and get them to a better place. Spiritually the hardest thing about being an elder (and again, I speak from long experience) isn’t the actual being treated like a doormat, it’s keeping the “Welcome” written on it!
We can sum up the function of elders like this: It is the building of close and significant relationships, through personal example, teaching, prayer, and the giving of wise and godly advice, they build up (edify) those in the church so that they come into more and more maturity and stability in the Lord. This brings about a decrease in dependence on the function of elders. The fellowship needs them less and less, not more and more. Elders will encourage and enable our increased dependence on the Lord, and work to decrease any dependence we have upon them. They will seek to raise us up into whatever ministry and gifts God has given us, doing all they can, in both prayer for us and encouragement, to get us going in the right direction. Elders will not shut you down or, even worse, try to shut you up. Because they know full well they have merely a function, and are free of the sin of needing a position, biblical elders have nothing to protect. They are therefore not threatened by others in the church who are being used by the Lord in any particular way. Indeed, it is the very thing they are labouring for. Of course they will be wise enough to help us not do things un-biblically, or go beyond our spiritual maturity. They give the church protection and security from troublemakers, protecting and defending the right of the flock to grow in the Lord in a calm, peaceful, untroubled and safe environment. Troublemakers can be dealt with because no one has the right to jeopardise, infringe or compromise the biblical rights of others. Biblical elders are, in short, the defenders and guardians of your freedom in the Lord as a believer and not the limiters of it.
The conclusion is that eldership is functional and not positional. Any type of clergy/ laity divide is wrong, whether it is the dog-collared-funny-hat variety, or the trendy Pastors with their ripped jeans and “cool” tee-shirts. Both kinds are robbing the Lord’s people of their freedom to grow and mature in Him. Anyone coming into a biblical church gathering would have no way of knowing there even were elders, let alone who they actually are. Their default mode as elders is that they are invisible and take a back-seat. They only come forward to “grab the wheel” should it ever be come clearly necessary for them to do so. In over three decades as an elder in the church of which I am a part, I have only ever had to do such a handful of times. That, and that alone, is what church life should look like, with everyone moving in the Lord according to scripture.
You can check out Beresford Job at his website, his blog here or his YouTube channel.
Many of us are aware of the great work Dr. Tom Wadsworth is doing. His popular YouTube videos, podcasts, and writings have made a significant impact on those seeking a better way to do life together. While his 300-page PhD dissertation may be more than most of us are ready to tackle, we are looking forward to seeing his research adapted into a book for a broader audience in early 2027.
Below is an excerpt from The Shift. In this short work Dr. Wadsworth examines the shift of Christian worship. All of Tom’s writings are available free of charge on his website tomwadsworth.com.
In the third century, several Christian writers such as Minucius Felix, Origen, and Arnobius repeated the common refrain that Christians have “no temples, no altars, no images.” Origen even affirmed that Christians “object to building altars, statues, and temples.” These patristic citations reveal the normative teaching about the temple as found in the first three centuries. Christians oppose temples, along with the worship, altars, sacrifices, and images that commonly accompany them. Since God now dwells in the human heart, Christians honor Him by living righteous and holy lives. But these texts do not represent the entirety of patristic thought in this period. At a very early stage, some writers introduced concepts that would begin to shift away from this normative view.
The shift between first-century terminology and fourth-century terminology is astonishing. “In its first centuries Christianity was a religion highly inhospitable to the idea of ‘holy places;’” says Robert Markus, “by the end of the fourth century it had become highly receptive.” Even as recently as Origen in the third century and Arnobius in 300, Christians proudly proclaimed that they had no temples, no altars, and no sacrifices, which are principles grounded in NT teaching. But with the transformation emboldened by the imperial support of Christianity, Eusebius reveals that (at least some) Christians embraced such temple concepts less than one hundred years after Origen and only twenty years after Arnobius.
Such terminology runs against the grain of NT teaching. Regarding the Lord’s Supper as a sacrifice is “a distinct break from the teaching of the apostles.” As I. Howard Marshall says, “Nothing in the NT suggests that the Lord’s Supper is to be seen in any way as an offering by us to God, and the practice of offering the elements to God reverses the whole direction of the atonement in which God himself offers his Son to die and gives to us the benefits of his passion.” In the NT, Christ’s sacrifice was accomplished “once for all” (Heb 9:27; 10:12). If Jesus’s sacrifice is viewed as inadequate so that it must be repeatedly offered, have we not, in the words of Heb 10:29, “spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant, and outraged the Spirit of grace”?
Beginning with this foundational idea that the Lord’s Supper is a sacrifice, the fourth-century church had fully resurrected the associated “temple worship” ideas of altars, priests, and temples. Do any of these four concepts have sin-remitting power? One might argue that these terms are only applied figuratively, with no intention of resurrecting a Christian sacrificial cult. However, in reality, if a table is called an altar, it will be viewed as a literal altar. If a minister is called a priest, he will be viewed as a literal priest. If a Christian building is called a “temple” or a “house of God,” it will be viewed as a literal house of God. Such terminology will lead each new generation of Christians to fail to see the great difference between the ἐκκλησία of the NT and the temple of the OT, if not the fundamental difference between Christianity and Judaism.
