IN THEORY:Thoughts about house worship

A growing number of Christians are skipping organized church services to instead worship more informally in their homes with smaller groups. David Wells, a theology professor and author of several books on modern Christianity, characterized the movement as “empty of biblical substance.” What do you think of the “house worship” phenomena? Do you think it will ultimately replace larger congregations and services?

For the first three centuries, Anno Domini Christians gathered and worshiped as best they were able, usually in small groups and secret settings. Yet they boldly asserted faith in God-in-Christ against world views prevalent in their times and places.

One continuing challenge of Christianity is to be both intimate and militant. We connect people with others in similar circumstances and going through similar experiences.

My first ministry as a priest was with “counterculture” people in Berkeley. We met in homes, shelters, food projects and health clinics as well as churches.

Yet we worshiped according to the “Book of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church,” emphasizing Bible study, the sacraments and liturgy in which all present were invited to participate.

This parish has had “neighborhood groups” in which those living in geographic proximity gather for worship and camaraderie.

I think groups of faithful people, large or small, intimate and militant, who gather together to bring one another and others to God are of God.

(THE VERY REV’D CANON) PETER D. HAYNES

There is a need in Judaism to be part of the greater whole. In addition, Jews have always felt the need to be a part of the community and for an entire family to join their local temple. You are valued and you are judged by what you do there, and the temple defines who you are by your birthright, your legacy and your heritage.

Young children, parents and teenagers need to feel unconditional love from a large religious institution like a temple where acceptance and religious self-worth and growth can be found by interaction with other Jewish congregants and families and a good rabbi.

Not to choose to go to a temple on the Jewish New Year, which occurs in the middle of September, would leave the individual lacking in many areas of spirituality and growth. In the temple, you can find a safe haven in the Torah and in the organized Jewish service and in many temple rituals.

A home is not a synagogue. Worship in a temple like those who preceded you and those who will follow you in your lifetime is much more spiritual and more fulfilling for most people and any individual.

RABBI MARC RUBENSTEIN

House churches are indicative of the change in our religious climate. The same old formulas for church success will not work in the postmodern world.

Just as the early church focused on relationships to build community, the postmodern church has to recognize that Gen Xers and Millennials are moved more by relationships than they are by authority. I believe in educated clergy, who are well-versed in Biblical scholarship, the history of the church and pastoral skills. I think it is important to have educated leadership so that we can delve deep into the Bible and know its context and know our own place within the larger Christian history.

Church is community. However, a person can get lost in a large church, and I can see why people are drawn to the intimacy of house churches, although house churches (and even small churches) run the risk of becoming too inbred and can get too caught up in their own stuff.

All in all, I think the new house church movement shows us that people are seeking out spiritual connections with one another. They don’t need or want the “authority” of the traditional pastor with all the answers; they want to work things through themselves, and the anonymity the mega-church offers is not real community that satisfies the need for deep relationships.

REV. SARAH HALVERSON