The qualitative properties of salt

Houses that Change the World

Wolfgang Simson gives us a book that discusses Christianity’s possible third reformation that is occurring right now. In his book, Houses that Change the World, Simson explains that the first two reformations (Luther’s being the first, and the time of the Great Awakening in America during the 18th and 19th centuries being the second) brought about changes to certain theological dogmas the catholic church has instituted, with the actual structure of “church” remaining untouched. Here is the story briefly discussed from his first chapter.

The church in the first century (as we read in the New Testament) was structured very differently than what we see today as a result of Emperor Constantine’s actions in the fourth century. During this time, there were no sanctuaries, songbooks, leather bond volumes of the entire canon, individual men “pasturing” a certain congregation, small sips of Welch’s grape juice with small tidbits of crackers (the smaller the piece, the more holy), etc. Church looked a lot different. In fact, it probably looked more like your family’s Christmas or Thanksgiving celebrations.

Each home church had an average of 8-15 people in attendance, meeting around each other’s kitchen tables throughout the week. The seemingly small individual numbers did not mean that Christians were not in abundance, or that they were struggling to grow. This culture simply had a different mindset than we do. Today, with a focus on a city’s success based on skyscrapers and individual effort, we define a good church plant as one congregation that has achieved a membership of 250 with noticeable continual growth.

In the first century, family and community was the primary focus. Undeniably, the churches presented in the New Testament were house churches. These small units were designed to multiply and spread through natural every-day evangelism, creating other churches to spread out. If today’s desired church growth is described as upward, then the original growth pattern of the church was sideways, effectively spreading around the world.

Our churches of today focus on programs, rites and rituals that are directed by centrally trained professionals. Home churches tend to focus on accountability, fellowship and growth that are guided by kind and patient fathers and mothers. The church structure has transformed from a living family dynamic to a participatory event.