Where are my accusers?

In recent years, I have been accused of being anti-Church or “against the local Church.” Recently, this accusing beast reared its ugly head in my life once again and I’ve chosen to address this concern, hopefully, once and for all.

There is a giant that’s been awakening in the Western world - a giant whose elder brother has already been stirring across the sea in 3rd world nations for decades. This giant is called “The Church.” Though the term may conjure up images of Gothic cathedrals, glass-covered MegaChurches, or white, wooden chapels with steeples nestled in the woods, I’m not referring to the Institutional, Traditional, Denominational, or Legacy church buildings and manmade religious organizations that can be found on every street corner. I MAY be referring to many of those who have affiliated themselves with those institutions, however, though certainly NOT all who warm a bench there. 

The Church - the Ekklesia - refers to those who have been “called out” from the world and its systems. These people are “The Church” at ALL times, not merely while attending services on Sundays, Wednesdays or whatever days their leaders have chosen that they should meet. They are “The Church” at work, at home, at the movies, in the malls, on the gridiron, in the schoolhouse, at City Council meetings, etc. These people know who they are and have made themselves available to be used by God everywhere they go, all day, every day. Many are experiencers of miracles where the supernatural is natural to them. These folks recognize that if Jesus is not the Lord of all that concerns them, He isn’t really their Lord at all.

We who are “The Church” are never NOT “The Church.” Romans 8:11 tells us that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us. He will never leave or forsake us. He is with us 24/7 as a result and, therefore, we who are “called out” will never really “fit in” amidst this modern society. We are aliens, strangers in a strange land. We are not merely a subculture; we are a COUNTER-culture. We are charged with making a difference within our society as we go about our daily lives, advancing God’s Kingdom - the Kingdom that is “within you,” as Jesus said. Sadly, too many of us resign ourselves to assembling at the appointed times, expecting “the lost” to darken our doors, entrusting that perhaps today’s powerful, life-changing message will actually change somebody’s life. Statistics pertaining to all denominations are not impressive in this regard and stats regarding church leaders are horrendous. 

If Church-as-we-know-it were a business, it would have filed bankruptcy long ago.

A minister once referred to me as being “against the local church.” How can I be against that which defines who I am? How can I help but love the institution from which I heard about Jesus, was saved and baptized? From a professional minister’s perspective - one who earns his living by overseeing a church building and body - I can easily see how such a concept as House Church could be seen as threatening. After all, with 43 million Americans already embracing the concept of New Testament-style House Church and Simple Church, a growing number of Christians no longer seeing the requirement for attending services held in Legacy churches, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that within 20-30 years, one would be hard-pressed to find a pulse beating from within their walls. 

For many, consistent church-attendence is still the standard by which a “real” Christian is being judged. This serves to do little more than to feed the ungodly caste system that exists when people compare ourselves with ourselves. Sadly, people who feel this way may be in bondage to a Spirit of Idolatry, placing more emphasis on the Institution than the Institutor. 

So, one may be wondering, is House Church the “real” Church? No, WE - God’s people - are the “real” Church, whether we’re sitting on a pew in a cathedral or a recliner in a living room. There may be individuals within the House Church/Simple Church groups who preach against the traditional church model, but most actually see both camps as belonging to the same family of God, serving as different parts of the same Body, as it were. Truthfully, I’ve heard, read and experienced far more negatives coming from the Institutional side than from the Simple Church side. 

Bear in mind that if “WE” are all “The Church,” then “THEY” who are affiliated with another camp are still “US.” Therefore, if “YOU” choose to align “YOURSELF” against anyone who doesn’t happen to belong to “YOUR” group, “YOU” have set “YOURSELF” up against “YOURSELF.” Comprende? Talk about a house divided! Power comes through unity.

For those who are intrigued by this Book-of-Acts-Church-style concept, I recommend George Barna’s “Revolution” and Frank Viola’s “Pagan Christianity.” Also, read “MegaShift” by Jim Rutz. You might also appreciate my own quick-read, “The Many Faces of House Church: The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.” Just ask.

There…I’ve addressed the issue. 

Am I AGAINST the local Church? 

You decide.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo