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First of all the Church is the Body of Christ, not a building of any sort, see 1st. Corinthians 12:12-14, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1st. Peter 2:5, and Colossians 1:24. The church is a Spiritual temple, made without hands, see Acts 7:48-50. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, if you have recieved it, 1st. Corinthians 3:16-17. The kingdom of God is not a natural kingdom, never has been, and never will be. God is a Spirit, they that worship him must worship in Spirit and in Truth, John 4:24.
No where in scripture did Jesus command the apostles to build houses of worship, or to establish these pecking orders called denominations, organizations, and "fellowships". Jesus did not set up a ministry after the order of the Levitical priesthood, see Hebrews chapters 7 - 10. Jesus is our High priest and all saints are priests unto God, 1st. Peter 2:9 and Revelation 1:6. Jesus nor the apostles set up one bishop rule in churches, or the pastor worship so common in churches today. The New Testament was a fluid church that flowed with the moving of the Holy Ghost. The early church was a church without walls that went to the people, they did not expect the people to come to it. The New Testament ministry worked as humble servants, sacrificing everything, even there life to be the servant of Christ unto others. They were not the salaried, tithe gathering, professional speakers of today. These early men of God were common folk, working with there own hands, but called and anointed by the Holy Ghost. The approval of the religious systems of that day meant nothing to them, they wanted to only please God.
One does not need a phd or to attend a seminary to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. One must be born again according to Acts 2:38, Live a clean holy life, and be gieven the anointing from God, to be a preacher of the gospel. These early church preachers preached everywhere, with signs following, Mark 16:20. So this early church with no building existed for almost 300 years without buildings? How did they do it?
The New Testament church was Home based, the Home was the center of religious activity for them. Here are some scriptures to prove this.
Acts 20:20
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house.
Acts 28: 30-31
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and recieved all that came in unto him, Preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jeus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Romans 16:5
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. (Pricilla and Aquliia)..... also 1st. Corithians 16:19
Colossians 4:15
Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Philemon 1:2
And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house.
This is just a few of the scriptures on the matter, but it is very clear that house church was the way of the New Testament Church. Also they preached in open Air in all types of locations both in the cities and in the country sides.
A study into the New Testament and early church history proves that all believers in and area were called the church of city or area. Thers were elders, over these groups, not ever just one. Elders is the same as pastor, shepherd, bishop, ect. The Apostles established churches and oversaw large areas, the evangelists and prophets moved about from place to place, as did many of the "teachers". Five fold ministry was active without the man made heiarchy of today. The people met in houses for regular meetings and in open areas for larger gatherings.
So am I against buildings? No not spicifically. But I am against the buliding cenetered church system that fails to BE the church. I am against the Man centered order of leadership based on customs that came out of Trinitarianism, and were never part of the early church. BE the Church, dont just go to an assembly, an assembly is a gathering that may just include ones own family. Most of all to obey the word of God is most important. House Church is an acceptable model of church for today.
In this world of seemingly no absolutes, the word of God stands unchanged. There has been a mass forsaking of holiness standard in our churches. Let me give you some scriptures about holiness
Hebrew 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
1st. Thessalonians4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
Romans 6:22
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
1st. Peter1:15-16
But as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1st. John 2:15-17
Love not the world, neither the thing that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
1st. John 2:3-4
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adultresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
1st. Peter 4:18
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
This is just a few of the many scriptures that tell us that holiness living is a requirement, if we plan on being saved. Now this worldly church system says it dosent matter how you live, cause Jesus paid for your sins. But on the contrary Romans 6: 1-2 ... Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid... Those whose choose to live a sinful lifestyle and still be religious will have a rude awakening on the day of judgment. Whosever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire. The Bible will be your judge, for the Word is God, John 1:1. Can you open up the pages of this book of life and find your name written therein? How? By obedience to he word of God. Do you think God is going to excuse your adultery? How about Fornication? How about idolatry? such as pagan holidays and roman catholic doctrines. How about immodest dress? it is laciviousness. How about whosoever loveth and maketh a lie? such as preaching a satanic trinity doctrine or telling your children bunny and Santa lies??? Strait is the gate, narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. The complaint department is downstairs. Its a little warm and crowded down there.
I had a fairly normal childhood I guess. My parents were divorced when I was about 7. I grew up loving wrestling and rock n roll. By the time I was 11 I was experimenting with drugs, witchcraft, and was addicted to satanic music. But I had always been taken to church all my life, in various denominations. By the time I was 12, I was having suicidal thoughts and deep depression. It just hit me that if didnt get ahold of God I was going to end up Dead quick. So one night at a trinitarian "pentecostal" church I repented. I mean REPENTED! I went home that night and tore down the posters all over my walls and broke all my heavy metal cds. The next day people said "what happend to you?". They could see an immediate change in me. My teen age years were like most, lots of ups and downs, tempations and giving in to those temptations. But I always knew that I was going to serve God and that deep down there was something special God had for me. When I was 15 I began to study the Bible alot and about different types of chuches. I was drawn to holiness. I began to seek out sanctification and holy living. I began preaching in the Church of God denomination at age 16. About that time a gradual change was happening about how I veiwed God, that Jesus was the one to pray to. I had read some apostolic literature then Bam! It hit me like a ton of bricks. Jesus Christ is God and I have been so blind! I got the revelation of the oneness of God. I new about a Jesus Name church about 50 miles away that an elderly lady had invited me to quite some time before. I knew she lived holy and had prayed fo me. One night I walked in that little backwoods Jesus Name church in south east Ky. That Lady turned around from her seat and pointed to me and said "I knew you would be here!" I looked around and people were shouting, praying, speaking in tongues, and praying for each other. I wanted what they had. I already knew the Holy Ghost was real, I already believed the oneness of God, I aready knew about baptism in Jesus Name. So just a few times of going there I was determined to get the Holy Ghost. I read Acts 2 and Acts 8 and I believed if I would obey the scripture to be baptized in Jesus name that God would give me the Holy Ghost. I called that pastor up one sunday and told him I wanted to be Baptized. He said come on down right now. So we went down there, way back in that holler, on a cold sunny day in February. I was Baptized in Jesus name at Slick Ford creek, near Monticello KY. I went on to service that night just feeling God like never before. I was up on the plat form playing on a guitar when they began to sing. I started to worship and got lost in the presence of God. Im not sure how it happend but I got that guitar off and was standing in front of the the alter. A brother put his hands on my head and I lifted mine and said Jesus! Then all I know is I hit the floor rolling and praising God in ways I couldnt understand or even control. I tried to get up and could not, I tried to stand and could not, I tried to speak normal but all I could say was Jesus. I new was changed and Jesus (the Holy Ghost) came in that night. Then came the rejection and persecution! I told my boss (the preacher who had baptized me in the titles when I was 12) that I got the Holy Ghost. He said that good. I said yes, but it what else I did that you wont agree with. I got baptized in Jesus name, I said. He looked with surprize and disgust. Then came the questions, the interogation in preachers offices, the losing friends, the being banished from pulpits, even my own family was against me. I was alone, But I hung on to that experience that night, I knew what I got was real and right. I got my strength from the word of God. Then God placed some knew people in my life that made me feel accepted again. I began to preach the One God, Apostolic, tongue talking, Holiness message and been preaching it ever since. Thats been over 10 years ago. I wouldn't trade this Jesus name, Holy Ghost salvation for anything in the world. Thanks be to God!
in Jesus name,
Bro. Billy Vaughn