Large Buildings are not necessary but at times they can be useful. But for the majority of the underground Church in China they have very few large properties to utilize ever and most if not all buildings they use are privately owned small farm properties and homes. The leaders of some of the biggest networks of believers meet in a Barn with animals around them. Such shows also the humility of these believers not demanding their rights or expecting more than their Lord on earth had.
Also freed from the responsibility and distraction of having to take care of actual large buildings these believers are free to do the work of the ministry in smaller groups. We could learn much from these believers. May God raise up a movement of gathering of believers in North America that are not dependent on large buildings but rather put the emphasis on the saints as the building of God, the Church.
Here is an excerpt from the soon to be published free Principles Book:
"No structures, except the living structure of the body of Christ are necessary in the underground Chinese church. The entire movement almost does not own buildings but rather they make use of fields, caves451 and namely homes. What is most important to them is the people of God. Such was the burden of Paul the Apostle as he saw the people as the Church and the crown of his reward.452 This was also the burden of the early church which acknowledged the priesthood of all believers453 where every part of the body has a job or function. They did not believe in leadership that controls the body of Christ but rather serves and equips it.454
This does not undermine the great usefulness of a building or structure where it can be used for a gathering of people, who are the Church. Some church leaders of the underground house Church networks in China meet in a barn with animals walking around as they pray and receive instructions from the Lord for millions of believers. So meeting in a barn or even an old church building that is not being used is nothing wrong in itself. Though the Church in China is not as free as other nations to meet in various types of buildings still the Church is growing and abounding in the work of the Lord. May we never see the building as the “Church” but only the people as God’s true set apart Church unto Jesus Christ."
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Footnotes:
451 Hebrews 11:38
452 1 Thessalonians 2:19
453 1 Peter 2:5-9
454 1 Peter 5:2-4
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Gospel Fellowships ( - )
“Christianity was birthed in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and will only continue as we have this empowering from above. God is always looking for the willing vessels that will trust Him afresh for the impossible.” from: Principles for the gathering of Believers under the Headship of Jesus Christ.Since 2012, a growing group of believers in North America started to warn of coming persecution to western countries. This message was shared in a variety of ways. One of the responses to this was to compile a book taking principles from underground Churches around the world of how they thrived under pressure and persecution. The volume, Principles for the Gathering of Believers, had in a short time over 50,000 downloads in ebook format and much interest was shown. Some new house churches started through this and other existing groups were encouraged.