and the house was filled

Had a discussion about the subject raised in this article with a brother a few months ago. Don't know where I stand on the issue of house churches. Actually, I do. I think they're ridiculous.

Historically, if you want to point to the early church, remember that in that context, that was how they started and grew -- households believing and getting baptized. Nowhere does it say in the NT that that is how those churches stayed. At least I don't recall any. Why else is Paul writing letters to whole churches and not small homes? My assumption is because once they reached a certain size, they became the large edifices we are familiar with today.

Modern movement toward the smaller is rooted in dissatisfaction with big churches, and my guess is that those root dissatisfactions are more sin on the part of the believer than the church. All part of the larger sin of people trying to fashion religion into an image they want rather than the image the Lord wants.

Religion isn't a car that you can customize with whatever options make you smile. Churches aren't there to meet your selfish needs. Churches are there to worship, and provide you a place to serve, brother. You have it all backward.