• There is an obvious bias by the authors toward the house church and away from the institutional church.  Now I do not pastor or promote the house church or the institutional church.  I believe the New Testament makes room for both as declared in the book of Acts.  By the end of Acts Chapter five, the early church had grown to possibly be 15 to 20 thousand people counting the men, women and children, but yet they kept meeting corporately in large gatherings and also in small gathering within homes. Acts 5:42 tells us “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”  The early church met both corporately in large gatherings at the temple and in small gatherings in each other’s houses. 

• The authors assert that tithing is not a New Testament principle.  Jesus Himself set the guidelines on this topic in the New Testament and I believe the early church followed it.  Jesus said this to the religionists of His day who were tithing, but neglecting the poor and the needy around them - (Matthew 23:23 NLT)  "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.”  We find those in the early church giving up to 100% of their income, as recorded in Acts 4:32-37.  They had matured beyond the 10% boundary of the tithe and were now Holy Spirit driven givers that gave enough to take care of all needs.

• Never do the authors mention that the New Testament purpose of the church as revealed in Acts is to continue the point of need ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Instead, the reader walks away with the idea that the purpose of the church is to meet in homes and that ministry takes place within the confines of that meeting through people sharing their experiences with Jesus that week.  We are taught all throughout the New Testament that Jesus is our example and we are to follow Him, continuing His point of need ministry in the Power of the Holy Spirit until He comes.

• The authors do not mention that maybe God intends for the modern church to evolve by the Holy Spirit to use all means possible to touch people.  Afterall, the church is a living organism that is kept alive and growing through the Holy Spirit.  Maybe there is room for the institutional church, the house church, and even the Internet church in our day.  I personally believe that there is room for all three and one should not be elevated above another.  As Jesus tarries, the church will continue to evolve by the Holy Spirit and within the boundaries of Scripture to use all means to reach all people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Because of these issues, I will not place this book on my list of recommended books to read.  I’m not saying that it should not be read.  There is much to glean from it, but if you do read it or have already read it, please consider the four points above before coming to any conclusions from the book.

Know that you are loved,

@PastorGreg
Founder, www.LovingGodFellowship.org