Re: Are Church Covenants Biblical?

More good stuff, thanks!

I think half the reason non-home churches have covenants is because of jointly-held property. Where there is physical property that the church as a group owns, there have to be legal agreements and written financial documents. When a church meets in a home, though, only the homeowner is concerned about the property (and the insurance!).

I've often wondered how the original churches, who met in homes, dealt with such issues as child care and other logistical concerns, since for example the Jerusalem church had thousands of members. Did they only meet in small groups? I haven't found a good online source of info yet on the day-to-day operation of the first church. I'm guessing this is why each city's church was to have more than one elder, not only to keep each other in line, but to meet with each small group.

We really have to stretch to think outside the box on this. We have the church as we know it so ingrained in our minds that for many Christians the very idea of a house church is unthinkable. But I agree with the article, that a written contract is unnecessary and even dangerous. Tweet