It’s another Gospel

One of the comments I heard most at the recent National House Church gathering in Ontario is “we have struggled and are struggling”.

The transition from the Institutional church to organic house church is a huge step; the 13 inch journey from the head to the heart being the longest journey most of us will take. The painful process of unlearning most of what we thought to be important and true is a daunting and disturbing prospect; sadly it’s fraught with frustration, anger, broken relationships and a whole host of other unpleasant emotions towards people we assumed to be friends.

Chris and I left the IC back in the 80’s, since that time we have spent many years living in YWAM communities working out our lives often in front of over a 100 other people all sharing the same home. I would recommend it to anyone who is keen to see just how mature they are.

One of the major differences I have seen between long-term YWAMERS and most members of the IC is the understanding they have regarding the cost of following Jesus. The low cost ‘bums on seats’ ‘fast food/ supermarket’ Gospel that is preached in most IC has created an inoculated population that in most cases has little or no concept of the message of the NT.

For those like ourselves who have walked away from the IC, we know all too well what the cost is, rejection from those we assumed were friends, excommunication from many of the associations we worked in and above all, a deep sadness that something was very wrong with Christianity as we had experienced it. The process of grief is often a painful journey, however the upside of all this tragedy is that once we have dealt with our anger, frustration and resentment, Jesus becomes a new reality that none of us would trade for any position or salary that man could offer us.

So how is it possible for us in the HCM to relate to our brothers and sisters who are still bound by the IC system? Over the years, we have seen and talked to hundreds of people who are disillusioned with the quality of their Christian experience particularly as it relates to church, yet many seem unable to ask ‘out of the box’ questions or even entertain that what they are in, may in fact be a subtle counterfeit engineered by the prince of lies.

Chris and I have been involved in the HC movement since 1986, since that time we have worked in over 60 countries speaking at mission schools, YWAM bases and leadership conferences whilst running our business and doing organic church in the UK. During that time what has become very clear to us is we are in a movement and it is growing in momentum. My feelings are that the movement that is emerging here in Canada is at a grass root stage (just beginning); that being the case which I believe it is, we must embrace that fact that we are pioneering a movement that the masses WILL NOT understand.

Although I grew up as a young boy in the UK, I was in fact born here in Canada, (that’s why there’s an absence of any accent, those of you who were at the NHCC will know what that means) my Father was a senior engineer on the AVRO Arrow project between 1956 1959. I say that because I wanted you, the reader to understand that my following comments aren’t a judgment against Canadians as I am one myself.

In my opinion one of the major obstacles we face in doing house church here in Canada is ‘offence’. Until we Canadian’s stop getting offended and learn to deal with fractured relationships by walking in brokenness, humility and learning conflict resolution skills rather than just walking away offended, I see very little happening regarding growing organic churches here in Canada. One only has to listen to the testimonies of those seeking to plant organic HC and their stories are almost a carbon copy, fractured relationship and offended people who will not come to the ‘cross’ and seek resolution and restoration when conflict and differences occur. Chris and I call them runners, because the Gospel they have responded to DOESN”T require them to DIE , just keep running. Yes, we are facing a major spiritual stronghold over this country and as was said at out HC think tank day, intercession, ‘fasting and operating in the opposite spirit will be the only strategy that brakes the power of the enemy’s yoke’.

We Canadians are a great people, all over the world people from every nation look to us- the model multicultural society, as we are tolerant, kind, laid back and polite. We had a joke in the UK several years ago.

“ How do you get 30 Canadians out of a swimming pool?” (Ask them to get out)

The flip side of these amazing qualities is, we are a nation of people who quickly judge, get offended and seem happy to live with fractured relationships. My personal conviction is that we are in danger of becoming a nation of cowards. Scripture teaches us that the cross of Christ is an offence, until we Canadians start taking responsibility for our behaviour and dealing with being offended we will find it hard to embrace the HC concept as it places the cross as a central core value.

So in the end my brothers & sisters we need to take on-board that it will not be possible to do HC with those who haven’t embraced the cross. Many will want it, but few can pay the price.

Jesus said if anyone desires to follow Me let him 1st take up his cross.

Terry Johns
9/4/2010