Christian Community: The Church as Extended Household
By Rollin Grams, Bible and Mission.
Introduction
All believers could be thought of as members of God’s household (Eph. 2.19). Yet individual congregations were, in themselves, ‘Christian households’—an extension of an actual household. The characteristics of a home are different from other social structures or organizations, and so several characteristics of the home are shared with the church. Ancient authors wrote on the nature of societies, aware of different practices, customs, laws, and constitutions. They compared the household’s members, relationships, and dynamics to the city. Christians, following the Jewish practice of the synagogue, understood a social unit that fit between the household and the city: the church. Unlike the synagogue, however, the church was a house church, and in this way the relationship between the home and the church was even stronger. This essay highlights several ways in which the Christian family household was extended into the church ‘family’ in the early Church.
- Household Values: The home is a place for building others (strong and weak) up, living in harmony, and welcoming others. These features of the home appear in the local church:
Romans 15:1-2 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Romans 15:5-6 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
- Household Practices: Also, homes were places for fellowship and eating, and Christian worship was centred on them, especially in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
Acts 2:46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts….
Jude 1:12 These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, looking after themselves….
1 Corinthians 11:20-21 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
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