Customer Reviews

How to Meet in Homes

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A previous commentator remarked that Gene Edward's book, How To Meet In Homes, is "cynical and bitter." I recently purchased this book and can testify that this is absolutely not the case, though I can understand why some people may presume such initially; it is because this book is entirely offensive to the modern concept of what it means to "attend church."

I have to say that it is probably without dispute among most Protestant Christians that Martin Luther's 95 thesis, nailed to the Catholic Church's door, are not viewed as being merely the remarks of man who was bitter or cynical (and neither do most Christians regard Luther as being negative or wrongly critical), but most Christians would probably agree in saying that they were penned by a man who was graciously enlightened by God's truth, desperate for closer relationship with Christ, and this revelation motivated him to inspire others with this newfound liberty and not put up with the mistruths and deceptions any longer. Without meaning to elevate brother Gene on too high a pedestal, I would like to suggest that Gene's book be approached with a similar attitude; that Christians would honestly weigh his comments and see if they do not speak truth. I believe he has something powerful to say and I pray that the Church, the body of Christ, will have ears to hear.

This book, in my opinion, has enormous potential to stir and motivate Christians to get bravely real about their approach to the pursuit of the Lord Jesus and their embracing of one another in the body of Christ. This book calls for difficult introspection, honest assessment of our actions (both corporately and individually), and a call to a radical choice, whereby we will either remain content with tradition and dead, dry religion or pursue the presence of Jesus with radical abandon.

Myself being a current member of what may accurately be defined as an institutional/organized church (I'm almost ashamed to admit this given all the things God has been stirring in my heart up to this point of my life and as that parallels much of my studies in the Word of God and regarding Church history) I will say that, granted, Gene is very brash and blunt about the condition of the modern Church and how it sadly resembles nothing of the early Church founded by the Lord Jesus, but this book is not bitter at all. It is challenging, painful at times, convicting, piercing, and often offensive to the modern, traditional Christian way of thinking, but bitter it is not in the least!

I have read several other titles by Gene and listened to audio tapes by this brother in Christ. I have talked with people who know him personally and I know that bitter he is not. Any Christian who takes the time to read his other books such as "Crucified by Christians," "Prisoner in the Third Cell," and "A Tale of Three Kings," or gets to hear an audio tape of him talking about the Lord Jesus and His body while weeping, will understand this to be true. Anyone who has the chance to hear his testimony will understand that this is just a normal, ordinary guy with an extraordinary love for Jesus and for seeing believers find a fresh and vibrant passion for knowing Him intimately and allowing Christ alone to radically change our lives for His glory.

Because of brother Gene's radical and pointed observations about the modern organized Church, some Christians may take offence to some of his comments... but the book is written with love by a man who is broken and humble and has lived to know what he is talking about. Himself being a former Baptist minister and having suffered many trials and physical infirmities, brother Gene is a pure voice that loves the body of Christ (yes, even those brothers, sisters and ministers in the organized Church) and desires to see a deeper, more meaningful and organic expression of Christian life as demonstrated in the pages of God's precious Word.

This book will be difficult medicine for some to swallow, but I think it is good medicine nonetheless and I think every Christian, especially those of us who are a part of institutional type organized churches, need to hear the words presented in this book and confront them head on. Pastors need to read this book, if they can be brave enough to endure it and honestly contemplate. It will not be easy material to deal with because it is radical and it is so different from the way we commonly think of "church" today.

Whether this title liberates you, makes you think a little, or just makes your blood boil, I think you will agree it is worth every dime spent! Excellent! Highly recommended! But like the back cover of the book states: "Warning: Do not read this book if you enjoy Sunday morning church services!" If you like what you've always had and aren't interested to find out what you've been missing and, really, what the modern church structure and order of worship has robbed you from, don't bother reading this book.

This book was so impacting to me personally, I purchased three copies to share with others. I encourage you to read it. God bless!

This book by Gene Edwards is a thoroughly Biblical look at what the New Testament recognises as ekklesia, church meetings of born again believers. The book demolishes the present concept of the one-man Church ministry that so stultifies the growth of most Christians today. It destroys the chains of isolated and powerless involvement of present church goers. It is truly a liberation into the manifested presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is neither cynical nor bitter. The book just describes the parlous state that the present church has degenerated to. The only drawback to the book is its ending where the reader has to send for the follow up book which has not yet been printed.

The author has a lot of interesting things to say, although this is not a well-written book. He far from ignorant, but lacks discipline. He asserts much, but doesn't argue it, or even so much as cite a verse, so the reader can check up on him. He repeats a lot, and pounds points into the ground. The whole book has a strident, put-this-in-your-pipe-and-smoke-it tone, which is unnecessary. But again I emphasize, this author has a lot of interesting things to say, and at least he says it without pulling any punches. Most of the author's points can be summarized as follows:

1. Traditional Sunday morning church services (of any stripe) are mind-numingly boring, useless, and without any New Testament justification. They are also positively harmful, rendering the many passive observers.

2. Congregations must be allowed to find their own manner of meeting, without interference by any leadership.

3. (House-) Churches should be planted by itinerant church planters / apostles, who stay for a short time - a few months to no more than a few years, with infrequent visits thereafter. This is the ONLY correct and workable way for an assembly to begin, according to our author. Why? "It is just God's way." (p. 129)

4. The standard evangelical church service derives from John Calvin, who was a murderous mini-dictator.

5. Everyone there should participate in Christian meetings, which should be spontaneous and of infinite variety.

As he says, despite the title, this is in no way a how-to manual, but rather a call for revolution. Better title: Institutional Church Services Suck, and There's Something Better for Christians to Do. Bizarrely, after all the ranting, a few sparse pages of practical adivce are given, and then at the very end of the book, the reader is instructed to order one of the author's audio tapes.

This is a decent book, I think, for people coming from a traditional church background, who are starting to think about the possibility of being in an autonomous house church. It is an easy read. Those looking for something more systematic or practical should look elsewhere.

"How to Meet in Homes" is mis-titled. It should read: "Why to Meet in Homes". Edwards spends very little time talking about the "how" but a great deal of time and passion talking about the "why".

The modern Protestent church with its rituals and traditions is a legacy of, mostly, John Calvin. The strict protocols and meeting format he intituted for "the church" 500 years ago remain essentially unchanged today. And Edwards argues it has caused the church experience to be incredibly boring, irrelevant to real worship and service, and in general, a mortifying experience.

The proper conduct of the "Church" can best be found, he says, in the new testatment and in the first century when believers and church planters met in homes and shared their faith, their lives, and a risen Christ. Not in lomg rows of pews facing the stage and central actor (professional clergy) watching the show.
He traces the growth of the early church through Philippi, Corinth, and Ephesus drawing a pattern of success for today's believers.


Interesting, since Edwards wrote this book, 20 million Christians (according to George Barna) have foresaken the boredom of church in America for home churches, outside ministry, and small groups outside of established
denominations.

In Gene Edwards' usual style, he causes you to rethink what you may believe about Christianity. He brings Christ back into the Church in this revolutionary work on being the Church. I am only 1/3 of the way through it but I can't wait to finish it and begin applying what I've learned from him. A must read for any Christian who knows there must be more to being a Christian than just "going to church."

If you like books that feed dissallusionment then this book is for you. If you want to read a book that will give your hopelessness a legalistic edge it is a must. I am sorry to say that as much as I enjoyed some of Edwards other books example "A tale of Three Kings", this one was a huge dissapointment. It is written with an "elitist" edge that I find disturbing. Thank God that the Holy Spirit can use anyone or any method He desires! Mike Brown's "Revolution in the Church", and Wolfgang Simpsons, "Houses that change the World" are 20 times better.

Having been interested in "house churches" for some time, I purchased the book: "How to Meet in Homes."

My recommendation: If you want a Gene Edwards book that will edify, either buy: "A Tale of Three Kings" or "The Prisoner in the Third Cell."

While both of these books are helpful and edifying, there is very little helpful or edifying about: "How to Meet in Homes."

Basically, Mr. Edwards never answers the question, only reiterating over and over again, the evils of the modern church service.

May I therefore remind everyone reading my review: The very fact that Mr. Edwards would criticize the way a church meets is an example of hypocrisy.

If the church is to choose for itself how to gather and fellowship (as Mr. Edwards so readily declares), you then cannot deem any particular form or fashion as being wrong.

This is very sad.

Gene Edwards, How to Meet in Homes (Jacksonville: Seedsowers, 1999)

Reviewed by Darren Cronshaw

Not for people who enjoy the Sunday church event, this book invites Christians to discover how to meet in homes. And not just a call `from pew to sofa', he says the home is a starting place for an itinerant church planter to help a lay-led team be grounded in the gospel and then (in their infancy) be left alone to explore how to be church for themselves. Edwards draws mainly on accounts of first-century ekklesia but also refers to home churches in Europe, China and around the world. He holds nothing back in attacking the rituals of dominant ways of doing church, which he says are boring and intimidating to lay ministry. He stresses leaving behind the centrality of the sermon, church building and present-day practice of the pastor, and allowing organic ways of meeting to emerge.

Review originally appeared in Darren Cronshaw, `The Emerging Church: Introductory Reading Guide', Zadok Papers, S143 (Summer 2005).

This book will shake your foundation if you believe that the way we practice Christinaity in America is the Biblical pattern. This book attacks nearly every Christian tradition from the modern pastoral system to the buildings built called "churches." Edwards uses practical sense, Scripture, and church history to show the fallicy of today's modern church.

The book comes across as an attack on the modern church and it is. Edwards makes no claims that he is not attacking the system. One of his quotes is from a Turkish proverb that says, "If you tell the truth when everyone is believing and practicing the opposite, you better have a fast horse." Most "pastors" and clergy (and those who support them) will not like Edwards nor his book since it attacks their careers.

In conclusion, this book is best read by those who are not afraid to question the modern church (1 Thess. 5:21). If you like Sunday mornings at your mainline church, don't read this book! You will get mad and will never be the same.

The things that most struck me was the book was more "attacking" than setting up positive models. I found the language to be quite inflammatory and harsh. This made it very unpleasant to read.

For a much better book on house-churches, try "Houses that change the world" by Wolfgang Simson.