Some thoughts on heresy from Dr Victor Choudrie, medical doctor and a big fan of simple meals in homes for believers as the best way to celebrate the Lord’s supper. Most new churches planted worldwide, Victor observes, are started by housewives.
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I thought it worthwhile posting some of his thoughts because there has been much talk this week of the eucharist, heresy, women in ministry and house church. Victor and Bindu Choudrie represent a strong voice in these issues and one that does not come from the Eurocentric west. Bindu gave me their book when we were together recently in South Africa. Bindu travels to the missions conferences while her husband, Victor, stays home and takes care of the ministry. In the last decade, they have seen about 10,000 churches started in India. All of these are simple churches meeting in informal spaces like homes, and meeting many times during the week rather than only on Sunday.
On heresy:
“The first false teaching came into Ekklesia through Nicolas, menitoned in the Assemblies of Ephesus and Pergamos of the seven assemblies of the book of Revelation. . . .Significantly, Nicolas means “conquering the laos or the ordinary people”. In contrast, Jesus called the “laos” or the ordinary people His brothers and sisters (Mark 3:31-35) It was Nicolas who started the division between “listening brothers” and “speaking brothers” where the speakers claimed a higher status. Jesus condemned this division and compared it to idolatry and fornication (Rev. 2:6, 14,15)Yet the clergy/laymen division continues unabated in our churches today. According to the Scriptures, every believer is a royal priest and never just a layperson.” (1 Pet. 2:9, 1 Cor. 14:26-31)
On denominationalism:
The Ekklesia is one Body,“joined and knit together for effective working, with every part doing its share, leading to its numerical and spiritual growth” (Eph. 4:16) If the church is serious about reaching the ends of the earth, then it is incumbent upon her to partner and communicate her strategy to others in unambiguous terms. This is necessary to win the global war against Diabolos. Marketing the divisive sectarian values of “us versus them” to the already fragmented cultures and communities should be banned. The hydra-headed serpent of Denominationalism has been a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions causing religious fundamentalism, doctrinal division, and a high level of mistrust among national leaders. The churches have a choice: either synegize all our efforts today and swim together or lose the opportunity for generations and drown separately.”
From “Greet The Ekklesia In Your House”, by Victor Choudrie
Simple truths that are simply given short shrift by too many, especially in America. Thanks for posting this; it was refreshing.
I agree in principle with Mr. Choudrie. He is right. On the other hand, people have gone to an extreme toward the simple church and condemned anyone meeting in a building, instead of a house. People can get off-center very quickly, in any direction. So, there is a danger of going too far with even a “simple” church.
The planting of 10,000 churches gives one pause to wonder how they all get fed, so to speak. They should all be totally indpendent, but even in Acts there were brothers who went from location to location encouraging the different assemblies. Is that happening? How in the world are there enough workers to deal with 10,000 gatherings? I don’t mean oversee. Just visit and encourage and teach. I know of an area where there are 200 plantings and there are not enough workers.
jeff – good question
they have a very intensive training program to equip the men, the women and the children (they have trained thousands of children) to run these simple house churches.
and Luke 10 plays a big role in their training system
Is it just me or was there an obsure wink to John Bunyan embedded in that?