Catholic house churches?

[freedomissacred]

Because of the rampant politicking of various groups within the larger church, many Christians are finding it necessary to worship more privately. For some of us who are Catholic, this may be a prod to explore churches with a stricter reliance on Scripture vs tradition, but for others it is a time of sorrow as we consider the worldly stumbling blocks that may block our way into the church while we still hold onto our Traditions.

I'm interested in hearing from people who are following a Catholic form of Christianity as a house-church. Private messaging is ok.

I've pulled myself into a form of the Benedictine Rule which structures the day with prayer and work. I don't claim to follow it faithfully but I do try.

The issue for Catholic Christians is for us to be able to meet without upsetting the others who remain in the Church because they don't notice the political groups that are harming people based on ethnicity or economic circumstances.

We can't attract non-Catholic Christians to our groups without getting into pointless conflicts about the lies that so many believe about our practices. Every Catholic who takes time to read the Catechism which explains our doctrine knows that we are required to respect the individual conscience of every person and that in fact "Catholic Apologetics" is a complete contradiction of our doctrines in many ways.

So I am asking anyone who gets all upset if they see a set of prayer beads or a statue of a saint to please ignore this thread. I have absolutely no interest in converting you because if you know Jesus, you know enough.

I am asking Catholics who are isolated because of the problems we face in our social parishes instead of any theological dispute to think about establishing house-churches unconnected to any diocese or parish.

I really feel the need for this and I don't see many ways that we can safely get in touch with each other because of the political extremists in the Church.

 

[Willie T]

This sounds exciting.

 

[mickey30981]

I think you are making a big mistake. We need in you in the pews with the rest of us sinners! We need your example and leadership. Perhaps you could form a small group within your parish where you could meet at home for private prayers and bible study or other spiritual growth. But, I would hope this would give you the strength to be involved in the rest of the parish and put up with us gossipers , legalists, and hypocrites. Aside from that of course how can you receive the Eucharist? You take yourself away from the Eucharist and you really cease to be Catholic in a way, and it sounds like your goal is to remain and grow in your Catholic faith. Please consider. Yours in Christ!

 

[Stefos]

Because of the rampant politicking of various groups within the larger church, many Christians are finding it necessary to worship more privately. For some of us who are Catholic, this may be a prod to explore churches with a stricter reliance on Scripture vs tradition, but for others it is a time of sorrow as we consider the worldly stumbling blocks that may block our way into the church while we still hold onto our Traditions.

I'm interested in hearing from people who are following a Catholic form of Christianity as a house-church. Private messaging is ok.

I've pulled myself into a form of the Benedictine Rule which structures the day with prayer and work. I don't claim to follow it faithfully but I do try.

The issue for Catholic Christians is for us to be able to meet without upsetting the others who remain in the Church because they don't notice the political groups that are harming people based on ethnicity or economic circumstances.

We can't attract non-Catholic Christians to our groups without getting into pointless conflicts about the lies that so many believe about our practices. Every Catholic who takes time to read the Catechism which explains our doctrine knows that we are required to respect the individual conscience of every person and that in fact "Catholic Apologetics" is a complete contradiction of our doctrines in many ways.

So I am asking anyone who gets all upset if they see a set of prayer beads or a statue of a saint to please ignore this thread. I have absolutely no interest in converting you because if you know Jesus, you know enough.

I am asking Catholics who are isolated because of the problems we face in our social parishes instead of any theological dispute to think about establishing house-churches unconnected to any diocese or parish.

I really feel the need for this and I don't see many ways that we can safely get in touch with each other because of the political extremists in the Church.

Here's something to chew upon mentally & pray about & read scripture:

Before Catholicism (Greek for Universal) & Eastern Orthodoxy (Greek for Standing for that which is correct/upright)...What kind of denomination existed?

Answer: None...Not Catholicism nor Orthodoxy
Both of these forms as they exist now, didn't exist back then either!

Furthermore, The apostolic succession doctrine is false.
Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers & Evangelists are gifts interwoven IN a particular person: IE. Paul, Agabus, Timothy...for example.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit are NEVER transferred from person to person just because some guy or gal wants another person to have a similar gifting.

Catholicism is pure heresy.....The Eucharist never saves a person.
Only Jesus's atoning sacrifice saves a person & IF that person has repented of their own ways & has the new nature (been changed by God,) they WILL bear fruit..Not out of a legalistic duty but from the nature & life of God coming out of them Au Natural, which is to say in a non-forced way from the heart vantage point of love which is God....People always have a tendency to say "I was involved too."

No..Only God gets glory from this...And He isn't looking for an Ego boost or accolades..He doesn't need it.
Nor does he "need" us...He loves us & wants us to be Sons & Daughters of God through & through.

Consider this......Don't read the New Testament through your denomination.
Allow the Lord Jesus to open the eyes of your heart to hear & understand.
The traditions of man (denominations) have made God's word of no effect.
Jesus didn't come to establish denominations OR the religion of Christianity either.

Amen

Stefos

 

[Rhamiel]

unless you have a priest visit your house and a private chapel, you can not really have Mass at a "catholic home church"

 

[ezeric]

Please understand this!

The house church, although proper and more in line with the early church and the book of Acts, is only the conduit.

The 'house church' is NOT the message, only the means.

The message is always and will for ever more be 'GRACE' .

Really Amazing Good News!

Part of the power behind 'house church' is that it takes the chains off the people.
No more pews and pulpits but now power and peace.

The authority of the believer.
A kingdom of priests. Exodus 19:6 & Revelation 1:6

-eric

 

[Stefos]

unless you have a priest visit your house and a private chapel, you can not really have Mass at a "catholic home church"

Do you know where the word "Priest" comes from?

Here's a history:

In English, There was a person called a Presbyter.
The presbyter, in the middle ages, was called "Prester"
The modern term "Priest" is mere an etymological extropolation of the word "Prester."

The New Testament knows of no such creation as "One priest giving a homily weekly"...This is a creation of men who thought they were doing God a favor.

Also, No such creature called "Mass" was ever done in the early church.
Agape feasts were, and as in the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians goes, the celebrated eating unleavened bread & drinking wine to represent the Lord's body & blood.

The Doctrine of Transubstantiation teaches that ultimately, eating the wafer & drinking the wine out of the chalice offered by the Priest & "Authorized Communion givers" SAVES PEOPLE.....Complete Heresy.

Only the blood of Jesus on the cross, saves people..not eating a monstrance.

Please, check your denomination's history & evolution of beliefs out.
You'll be shocked how much pagan thought & structure crept in.

As an example:
Quote:
"St. Raphael, Pray for us
O angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me from heaven, enlighten me this day, and save me from all evil. Instruct me in doing good deeds, and set me on the path of salvation. Amen."

This is ALSO heresy.....No where in God's word do we find "praying to an angel OR beseeching an angel."
No we only ask & petition the Lord Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit and not dead Christians who were labelled by others as "saints" which is also a term meaning "Separate/Called out people" not a special class of person with a halo on his/her head along with other so-called "Criterion for Sainthood."

WAKE UP PEOPLE OF GOD....FLEE DENOMINATIONS/DEMONINATIONS...Go back to the simplicity of following Jesus!

Stefos

 

[freedomissacred]

unless you have a priest visit your house and a private chapel, you can not really have Mass at a "catholic home church"

I agree. It is not my intention to supplant an actual church or compete with priests, but rather to build the quiet community that should exist but which has been absolutely destroyed by the invasion of political activists into the pews.

I think ezeric caught the spirit of what I am seeking to do.

And this also goes to mickey30981: if you are male, you probably do not know the degree to which women are being privately attacked by other women within the church and the degree to which corrupt priests are supporting attacks on individuals in their homes and workplaces. The attacks are often just whisper campaigns, but these can be lethal. The victims often do not even know the source of the lies that suddenly reach their employers' or their neighbors' ears. But those of us who are female and are also traditional catholics know very well what is going on because our celibate lifestyle is often mistaken by the ignorant politicals for something else and they invite us to the meetings no male or obviously conservative married female would attend. There are moderate meetings that peddle a soft "pro-choice" agenda which serve as screening devices into the really disgusting stuff.

House churches are not an easy path, but with the solid help of the Archangel Michael, I hope we can see more of them get going.

 

[freedomissacred]

Stefos. we've heard all that anti-Catholic nonsense before. Take it to a forum that is set up for apologetics or other form of debate, please. This thread is intended as a place for friendly fellowship and if you want to claim Catholics are not Christians, then you'll need to take it up with the owners of the forum who have included Catholics among all the various Christian sects who have appeared on the earth a few hundred to a thousand and more years after Christ established His church.

I live only in the Body of Christ, and that Body of course has many parts. Stefan, I appreciate your sincere concern but I respectfully ask you to respect the other Christians in this thread.

 

[Stefos]

Stefos. we've heard all that anti-Catholic nonsense before. Take it to a forum that is set up for apologetics or other form of debate, please. This thread is intended as a place for friendly fellowship and if you want to claim Catholics are not Christians, then you'll need to take it up with the owners of the forum who have included Catholics among all the various Christian sects who have appeared on the earth a few hundred to a thousand and more years after Christ established His church.

I live only in the Body of Christ, and that Body of course has many parts. Stefan, I appreciate your sincere concern but I respectfully ask you to respect the other Christians in this thread.

Thank you for your concern.

This is a house church/cell group thread & last I understood freedomissacred, Catholicism is church building based because the building houses the so-called "Literal body & blood of Jesus."

So, Catholicism is not house church or cell group based.

I believe you have the wrong forum.

If a Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant believes that ONLY the work of Jesus on the cross saves a person....then I'll say they ARE a Christian. It's by grace through faith...works come after the Lord has done a "heart transplant" of removing the old stony heart & replacing it with a new one.
If not....I'll say that they aren't Christians but are busy pushing heresy.

I believe that this is the reason why the owner(s) of this site are allowing Catholics & Orthodox a place here: To hear the real gospel & not "eating the eucharist saves you" heresy.

Simple....There is only 1 Gospel, 1 Faith, 1 Hope, 1 God & Father over all and
not "Catholic doctrine, Orthodox doctrine, Protestant doctrine."

There was no Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy OR Protestantism in the early Church....this is a later development of men.....Simple, read your "church history" starting with Eusebius and keep on reading until the late renaissance to see that what I say is true, through & through, because I researched these things.

Which do you believe freedomissacred?

What teaching is correct regarding salvation?:

Eating the eucharist/monstrance saves a person? OR
Only the atoning work of Jesus on the cross saves a person?

This tells me who is really a Christian according to God's written word.

Stefos

 

[freedomissacred]

Stefos, please stop spamming this thread and let others discuss house churches including Catholics who have house churches here. You obviously are extremely hostile to Christians from other traditions besides whatever you follow and so you are uncharitably disrupting this discussion. Please take you hatefulness to a forum devoted to debates, apologetics, or other forms of whatever you think you are doing. You are being hateful, please go do it somewhere else.

I am not promoting any particular denomination. I do recognize the intense degree of hateful ignorance that other Christians have towards Catholics. It is very sad that so many Bible-based Christians are so ignorant that they attack the very people who preserved the Bible itself for over a millenium and a half before Protestants started tearing it to pieces and now spend more time attacking each other than they do actually worshiping, loving, and serving Our Lord Jesus!

I can see there is no point to having a friendly discussion in a place filled with so much hatred and ignorance.

Those who want to have a friendly discussion of the practical problems facing any Christian who attempts to open his home for fellowship and worship, please just contact me privately. But don't bother if you hate Catholic Christians. This home church is not a Catholic church, but neither is it based on uneducated ignorance of the Bible, how and when it was written, and who Jesus is and what He teaches. I have no intention of trying to convert anyone to the Catholic church nor do I have any intention of joining hateful bigots in attacking it, for to attack any part of the Body of Christ is to attack Christ Himself.

 

[dayhiker]

freedomsiscared ... when you talk church and home church your hitting Stefos' button and so get a reaction each time.

 

[freedomissacred]

Well, he is right about one thing: I mistook this forum for an open topic and not for a closed denomination.

 

[Willie T]

Well, he is right about one thing: I mistook this forum for an open topic and not for a closed denomination.

Ouch! But pretty observant.

People pull away from big churches, only to, it seems, just make another exclusive little club.

 

[Stefos]

Stefos, please stop spamming this thread and let others discuss house churches including Catholics who have house churches here. You obviously are extremely hostile to Christians from other traditions besides whatever you follow and so you are uncharitably disrupting this discussion. Please take you hatefulness to a forum devoted to debates, apologetics, or other forms of whatever you think you are doing. You are being hateful, please go do it somewhere else.

I am not promoting any particular denomination. I do recognize the intense degree of hateful ignorance that other Christians have towards Catholics. It is very sad that so many Bible-based Christians are so ignorant that they attack the very people who preserved the Bible itself for over a millenium and a half before Protestants started tearing it to pieces and now spend more time attacking each other than they do actually worshiping, loving, and serving Our Lord Jesus!

I can see there is no point to having a friendly discussion in a place filled with so much hatred and ignorance.

Those who want to have a friendly discussion of the practical problems facing any Christian who attempts to open his home for fellowship and worship, please just contact me privately. But don't bother if you hate Catholic Christians. This home church is not a Catholic church, but neither is it based on uneducated ignorance of the Bible, how and when it was written, and who Jesus is and what He teaches. I have no intention of trying to convert anyone to the Catholic church nor do I have any intention of joining hateful bigots in attacking it, for to attack any part of the Body of Christ is to attack Christ Himself.

I was brought up Greek Orthodox.

Therefore, I'll touch upon that first then the rest.

First things first....
Why doesn't the Bishop of Rome relinquish his title?
He is ONLY "the bishop of rome" nothing more or less
Not the "Vicar of Christ" nor "Christ's representative on Earth."

Second,
Catholicism teaches that the Eucharist IS the literal body & blood of Christi which saves you.
It is not....that concept of transubstantiation is Pagan through & through.

Third,
Catholicism has amalgamated a LOT of pagan practices into itself.

Such as the dressing of statues in Mexico, Central & South America to name one.

Strip away the transubstantiation, the "Ever Virgin" Mary, the pagan accumulations amalgamated with Christianity & then we can logically talk.

Regarding my "Catholic hate:"

I don't hate Catholics...never had, never will. Honestly.
I don't appreciate or desire false teachings tacked on to & over the authority of Gods' word & the ministry of every believer.

Stefos

 

[Stefos]

freedomsiscared ... when you talk church and home church your hitting Stefos' button and so get a reaction each time.

Dayhiker.........There is no button.

There is only a concern that a false gospel & non-biblical teachings are being taught to Catholics & by Catholics & it's being spread about.

There is only 1 Gospel buddy.....Not "eating the literal body & blood saves you" No, only the free gift of Jesus dying on the cross saves you.

Ouch! But pretty observant.

People pull away from big churches, only to, it seems, just make another exclusive little club.

Sometimes people do that, but be careful for blanket statements.

You do not know the motives of a person's heart.

I'm expressing that Catholic teaching is Anti-Christ...How?
The transubstantiated "body & blood" save you from your sins is what Catholic dogma teaches............This is heresy Willie T.

Wake up & smell the Sanka buddy. HERESY not biblical gospel.

1 Faith, 1 Hope, 1 Father, 1 Gospel.....not the "Catholic version, Protestant version, Orthodox version, Coptic version, 5300 denominational versions"

1 way of salvation only: A free gift of God by Jesus dying on the cross.
You are saved by grace through faith, lest any person should boast.

God gets the glory, not you/me/The Pope.....Only God.

Amen

Stefos

 

[HoganWynne]

I agree. It is not my intention to supplant an actual church or compete with priests, but rather to build the quiet community that should exist but which has been absolutely destroyed by the invasion of political activists into the pews.

I think ezeric caught the spirit of what I am seeking to do.

And this also goes to mickey30981: if you are male, you probably do not know the degree to which women are being privately attacked by other women within the church and the degree to which corrupt priests are supporting attacks on individuals in their homes and workplaces. The attacks are often just whisper campaigns, but these can be lethal. The victims often do not even know the source of the lies that suddenly reach their employers' or their neighbors' ears. But those of us who are female and are also traditional catholics know very well what is going on because our celibate lifestyle is often mistaken by the ignorant politicals for something else and they invite us to the meetings no male or obviously conservative married female would attend. There are moderate meetings that peddle a soft "pro-choice" agenda which serve as screening devices into the really disgusting stuff.

House churches are not an easy path, but with the solid help of the Archangel Michael, I hope we can see more of them get going.

If you are not adverse to it, there are independent catholic bodies, as well as Anglican priests who would counsel and possibly offer the Eucharist if you so desire. I'm sure they would not even mind coming to a house church of sorts. Keep on keeping on, and keep asking the intercession of the angels and saints to aid you in your journey! May the mother of god enfold you in her mantle as she intercedes.

 

[phydaux]

Because of the rampant politicking of various groups within the larger church, many Christians are finding it necessary to worship more privately. For some of us who are Catholic, this may be a prod to explore churches with a stricter reliance on Scripture vs tradition, but for others it is a time of sorrow as we consider the worldly stumbling blocks that may block our way into the church while we still hold onto our Traditions.

I'm interested in hearing from people who are following a Catholic form of Christianity as a house-church. Private messaging is ok.

I've pulled myself into a form of the Benedictine Rule which structures the day with prayer and work. I don't claim to follow it faithfully but I do try.

The issue for Catholic Christians is for us to be able to meet without upsetting the others who remain in the Church because they don't notice the political groups that are harming people based on ethnicity or economic circumstances.

We can't attract non-Catholic Christians to our groups without getting into pointless conflicts about the lies that so many believe about our practices. Every Catholic who takes time to read the Catechism which explains our doctrine knows that we are required to respect the individual conscience of every person and that in fact "Catholic Apologetics" is a complete contradiction of our doctrines in many ways.

So I am asking anyone who gets all upset if they see a set of prayer beads or a statue of a saint to please ignore this thread. I have absolutely no interest in converting you because if you know Jesus, you know enough.

I am asking Catholics who are isolated because of the problems we face in our social parishes instead of any theological dispute to think about establishing house-churches unconnected to any diocese or parish.

I really feel the need for this and I don't see many ways that we can safely get in touch with each other because of the political extremists in the Church.

God bless you, brother.

I got saved back in the '80s as part of the (Charismatic) Catholic Renewal that started in the '70s. I ended up leaving the Roman church, but I still have many Catholic friends who deeply love the Lord and who I know full well are saved Christians.

Best of luck in your endeavor. I'm sorry, but I have no advice for you, other than to pray earnestly for a gifted worship leader to join the group.

 

[phydaux]

Do you know where the word "Priest" comes from?

Here's a history:

In English, There was a person called a Presbyter.
The presbyter, in the middle ages, was called "Prester"
The modern term "Priest" is mere an etymological extropolation of the word "Prester."

The New Testament knows of no such creation as "One priest giving a homily weekly"...This is a creation of men who thought they were doing God a favor.

Also, No such creature called "Mass" was ever done in the early church.
Agape feasts were, and as in the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians goes, the celebrated eating unleavened bread & drinking wine to represent the Lord's body & blood.

The Doctrine of Transubstantiation teaches that ultimately, eating the wafer & drinking the wine out of the chalice offered by the Priest & "Authorized Communion givers" SAVES PEOPLE.....Complete Heresy.

Only the blood of Jesus on the cross, saves people..not eating a monstrance.

Please, check your denomination's history & evolution of beliefs out.
You'll be shocked how much pagan thought & structure crept in.

As an example:
Quote:
"St. Raphael, Pray for us
O angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me from heaven, enlighten me this day, and save me from all evil. Instruct me in doing good deeds, and set me on the path of salvation. Amen."

This is ALSO heresy.....No where in God's word do we find "praying to an angel OR beseeching an angel."
No we only ask & petition the Lord Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit and not dead Christians who were labelled by others as "saints" which is also a term meaning "Separate/Called out people" not a special class of person with a halo on his/her head along with other so-called "Criterion for Sainthood."

WAKE UP PEOPLE OF GOD....FLEE DENOMINATIONS/DEMONINATIONS...Go back to the simplicity of following Jesus!

Stefos

Bro, some saints choose to continue to live among the lepers.

Please be glad for us that were are seeking a deeper spiritual walk by attending/hosting home groups.

Please pray for us as we work with our brothers inside the denominational structure.

It's called E-0 evangelism.

 

[phydaux]

I agree. It is not my intention to supplant an actual church or compete with priests, but rather to build the quiet community that should exist but which has been absolutely destroyed by the invasion of political activists into the pews.

I think ezeric caught the spirit of what I am seeking to do.

And this also goes to mickey30981: if you are male, you probably do not know the degree to which women are being privately attacked by other women within the church and the degree to which corrupt priests are supporting attacks on individuals in their homes and workplaces. The attacks are often just whisper campaigns, but these can be lethal. The victims often do not even know the source of the lies that suddenly reach their employers' or their neighbors' ears. But those of us who are female and are also traditional catholics know very well what is going on because our celibate lifestyle is often mistaken by the ignorant politicals for something else and they invite us to the meetings no male or obviously conservative married female would attend. There are moderate meetings that peddle a soft "pro-choice" agenda which serve as screening devices into the really disgusting stuff.

House churches are not an easy path, but with the solid help of the Archangel Michael, I hope we can see more of them get going.

Oops. I guess that should be Sis, not Bro.