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SUBJECT: “Going from house to house.” -Luke 10:7 and
Acts 20:20
QUESTION: Does God command Christians to go from door to
door preaching the gospel?
ANSWER:
The confusion on this subject seems to arise from the three
primary verses using the phrase, “house to house”.
Acts 20:20
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you,
but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from
house to house,
Acts 2:46
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat
with gladness and singleness of heart,
Luke 10:7-8
7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such
things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.
Go not from house to house.
8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you,
eat such things as are set before you:
Acts 20:20 seems to be supporting the idea of God’s
ministers going from house to house preaching the word of
God. However the meaning is made clear when you read the
entire paragraph, beginning in verse 17:
Paul “sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the Church,”
saying to them, “I…have taught you publicly, and from house
to house.” He taught the Church leaders in their own homes.
Paul did not go from house to house, teaching whomever
answered his knock at the door.
At his own hired house in Rome, Paul “received all that came
in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God,” which Christ had
commanded him to preach (Acts 28:30-31). Christ had
personally taught the gospel to Paul (1 Corthians15:8; Galatians
1:11-2:2). One of Christ’s teachings was that we are not to
force our beliefs on anyone (Matthew 7:6). This makes clear
that Paul did not try to convert people by preaching from
house to house. His public teachings were carried out mainly
in the Jewish synagogues.
Acts 2:46 is also misunderstood and misapplied. The twelve
apostles and other disciples continued daily with one accord
in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, did
eat their meat with gladness. This is not a scene of church
members going to strangers preaching the Word of God. These
individuals were in unity. They continued daily with “one
accord.” Their beliefs were the same. The passage is
describing people of the same faith, firstfruits all in the
Salvation Process together. The verses make no mention of
church members preaching to strangers by going from house to
house.
The phrase, “breaking bread” signifies the eating of a
meal. This passage is describing converted members eating
in the homes of other converted members. There is nothing
here to denote the preaching of the Word to unconverted
individuals.
In Luke 10 and verses five to eight, we find the specific
instructions from Christ not to preach from house to house.
And into whatsoever house ye
enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of
peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it
shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain,
eating and drinking such things as they give: for the
labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat
such things as are set before you:
True firstfruits should never attempt to convert or convince
by approaching the unconverted with the Word of God, the
gospel message or direct one-on-one preaching. They have no
biblical mandate or instruction to do so. The gospel is to
be spread via publishing and public preaching, as is done
today using television, radio, and the Internet. The
primary purpose of the gospel message is not to convert or
the gathering of a flock. Its purpose is to be imprinted on
the brain cells of all who hear it. From that point, all
things are in God’s hands and carried out according to His
purpose [Ephesians 1:11]. He can use this to call them now,
during the Great Tribulation, the return of Christ or in the
Second Resurrection, when all who have ever lived will have
their opportunity to know all truth, have access to the Holy
Spirit, enter the Salvation Process and, if successful
there, enter the Kingdom of God with eternal life.
We are instructed to let our light shine [Matthew 5:16] by
invoking the power of the Holy Spirit in the form of Godly
principles [love, joy, peace, honesty, service, forgiveness,
excellence, etc. –see Gal. 5:22-23]. 1 Corinthians 2:14 shows us
that without the Holy Spirit opening the mind of a person in
the calling process, they cannot understand spiritual
things. This is why God instructs firstfruits not to “cast
their pearls before swine” [Matthew 7:6].
The process of Godly Calling begins with God opening the
mind of an individual and leading the person to the Work of
God, where he or she will be fed from the Word of God in the
ways of the Salvation Process. Firstfruits are not to
approach strangers. Rather, God brings called individuals
to the Church of God where they are fed.
Conversely, we might ask, “Should we invite into our homes
ministers or others who are going from house to house
teaching doctrines contrary to the Bible?” God’s instruction
on this matter is found in 2 John, verses 10-11: “If there
come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him
not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that
bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
Christ’s example, and that of the apostles, is that
Christians neither preach from house to house nor invite
into their homes anyone approaching them soliciting a false
gospel or any other man-made religion.
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