New forms of Christian Expression - Christianity & Secularisation

Significance of new forms of expression

Allows 21st Century Christians to be proactive in the secular world

New forms of Christian expression

- Fresh Expressions

- House Church Movement

Fresh Expressions: Origin

Set up by Church of England as a result of 2004 report

Fresh Expressions: Aim

- Evangelical, it seeks to share Christian thinking

- But NOT aimed at drawing people into traditional Church communities

Fresh Expressions: Function

- Shares with those who have no contact with Church communities what it means to live in a secular society, so they start from where they are

- Listen to life experiences of ordinary people and considering how life/attitudes of Jesus give meaning to those experiences, rather than preaching traditional beliefs/practices

House Church Movement: Origin

- In early days of the Church, Christians often met in houses

- The House Church Movement aims to replicate this practice

- Found within most denominations, but particularly within evangelical and charismatic traditions

House Church Movement: View of secularisation

- Largely hostile to the Church

- Parallels early Christianity persecution by the Romans

House Church Movement: Function

- Fundamentalist approach to Bible

- Members focus on their individual experience of God calling them to a particular lifestyle / form of worship

House Church Movement: Aim

Movement away from meeting in conventional church buildings with all formality of worship associated with them