Here are a bunch of reasons why they are good even if they're not the totally most awesomely biblical absolutely necessary thing in the universe:
- They allow for a lot of participation. Rather than this participation being second-class outside of the public meeting stuff, the open participation of regular Christians is central to the regular meeting.
- They raise the bar for joining church. There is no comfortable, anonymous place. If you want to have something to do with church and Christ, it's a big, all-or-nothing thing.
- Christians are more aware that church and family and lifestyle all go together. Rather than being embarrassed that a living room is a weird place to invite my friend, I want them to be there because the church is the family of God.
- They lower profile of the public meeting can potentially raise the profile of the everyday activities of life.
- They don't require the same type of oraganistional commitment, and so allow for flexibility for the public meeting.
- They don't require the same type of organisational commitment and so allow for more energy to be spent on other meetings and ministries.
