Why Rose Creek Village?
Honestly and simply, we were not satisfied with our experience of American Christianity, nor were we satisfied what what it offers. Here's what we read about in Scripture:
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47, NASB)
We want nothing less.
Admittedly, the early churches had their problems. In Corinth, Paul had to contend with sin that extended even to sexual immorality (2 Cor. 12:21). Nonetheless, even in Corinth, he was able to be confident that God was doing a powerful work in their midst:
In everything you are enriched by him, in all speech and in all knowledge, just as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. As a result, you come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will keep you firm to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 1:5-8)
Today, we have the sins, but we do not have the confidence. Statistics say that 80 to 95% of those who walk the aisle or make a profession of faith are no longer attending church within just 5 years. Contrast that with the statement of Paul, "I am confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will be completing it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Php. 1:6)
When 80 to 95% of our people are falling away, God is not completing the work, if he's even begun it. Something is wrong, and we have to find out what it is.
We believe that what is lacking is an understanding of the church. The church is not insignificant in Scripture. The most incredible things are said about it. It is the bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2). It is the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12). It is God's household (1 Tim. 3:15). Jesus died to sanctify the church, cleanse it, and present it to himself (Eph. 5:25-27).
Its members can't get along without each other (1 Cor. 12:14-26). They grow—together and at the same time—by speaking the truth to one another, which protects them from deception, and this only happens as every part does its share (Eph. 4:11-16).
This is significant!
So we came together in a grand experiment to try to live out what the Scriptures speak of.
We hardly knew where to begin. We certainly did not understand what we were up against. Because the church is important to God, it's important to the devil as well. He knows that the gates of hell can't prevail against the church (Matt. 16:18), and he fights against it with all his might.
We have had to contend with battles from within and without. Division, according to the Scriptures, is a work of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). In other words, it is natural for us to fight and divide. Only the grace of God is sufficient to overcome that because unity is a work of the Spirit of God (Eph. 4:3).
Nonetheless, God has proven faithful. We have been together for 20 years, and our experience is what the apostle Paul said it would be. What God begins, he completes.
In the church, if you will simply remain, the life of God will flow to you, transforming you, and growing you up in Christ.
That is why we're here.
