Protestant Church Planting - Is it biblical?

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A friend of a friend has been encouraged by the Holy Spirit to plant new churches. My evangelical friend thinks this is ok but i didnt think it was. Are there any biblical arguments either way?
 
Can you provide more details?
The Apostles “planted new churches” everywhere they went. Of course all of these "Churches’ (ekklesia, communities) were of one faith, the Catholic (universal) faith. This would be a biblical basis for the expansion of The Faith.

However, I don’t know if this is what is meant by your friend.

Peace
James
 
A friend of a friend has been encouraged by the Holy Spirit to plant new churches. My evangelical friend thinks this is ok but i didnt think it was. Are there any biblical arguments either way?
how about “a house divided against itself cannot stand”
or “Peter, I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven”
or Christ’s plea for unity among his followers on the night before he died in John’s Last Supper discourse

Does your friend mean he is supposed to start new denominations, or new centers of gathering and worship for his present one?
yes the apostles planted new churches in the sense of local or regional churches in adherence with the main Body of Christ. I assume that is the sense your friend refers to. We know of course from Christ’s promise and his own words about the Holy Spirit, and Paul’s interpretation of those warnings, that no one can claim to start an entirely new Church separate from the one established by Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, or claim to lead members away from the Church under claim of such inspiration, because the HOly Spirit cannot work against Himself.
 
One thing to note, though, is that went people were ‘sent’ in scripture, they generally were sent in pairs, note as lone cowboys.
 
St. Paul was all for preaching the gospel of Christ to plant churches in those places where Christ had not yet been named but he was not so keen on preaching the gospel of Christ to plant churches in those places where Christ had already been named, likening it to dishonestly building on another man’s foundation. (See Romans 15:20) So, if the church planting is occurring in areas where Christ has not yet been named, then it is a good work. However, if the church planting, setting up a rival Christian church, is occurring in areas where Christ has already been named, where there is already a Christian presence, then it is dishonest work.
 
One thing to note, though, is that went people were ‘sent’ in scripture, they generally were sent in pairs, note as lone cowboys.
Good point. I think that was to avoid a personality cult for the planter. That may be the weakness of some of the mega-churches of today that can’t outlive the death of their planter.
 
Another question I would have is where is the “Holy Spirit” calling him to plant new churches?
If it is in an area that already HAS churches then wht is the need for more?
If it is in far off missionary lands that mght be another matter.

Peace
James
 
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