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General Overview

BareNakedChurch launched on Good Friday 2006. Their premise is that cultural Christianity is far removed from the practices of early Christians and because of this the original intent and purpose of the Church Jesus founded has been lost. The initial launch was their web presence.

Recently, the church officially began a church multiplication program called Underground Church, a home church type movement. However, some Underground Churches affiliated with BareNakedChurch have been meeting since 2001. Most recently, BareNakedChurch has been invited by a maximum securty prison in the Nowrthwestern United States to train inmates to start Underground Churches within the prison. This training will commence in August 2006.

The primary voice for BareNakedChurch is Edward Snyder, a twenty-two year member and ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Rev. Snyder co-founded a church plant with Rev. Paul Johnson on September 16, 2001 called Real Life Community Church. Real Life, an emergent church, was the most numberically successful church plant in the history of the Nazarene movement, a one hundred year old denomination that evolved out of the Methodist church. Rev. Snyder resigned from Real Life in January 2006. Four months later, BareNakedChurch.com commenced.

BareNakedChurch states that millions of people (Christians and non-Christians alike) have no real idea what it means to be an adherent to the teachings of the Jesus found in the Bible. The church teaches that Jesus was a radical, that he started a Jihad (a Holy War) of love... a teaching and calling that was so counter-cultural that it got him executed. The church says that Jesus Christ is the God and that the resurrection validated everything Jesus said, did and commissioned his followers (the Church) to continue. This recall to love like Chirst is the primary doctrine of BareNakedChurch.

A mainstay for their thinking is that it matters not what church you go to... what your religion is... what you think about God... they invite and encourage all people of any faith to study and follow the teachings of Jesus as found in the Bible. A way of life that they say is "a great Way to live."

BareNakedChurch has a website at BareNakedChurch.com. The site is a forum to discover what they claim is the truth about Jesus Christ and to discuss Christianity, whether you believe Jesus Christ is God or not.

Underground Church USA is a church planting movement.

BareNakedChurch's organizational foundation is Underground Church USA. Underground Church is not a result of religious persecution but an intentional revolution against cultural Christianity. According to BareNakedChurch, it is a grass roots movement to a return to vintage Christianity which was radical, transformational and dangerous. Their purpose is to ignite and fuel a modern spiritual awakening.

Underground Churches USA have been meeting since September 2001, not as a response to 9/11, the timing just happened to coincide. Underground Church USA is organized similar to House Church, but they make it clear that they are not restricted to houses. Some Underground Churches meet in coffeehouses (like Starbucks), at work places, in schools, karaoke bars, etc. Basically they meet anywhere people can get together to study the Bible. According to BareNakedChurch, "Underground Church is church as it should be... simple... uncomplicated... effective... fun."

Underground Churches are lead by trained volunteer facilitator/pastors. These mini-churches (of about 10 to 15 people) gather weekly for fellowship, discipleship, prayer and breaking of bread (which ranges anywhere from snacks to a full meal). The meetings typically last ninety minutes. The discussion is based on an online streamed audio teachings from BareNakedCHurch. The teachings are typically from Emergent Church postmodern pastors such as Rob Bell of Mars Hill, Ed Snyder (formerly of Real Life Community), Mike Gross of XXXChurch, Carl Moore of Hope Chapel, Dan Kimbell of Vintage Faith and others.

The "Flying Cross" Tattoo

According to the website the church describes the meaning of it's logo (they refer to it as a tattoo) as follows:

The Rugged Cross

The Rugged Cross = Crucifixion. It was at the Cross where Christ died for you, me and everybody to give us access to God... even in our imperfectness... even though we can do nothing to earn it. It's called Grace. Because of Christ's Crucifixion on the old rugged Cross everyone can be forgiven and have a relationship with God. This is called Atonement. This Atonement was necessary because a Holy God cannot allow sin to go unchecked. The BareNakedChurch.com cross is beat... worn... NOT perfect. This represents our lives. In life we are sometimes broken... imperfect... and many times, just beat down. Yet, even in our worst, even at our lowest, Christ still goes to the Cross for us to lift us up. This is radical love... this is called Forgiveness.

Wings in Flight

The Wings In Flight = Resurrection. Although the Cross is a wonderful symbol of Grace and Atonement without Resurrection it is nothing. Because of the Resurrection eternal life is available to you and me beginning now - making death a mere doorway to eternity... to heaven. Because of the Resurrection, Jesus is alive now and working on our behalf. Because of the Resurrection life has purpose now. The Resurrection of Christ validated everything Jesus said, did, taught His followers and commissions us to continue as His disciples. We challenge anyone to prove the Resurrection did not happen. Because if you dare to really try on an intellectually honest level, you will discover what we have, that Jesus Christ is Messiah... The Way... The Truth... The Life... God! When you discover this, your response will be like ours... to bow down and call Him Lord... and give your life to serve Him.

The Words

The words "Bare Naked Church" = Repentance. It's all about being honest to God. It's confessing your sins to Him, accepting His forgiveness... moving on... and not going back to the same ole same ole. It's choosing to sell-out to the Way of Christ and not turning back. Many say they don't need to be forgiven because they are good enough. That's a bunch of crap. Everybody has screwed up... jacked someone... sinned... been selfish. Just read the 10 commandments... we've all blown it. Therefore, everybody needs Restoration. Your Restoration to God is not free... it cost Christ everything... it will cost you everything too.

The Twelve Feathers

The 12 Feathers = Discipleship. They represent the original 12 Disciples called by Jesus, taught His ways and commissioned to go change the world. It cost each of these original 12 their lives. One named Judas couldn't hang because of the high cost involved and was replaced. One named John lived the longest but died in exile and became the author of the book of Revelation (The End of Days).

Recommended Books

Steve Atkerson (ed.), Ekklesia: To the Roots of Biblical Church Life.

Robert & Julia Banks, The Church Comes Home, Hendrickson Pub.

Robert Banks, Going to Church in the First Century. Seedsowers Publishing

George Barna, Revolution.

Gilbert Bilezikian, Community 101, Zondervan Pub.

E.H. Broadbent, The Pilgrim Church.

Neil Cole, Organic Church

Albert James Dager, The House Assembly. Sword Publishers

Felicity Dale, An Army of Ordinary People

Tony & Felicity Dale, Simply Church

Dale, Getting Started: A Practical Guide to Planting Simple Churches (Karis Publishing)

Gene Edwards, Beyond Radical. Seedsowers Publishing

Gene Edwards, When the Church was Led by Laymen. Seedsowers Publishing

Robert Fitts, The Church in the House.

David Garrison, Church Planting Movements.

Roger Gehring, House Church and Mission (by far, the most comprehensive scholarly work on house churches in the first century)

Wayne Jacobsen, The Naked Church.

Wayne Jacobsen, Authentic Relationships.

Clifford James, The Blueprint (read online at http://www.theearlychurch.com)

Larry Kreider, House Church Networks.

Charles Newbold, The Crucified Ones.

Wolfgang Simson, Houses that Change the World.

R. Maurice Smith, A Kingdom A People & A River

Frank Viola, Rethinking the Wineskin.

Frank Viola, So You Want to Start a House Church?

Frank Viola, Who is Your Covering?

Rad Zdero, The Global House Church Movement.

External Links

Official Website

Official MySpace Page