Many in the house church movement have claimed that a house church format is the only legitimate system. But, making rules that neither Jesus nor the Apostles commanded gets into another form of self-righteous legalism. Many in the mainstream churches dismiss house churches as being the domain of misfits, heretics and rebels. Yet, many of today's largest churches and denominations began as collections of house churches. Others see the house church format as only being useful in countries where Christians are persecuted. But, there are many wonderful uses in countries that have religious freedom.