"Size and Accountability"...?

(some brief thoughts scribbled down in a note of response)

1/19/2009

Saints, a question on another subject, which I anticipated was going to come up, and has come up already. We’re sort of a house church / accountability group combo, and we meet once a week for several hours. We give account for our progress in several areas of discipleship (and share burdens, encouragements, prayer needs, etc), and then we all have a standard house church meeting, and then we eat together. Some firmly believe that when we increase above 12 people or so, we should split into another “house church.” These do not see it possible to “one another” a lot of people. He mentioned a single house church elsewhere of 90 people meeting in big houses, and that this created confusion and a “back pew” effect to hide in. What do you think, as you guys are a church of many times the number of people some think is all we should allow? And I know that you don’t divide anyone into certain houses, or assigned relationships. Help us understand?

Suppose someone responded that Romans 16 describes a house church network, divided into certain groups that meet more often because they’re too big. Distinct groups, (e.g., Rom 16:14-15, Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. 15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.)

It seems to me that his view is reasonable in the context of how we meet (not ideal, as we admit), but perhaps that “accountability” and knowledge of each other’s fruit and lives could be maintained even in a larger group like yours, if you have a greater level of relationships/community. I would like to discuss with them as we discuss “house church” in the future, the possibility of living closer and having more interaction with each other. Really, I see higher ground beyond the standard “how-to books” on house church things, and I’m trying to put the pieces together.

Again, I do not want to consume your time, but any input would be great.

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Hey, Stanley : ) Great questions. A good “test” is always SCRIPTURE, not psychology. First of all, do you “see” any “accountability groups” or isolation meetings of gender as standard fare in the 20 YEARS recorded in the Book of Acts, or referred to in any of the 60 YEARS of letters from the first “leaders” and those who were Inspired by the Spirit to lay out the Record, oh Theophilus? : ) So, now we’re trying to “refine” something that has no basis in the Scripture. That’s always going to create a dilemma. A “faulty paradigm” is ALWAYS going to yield unsolvable riddles. As Einstein said, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” No one ever wants to hear that, of course. : )

Do YOU know where in the Scriptures anything like “above twelve people or so” exists? I know it exists in psycho-babble literature about “Quality Circles” in business and “Focus Groups” for marketing and for addiction groups. It’s pure worldly psychology, and “THREE THOUSAND IN A SINGLE DAY” under GOD’S guidance did not lead to such a conclusion as borrowing worldly wisdom (“which is unspiritual and of the devil” says James, by the Spirit). It just didn’t happen in the Scripture, or we would EASILY know about such “assignments” and “size limits” and “accountability structure.” It just is NOT in there, though the Holy Spirit is VERY smart. He didn’t “miss it”. : ) The Romans 16 thing is known as “pretexting”(1)—a CLASSIC! And not good. We’ll never get to where GOD is when we write our own scripture based on human group dynamic psycho-babble, and then try to squeeze God into that man-made box. Facilitating man’s flesh around programs and calendars and assignments and human structure is never going to get CLOSE to “Jesus with the Twelve” or “the Twelve and Hundred and Twenty with the 3000” (Acts 2:42-Acts6). Of course “some” Good can come of man’s stuff, but it’ll always be like trying to run a race with our shoe strings tied together, and then trying to find Scripture to prove that everyone is SUPPOSED to have their shoe strings tied together. Pretexting.

There just ARE no such “assignments” or “number limitations” or programmed meetings or relationships in the BIBLE, by those who knew Jesus. Japanese “Quality Circles” isn’t a good enough reason to start making stuff up in JESUS’ Church. AND, to prove the point (as if the Scriptures need any commendation or validation from the likes of us)—TWENTY-THREE years later and many times more people than psychology groups say we should “have”—and all “periphery” who wants to be part of the Body of Christ and close to Jesus is helped ORGANICALLY (“as GOD directs, day by day, front burner, back burner, pressing, watching, loving, defending—WHATEVER GOD WANTS day by day with EVERY person”). There are NO hidden corners when it is LIFE, not “meetings” and “programs” that we have yielded to. No “accountability” assignments or meetings are either Biblical or necessary. Just DAILY LIFE. No one can slip into empty nothingness without others noticing and trying to do what it takes to help them not fool themselves any longer. HUMANS don’t normally want this daily commitment though—because, like “the rich young ruler,” they want control of their lives. Most want religion, not a LORD of all, “heart soul mind and strength” 24/7/365 “whether food or drink, do ALL to the Glory of God”. Humans “don’t want this Man to be King over them” generally, and they will find EVERY possible means to make a “religion” out of what HE Calls us to be LIFE, for ALL, “from the least to the greatest.” FATHER desires and empowers for whosoever will, “ALL the Believers TOGETHER and having EVERYTHING in common” (speaking of even NEW christians in Acts 2:42-47) by “the Power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead” that LIVES WITHIN all who were TRULY casting their total Faith in Him, His Word, and His Blood. The “down payment” and “earnest payment” is the Spirit of JESUS HIMSELF coming to dwell within. And this “is real, and not counterfeit” or merely mental assent. It is “the same Power that rose Jesus from the dead.” And this results in what—a weekly meeting? Huh?!!? No way. : )

As for “the saints who are with them” in Romans 16, Paul’s letter to many old and dear friends of his, let’s consider the context, rather than the pretext. Certainly in a city of millions, with NO good inexpensive efficient local transportation to speak of, and virtually NO quick communication even within the city itself, and serious housing limitations (often 20 or more of 3 generations in the same abode, as well as others as guests, living in small quarters with few rooms)—OF COURSE Paul would write his letter like that. Is there ANY implication in that or ANY letter or Biblical Record of this faddish idea of “breaking up when the ‘house church’ grows to over 12 people” or “assignments of who belongs to whose ‘house church,’” or “separation by age or gender or alphabetical surname”? Nah, it’s NOT in there. : ) So, why DO it? Well, because men are always scheming and plotting, making it more convenient and predictable for their flesh, untrusting that JESUS can build and lead HIS Church. The “Philistine Oxcart” is always more “logical” to humans, and gives them control over their days and evenings and weekends and “vacations”. JESUS wants it ALL, however. : ) The “rich young ruler” did a LOT more “right” than most do today—and that wasn’t going to work for Jesus, as we See.

NOW, let me say THIS. : ) Be patient and quiet-hearted. ***Just don’t lose SIGHT of what FATHER is after.***

Helping the “child” GROW so that the old “clothes” now look ridiculous and restrictive (rather than cursing the child’s clothes)—THAT’S where Father is taking you all. : )

(1) Pretexting

Pretexting is the act of creating and using an invented scenario (the pretext) to persuade a targeted victim to release information or perform an action or believe a desired line of thought. It often involves some prior research or set up and the use of pieces of known information (e.g. for impersonation: date of birth, Social Security Number, last bill amount) to establish legitimacy in the mind of the target.

Pretexting can also be used to impersonate an individual with perceived authority in the mind of the targeted victim. The pretexter must simply prepare answers to questions that might be asked by the victim. In some cases all that is needed is a voice that sounds authoritative, an earnest tone, and an ability to think on one’s feet.

Pretexting is the process of presenting “proof” of a pre-determined objective, drawing from [a body of information] only those fragments of evidence that support the needed conclusion. In science and scholarship, this is a fraudulent practice. In politics it is a common method of manipulating and gaining support from those who can be persuaded by sound bytes removed from their honest context—separated intentionally or carelessly from the greater body of complete information available to the diligent.