Too Small to Fail

 Zechariah 4:10 "Small Beginnings"

R. James Breiding wrote a book published in 2019 entitled “Too Small to Fail.” The title is a play on the phrase, “Too Big to Fail” which became popular in the mid-80’s to describe the theory that some corporations are so big that the government must prevent their failure for the good of the national economy. Breiding proposes in his book that smallness can be a strength, too. In fact, he shows that many small nations are achieving success in education, health care and satisfaction among citizens that larger nations find difficult to achieve.

Breiding’s book is not written from any religious perspective that I can detect although he has an appreciation for the contribution religion makes in the creation of social cohesion, and that cohesion is an important quality for a successful democracy. So “Too Small to Fail” is not a religious book, but it has implications for the church. Zechariah 4:10 written in reference to the small beginnings of the exilic Temple project reads,  “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin. . .” (NLT).  For many people bigger churches are thought to be better than smaller churches, but that operating assumption is beginning to show weakness. Two pastors of very strong (meaning larger) churches have told me this week that they see a shift coming. Partly, the Covid-19 pandemic is responsible, or better said, the pandemic is accelerating a trend which had already begun toward the recognition that smaller can be and often is better. Some church growth strategists see the next expansion of the church happening through extension or creation of new churches rather than a large church just getting larger.

One church I know about has gotten ahead of the “curve” in this matter. The church grows to a certain size, and then it starts a new church in its own building. The pastor issues a call to members of the congregation to walk down the hallway to the chapel where a new mission church is starting. The mission holds worship at the same time as the “mother’ congregation. The mission incubates or grows inside the “mother” church until the new congregation has the numerical and financial strength to purchase property in another neighborhood, and the mission moves out to form a new independent church. The “mother” church then grows until it fills its building again and repeats the process. Several churches have been formed in this way.

Another model is for a stronger church in partnership with a smaller church develop a strategy in which the larger church issues a call to its membership for fifty people to go on mission. Their call is to join the smaller church partner that is struggling financially and struggling in finding leadership and struggling to connect with its community. The fifty missionaries stay with the smaller church until it gains viability. At that point some return to the “mother” church and some discover a new place of ministry in the smaller but now better functioning church. Instead of growing bigger and bigger the “mother church” re-seeds smaller congregations which enables those smaller churches to flourish.

It may be that the small to medium size neighborhood church is growing more attractive as a way to gather for worship, fellowship and service. The Covid-19 crisis has helped people see the benefits of smaller groups. Also, people are discovering that even though the phenomenon of video conferencing helps the church to stay connected, it is a poor substitute for in person community. The desire for community is leading to a new appreciation for the smaller church which offers a way to know and be known, a way to experience an extended faith family. Large congregations have an important place in church life, but today people are seeing that smaller congregations, also, have an important place in church life. They are not too big to fail; they are too small to fail.

John 6:56-71 Leaving Jesus

John 6:67 “Do you, also, wish, to go away?” (RSV)

Jesus had thousands of followers as indicated in John 6. They had seen his miraculous power at work and wanted to make him their king, by force if necessary (6:15). At the end of the chapter the thousands of followers dissolved to just a few, to just twelve, and one of those twelve was a “devil” (6:70). Jesus turned to them, and asked them, “Do you, also, wish to go away?” (6:67)

When I was still in my 20’s, just out of seminary, I served on a committee at a church with a pastor whom I greatly admired, but my admiration was being tested. He had called a meeting in downtown Wash., D.C. for 7:00 pm. My wife was away from home, and I had the care of our preschooler. So, at rush hour in bumper to bumper traffic I had to go into the urban center with my child for this meeting. What’s more we were in the middle of a thunderstorm. When I arrived at the meeting place, there was no parking. I drove round and round looking for a place. When I finally found one I had to run to make the meeting on time, baby in one arm, umbrella in the other. Both of us were soaked by the time we reached the door. I practically collapsed upon entering the building, and then I got mad. No one was there! Out of a committee of eight only the pastor and one other person had arrived. We waited for a just a moment or two and then the pastor started the meeting. He smiled and looked at the two of us, plus my preschool son, and said, “Now, we’ll get something done; the people who want to serve are here.” My anger dissipated as I realized that he felt no anger at all. He was eager to get started with those who shared his passion enough to face rush hour and come out in a thunderstorm to get the work done. I have never forgotten that meeting or the indomitable spirit of that pastor.

In Zechariah 4:10 we read, “Who dares despise the day of small things . . . ?” Also in that chapter we read, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (4:6) Throughout the Bible the same message comes multiple times. Gideon was told to reduce his armed force (Judges 7:2) so that the people would understand that the victory did not come by the strength of their numbers but by God’s presence with them. So, David faced Goliath alone and said, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s.” (1 Samuel 17:47) Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) Jesus was prepared to see the thousands melt away. He was prepared to give his last twelve disciples the freedom also to depart.

They stayed. Peter asked, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Peter had it just right even though later, when faced with crucifixion, he would falter and fail Jesus, as would all the disciples. Jesus would go forward alone to the cross.

After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead Peter and the disciples and all of us who have come to believe post-resurrection, find strength in the presence and power of God’s Spirit to go forward in discipleship. With God’s grace we are able, following Jesus, to have confidence because of our conviction that the Lord is with us, and that the battle is the Lord’s. We do not despise small things. We do not depend on numbers of people for assurance or encouragement or boldness. We are not looking to the popular culture for affirmation. We are happy to be among the few who choose to remain because we believe that Jesus has the words of eternal life and he is the holy one of God.

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Grandchildren. This week I was driving Mr. Happy, almost four years old, to Darden Towe Park. I mentioned in our conversation the name of the park, and he quickly corrected my pronunciation. I was amused because I can remember a time when Mr. Happy couldn’t even talk; now, he is able not only to talk but to help his grandfather correctly pronounce names!