Beginning in May of this year, Richard Boureston wrote a 3-part series on “Why Small Groups are Causing the Church to Fail.” I would like to respond to some of the articles’ points and suggest that his main premise in fact leads to a completely different conclusion. You can read the original posting on http://orangecountychurch.wordpress.com here.
I must begin by commending the author’s passion for reviving strong families in America. This is what God wants. One of our culture’s biggest downfalls is that fathers are not leading and mothers are not nurturing. Children are not raised to fear God, and teenagers are too readily given up on. This leads to weak relationships within family units, and a church can only be as strong as its individual parts. Mr. Boureston has earned my utmost respect because his essays, internet presence, and overall ministry calls Christian adults to work at rebuilding strong families.
I would like to suggest that his main premise– that discipleship needs to happen in families– leads to the logical conclusion that families are failing the church, not small groups. If discipleship is not happening, and it should be happening primarily in homes, then the home is what needs attention. Our focus should not be on dismantling a strategy that has effectively worked in maturing person’s faith. Our focus should be on impressing the need to repair unhealthy families. I have personally experienced growth in small groups, witnessed people grow in small groups, and heard wonderful testimonies of small groups’ usefulness.
That being said, I would like to address some of the specific points:
- “Would a shepherd let anyone who volunteered take care of his flock?” (part 1)
That is not how most churches go about selecting small group leaders. I have yet to meet a church pastor who “let anyone” get involved in small groups leadership.
- “Small groups are just one of many bandwagons that the church has jumped onto in an effort to assuage and comfort their flock.” (part 1)
I don’t know of any church that began a small group ministry for the purpose of merely comforting people. It should also be noted that since offering counsel is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit, there is no reason it should not be the church’s as well.
- “But God doesn’t ask us as Christians to stay in touch with each other, God calls us to make disciples of the nations” (part 1)
This seems to be an overstatement of the Great Commission. The church of Jerusalem enjoyed a tight fellowship as did the communities that Paul & the other Apostles planted. “When you come together…” (1 Cor. 14:26) “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people…” (Eph. 4:11-12)
- “Learning out of context is most small groups, is Sunday school, and unfortunately is church in most churches. Do you live with everyone who is the same age as you, the same sex, and the same exact interests? Probably not. Those types of settings are artificial. They are contrived.” (part 3)
They are not completely artificial. People join clubs because they share interests/hobbies; they visit attractions that draw them; young people hang out together; college campuses are full of students who are effectively at the same life stage. The idea is that when it comes to spiritual growth, it’s OK to learn and grow outside of the family as well. If it happens naturally in other areas of life, why not have it aide in discipleship as well?
It is not small groups that are failiing the church, it is unhealthy families. We must recognize that accountability happens best in families, while acknowledging that parents need to lead their children in the faith better. On the other hand, small groups are not a modern concept– it is a bibical one (see my article “Small Groups and the Christian“). As a church, let’s call our members back to a faith practiced in families, while still retaining methods that are healthy and helpful. Let’s keep small groups.
