Written 14 years ago, this piece could have been written yesterday. Perhaps there is nothing new under the sun. (The second half of this article will appear next Saturday).

There are some worrying trends in the small group movement within the church. You can detect the dangers in this kind of testimonial from small group members:

We had a great time in our small group last night. I was able to talk about my brother's illness for the first time. There were lots of tears and hugs, and we prayed together for healing and faith. We really felt the presence of God. It was a little taste of heaven. Actually, I'm finding the whole small group experience is bringing me closer to Jesus as we get closer to each other. There is a real sense of community, not like at church on Sundays. It's great being able to let others know what is really going on inside and then feel accepted for what we are. And as we experience God's healing in us, we can reach out to others in need. There is a real sense of mission together.

The small group movement has developed its own buzzwords, words like ‘community’, ‘experience’ and ‘mission’. At first glance, these words and ideas seem to be fundamental to Christianity, and we are attracted to the kind of ministry reflected in the testimonial above. However, in small group ministry, such words are now loaded with meaning and connotations that need to be challenged. The buzzwords expose some of the dangers in Christian small groups—dangers which threaten the heart of the gospel.

Community

Christians are bound together in a new society of those who belong to Christ, and we are being transformed by him. The distinguishing mark of Christian disciples is love, as we share in genuine community with honesty, unity, forgiveness and good deeds. We wait for heaven, the perfect community where all enemies of loving relationship are crushed under the feet of the risen Lord.

If relationships are fundamental to Christianity, what dangers can there be in stressing community in small groups?

• The purpose of the group can easily focus on the development of human relationships. A successful group is seen to be characterized by intimacy, vulnerability, openness, forgiveness and so on. This emphasis on human relationship is often at the expense of knowing God and the salvation of Christ. JI Packer observes that there has been a shift in the purpose of small groups in the last 25 years: “It is not so much thought of as a way of seeking God as much as seeking Christian friends. The vertical axis is not emphasized as much as the horizontal axis.”

  It is not that prayer and Bible study are absent, but they are seen as tools to create community.

• The distinctiveness of Christian groups can be lost. The activities are irrelevant because any group following the principles of small group theory will result in intimacy. Look at what happens in Weight Watchers, AA groups, special interest groups and social clubs. They all provide a sense of genuine community. The problem in many Christian small groups is that they are no longer distinctively Christian.
• The formation of community is often not rooted in the gospel of Jesus' death for sinners. Small groups can draw together on a multitude of bases—personal needs, political agenda, stage of life, interests and so on. But groups of Christians are built on one distinct and unique foundation: being children of God through faith in his Son. If the gospel is not at the heart of the group, it may be a group of Christians, but it is not a Christian group.

• Groups preoccupied with community tend to become problem-centred. They become highly introverted, focusing on their own needs. If community is the aim, the ideal group is open, accepting and affirming—a haven for broken, alienated lives. It is very attractive, because we all have times of hurt, grief and disappointment living in this sinful world. A group that will put its collective arm around us and give a reassuring hug is not a bad idea. But such a group becomes problem-centred. The energy of the group is directed toward those with problems, and we all have problems all the time!

  Christian groups are not primarily about helping people with their problems. You probably can't believe you just read that! It sounds positively unchristian. But it is true. The focus of Christian groups is growth, not problems.

• If community is the goal, the small group has become the end, rather than the means. Instead of meeting to hear and respond to God in his word, the functioning of the group is central. True Christian ministry will see small groups as a means to an end, in the best sense of the phrase. In relationship with each other, we teach the gospel and pray and spur each other on toward godliness of mind and action.

To summarize, our primary reason for joining a small group must not be to get closer to each other, but to grow in Christ.

Exercise

1. What principles distinguish a growth-centred group from a problem-centred group?

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