Obstacles to Community: Part 2

Today we are continuing to look at some of the objections to small groups within the North American context. These objections or hurdles are very important to understand as we move forward. We can’t pretend there aren’t difficulties in the process, but we’ll seek to best address these most common factors.

Objection #3
Individualism
Our culture tends to focus more upon the individual than the group. Great things are accomplished through recognizing the importance of individualism: individual dignity, human rights, and personal growth. The downside is that individualism run rampant has led to isolationism and family breakdown. One in six children born in the 1990’s in the U.S. will grow up in a single parent home. It’s incredible how many people will abandon their children for self-realization, personal comfort, or love interests. Therefore some have said that cell/ small group ministry doesn’t work in the U.S.
Individualism can be a hindrance in our culture, but cell churches are growing and flourishing in the U.S. We will visit some current examples in the coming weeks. In fact 75 million adult Americans regularly are attending and estimated 25 million small groups. Church analyst Lyle Schaller says, “the decision by tens of millions of teenagers and adults to place a high personal priority on weekly participation in serious, in-depth, lay-led, and continuing Bible study and prayer groups is the most important of all.” Ironically North Americans are increasingly feeling the need for small-group ministry because their isolationism has bread loneliness and created a new hunger for community in North America. “Unchurched people are increasingly drawn to a cell-based church where intimate relationships are a normal part of church life.”
Interestingly research shows the cell groups in North America are actually much more relational and transparent than their counter-parts over seas. Asian cultures are much more group oriented, but less transparent in their group settings as North Americans are proving to be.

Objection #4
Task Orientation
Most cultural studies rank North Americans high on task orientation and low on relationships. Commitment to getting the job done is part of our cultural life. For us busyness is a virtue and idleness is a sin. Lingenfelter Mayers writes, “Task oriented people consider social activities a drain on their production time and often prefer the solitude of working alone and uninterrupted. To achieve is more important than to build social relationships.” People from more group oriented cultures achieve success through developing relationships. They find their significance in maintaining and finding friendships.
We don’t want to minimize the relational factor, BUT small group ministry is also task oriented. The fastest growing cell/ small group churches work in a systematic “task-like” fashion. The cells in these churches are positioned to evangelize, develop leaders, and multiply. Goals are set for cell multiplication. Charts maps and financial resources help cells fulfill their goals and purposes. Great cell churches take seriously their work to penetrate entire cities for Jesus. Fellowship then happens through this process.
Community Groups will have the clear task to evangelize, develop leaders, and multiply. For churches that are growing there has to be forward momentum. Research indicates that fellowship (community) is enhanced when the group is reaching out and winning the lost for Jesus.
Small-group ministry is not, as some assume, only for relationally inclined people who are emotionally starved and need a touchy-feely environment. People of all kinds come together to use their giftedness together. Deep community is not mutually exclusive and works in harmony to reach a world for Jesus.