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2 or 3

One of the most important passages and its concept  that has changed my life in far-reaching practical terms over the last 20 years has been a tiny verse of 19 words hidden away in the midst of the book of Matthew.
The 18th chapter of Matthew contains several of what I have found to be the most vital topics of life -  attitude towards children, 'stray' sheep,  church discipline, agreement in prayer, and forgiveness – mighty and awesome topics indeed.
And there, hidden away within these awesome topics, is this tiny but powerful  verse,   the 20 th
For where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst of them  Matthew 18:20
The realisation and the impact of these few words is indeed life-changing. 
Would to God that every assembly leader / TV evangelist / preacher / Pastor / church worker / Christian  would take a month off to contemplate this verse alone – their ministry would not be the same from that time on I am sure !

I have been told by a 'church leader' that when he attended the periodic convention of the leaders of their denomination, that invariably, one of the first questions they asked each other was – what was the size of their respective congregations, and the percentage of growth during the last year ?  And the answer to that question served to give an unspoken but real mental  'grading' of their stature within that gathering – they judged each other principally on the size of their respective 'flocks'   The leaders of the biggest flock had the most advantageous influence, and were looked up to as the most 'successful'.

But how  different with Jesus.    
His 'following' of disciples numbered but 12.
Though a carpenter, he never build a physical 'church building'. 
His kingdom was not of this world.   He mixed with ordinary people, and was at extreme odds with the 'religious' hierarchy of his day.

And here he spoke the words that have revolutionized my life regarding attendance at a local Church and have steered me towards OPEN HOME groups, where I have often found so often that the smaller the numbers could be the most meaningful and the most 'blessed'

But the deceitfulness of numbers and head counting is so difficult to overcome.
(Just refer back to King David and his problem with this and its dire consequences – 70,000 men dead !!   2 Samuel 24    That's what God thinks of counting heads ! )
Denominations and local churches need numbers - 'bums on seats' to ensure that the salaries of the leaders are met, bills are paid, buildings maintained, church programmes to be run, youth clubs to function, staffing to be ensured  …. and so it goes on and on …..…. endlessly.  How many times have I observed that the leader asks first at the end of a service , “how much in the collection / offering today ?”  
And so the tithe is plucked from the Old Testament law and relentlessly advocated throughout the structured religious scene !

For where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst of them  Jesus said, and practised it constantly …. to the despised Samaritan woman at the well where he lingered after his disciples had gone shopping …  to Matthew the despised tax collector ….  to Zaccheus, yet another despised Inland Revenue collector …. among the prostitutes, the poor, the lepers (both physically and socially), the needy of all descriptions.

When I return to this verse,  I am stirred and reminded again.
And yet, in all the Christian books I had read, in all the sermons I have listened to, I get the impression that this verse signifies the smallest size for a Church to possibly be - it has always been portrayed as the minimal 'excuse' for a Christian gathering.  
Sort of like ....... well, we really tried for and expected a much bigger number to turn up, but I suppose, when the numbers are down, then we trot out this verse, and get the occasion over and done with as quick as possible. Virtually a last gasp effort to get a bigger group together !
But on recall, for all my Christian life, I have always appreciated the small groups, I have always loved one-on-one discussions.
With 1 or 2 others, I can always participate, I can say my piece readily (or when I could get a word in with some people, you know the type!)  I could ask probing questions, have a free discussion, really find out what makes the other person tick and get into their mind - and spirit, and share, share, share !    All in all, much more satisfying than a larger group, when it is listen, listen, listen !
But this is not the lowest excuse for a Church group, but this is where Jesus is actually at, where He hangs out -  with the 2 or 3 Christians sharing openly together ..... in His name ......  there HE IS !
He really doesn't need the big crowds, or the large structured gatherings, or the pompous occasions, or the organised and arranged events.
A few of them have their place ... evangelistic rallies have done their work in largely by-gone eras, and preaching has its undoubted role.
Jesus preached out in the open most times, in the high-ways and by-ways - He went where the people were, or rather, they came to him when he was in their locality - quite different from structured, organised, formal, regulated services.
Luke 24  as Cleopas and Simon found to their surprise, as they walked along the road to Emmaus, Jesus Himself ..... "drew near and went with them"   And they ended that walk and talk over a meal, at a local cafe !
So, this is not the most miserable lowest excuse for a meeting but the means that Jesus actually uses for us to edify and encourage each other.
And Jesus has promised to bless such a chat with His presence - a fact that I can testify to on countless occasions over the years.
And they ended the walk and talk over a meal ......  how natural and beneficial is chatting over a meal.  It is a recognised medical fact I am told, that a shared meal, helps the digestive system. Lonesome meals are definitely not as pleasant - its then just food intake, not spiritual intake, and the fellowship that our spirits long for and crave.
We are very much social animals, and shared meals greatly help that need - the physical and spiritual sharing combine together to met our physical and spiritual needs - we get built up on both levels simultaneously !
So where does all this lead us ?
Our so-called need for large structured gatherings is not so real after all - we get much more 'built up' and edification out of a simple chat with a spiritual fellow pilgrim or two, better still over a cup of whatever !
I realise now that this yearning has been present with me all my Christian life - which is probably the main reason I went to and endured organised Camps over long weekends, holidays etc - the moments of genuine sharing one-on-one I had there were worth all the negative side of those events.
Where 2 or 3 .........   Wow .... so simple .... and beneficial
No  structure,  No long-winded arrangements, No harrowing organising, No tension and stress, No dressing – up,  No collections,  No listening without daring to interrupt,  No condemnation preaching coming at you, No clock watching or time controls,  No 1 person performances, No pre-eminence of any person, No constant looking at the back of someone else's head, No ............ whatever !
Just  One-on-one, eyeball to eyeball, for as long or short a time as you both agree to, to and fro discussion ....  on any topic.   “Now, what exactly did you mean by that?”   “Say, what do you think about this situation?”   “How's it going - really and truly?”
Freedom to each correct the other, to get things ironed out. Reality, speaking truth And ..... the consciousness of Jesus presence so often !
So, this is how Jesus has chosen for His Church to operate and to bless  each other, in twos or threes !
On reflection, I believe that I owe more benefit to such chats with people of God than to all the meetings I have ever attended - I can remember many of these chats so vividly and the character of the people made such an impression on me.
Jesus often had just the right person at the right time, to say the right things to me ......  and perhaps me to them !
His people, His Church, His Blessing,  HIS WAY
Hey Mate,  got time for a Chat ??

P S ............
But, I hear someone ask, just what is the place of the larger gatherings ?
What about the large evangelistic rallies of previous decades ?
Indeed, what about any large groups or 'meetings' or big indoor gatherings of Christians ?
The New Testament is delightfully vague about such events ! 
After all, the early Church was still in its infancy, with little structure at all (how blissful that must have been) Most gatherings were home-groups, limited by the number that someone's house could hold. There is so few references to any sort of large gatherings at all, except for the noisy crowds and the riots that Paul seemed to attract, which were usually in public places.
Large gatherings take organisation and finance, arrangements and agendas, then clean-up and aftermath.
I really wonder at the amount of effort, time and finance, that goes into the programmes of most established Churches to keep people 'involved', and just how beneficial they are when viewed long-term by God.  Again and again I return to the benefit of small groups, and the personal building-up that participation of every individual person brings.
All I dare say about large gatherings in hired or purpose built halls, is simply this .......   let them be Spirit led and directed ..... totally and not just some mortals well meaning idea, let them be organic ....... naturally supernatural, let them be as simple as humanly or divinely possible.  let them be specific and for as short a period as possible   and finally ...... LET  THEM BE FEW !
(Or we are right back in the religious system yet again, and we will find yet another religious tentacle at work.  seeking to plant and take root ...... dear Lord, spare us !)