Is small the new big

With large gatherings no longer feasible, is going to smaller groups going to be the new big thing in churches, schools, and... everything?

Take a gander at social media, or (gasp) talk to someone in person, and it doesn't take long for the subject of going back to school or in-person church to come up. What's the right thing to do?

CHURCH
In a few short weeks church services took on a whole new look earlier this year. Church leaders learned how to use Youtube and Facebook Live, grants were given for new technology... it seemed a nice fix temporarily. There were reports of some large churches defying orders, and resulting in equally large outbreaks of COVID-19 cases, and it looks like 'temporary' might have to be a little longer. Now Barna has come out with a report 'One in Three Practicing Christians has stopped Attending Church During Covid-19.' In other words, over 30% of church people aren't doing "online church."

I am not at all surprised and am more shocked that the number isn't higher. I was never a fan of online church. It may have been okay for a couple weeks, but it is no substitute (imho).

I have heard/seen reports, from people like David Fitch in suburban Chicago who, rather than going online, simply got smaller. Their Peace of Christ Westmont meets in groups of 10 people spread throughout the city. That reminds me of the old cell church or home church models. Also, kind of like I imagine the early church may have functioned.

I am surprised more churches have not gone to this approach. It does not negate the need for large organizations. But it may require them to operate more from a denominational approach where the leadership does more equipping of small group leaders than actually doing all the leading.

Anyway, I wonder if this will be the future of church after all. Small will be the new big thing.

SCHOOL
Can this be done in our schools too? Certainly, the one-room schoolhouse worked for years, but can American society make its way... back there? I do not know.

Personally, I am torn on the whole sending kids to school thing. Do they need social interaction? Absolutely! However, is the American workplace equipped to handle how this may play out? I think not at all.

If a child is sick, who will care for the positive-testing toddler? Can parents take extended time off from work? Not if they have a less-than-stellar job. It used to be many grandparents could watch sick kids. Not anymore if it's covid.

The situation is much easier to address in smaller schools than larger, but do we need to go even smaller still? The school where my daughter-in-law works is actually pondering the approach of having small classes of kids meet in people's homes (or outside, if possible). There are a ton of logistical issues that would have to be worked through, but... yeah, this might be what it comes to.

BEYOND
I haven't even touched on college and beyond. OR COLLEGE SPORTS!!! Egads, higher education encompasses so much more than mere education. Sports may be a simple past-time, but it's also big business. The number of jobs lost, even with spectator-less games, will be incredible. However, the loss of life or damage to lives, if these large gatherings persist could be even more catastrophic.

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It's hard to even think about the subject without getting depressed. And this is to say nothing of shows, concerts, movies and the like!

I really do think, somewhere along the line, the USA is going to have to scale things back. We're going to have to do things smaller. And I think it's going to need to be drastic.

I listened to Reggie McNeal for years speak to church leaders about how we can't simply make a few tweaks, we need a whole new mindset. I feel these prophetic words will ring true far beyond mere church life.

For as glum as it all may sound, the truth is - at least for Christians - we have a God who not only recognizes large groups, but is aware even of the tiniest of sparrows. El Roi is one of His names: "the God who sees me"... Not us, but ME! (Check out the story of Hagar in the book of Genesis).

I have no doubt we can navigate these waters, but it will require dependence upon Him like most of us have never known. And, just like everything else in life, his ways are better than ours. It may actually be better than we could ever imagine. (imagine that!)

So may we not lose hope, give up, or give in to despair. May we, instead, give ear to that still small voice... that His kingdom will come, on earth as it is in heaven. Bigly.