Does size matter? (Philemon 4-7)

BIGGER IS NOT NECESSARILY BETTER (Philemon 4-7)

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Dr. Paul Manuel—2009

We are often impressed by size, and we commonly make comparisons, thinking that "bigger is better." Marketing agencies attempt to exploit this tendency. For example, have you ever selected the larger of two similarly priced items from the grocery store shelf, only to look more closely and discover that the contents were the same? How many of people's goals rest on the assumption that what they need is something bigger than what they have—a bigger car, a bigger house, a bigger income? The very image a person seeks to present of himself may depend on a preoccupation with size.

A Texas rancher was visiting colleagues in Chicago. The Chicago group booked a large suite with several bedrooms and a common living room in a prestigious motel so that they could all stay together. When the Texan saw the expansive accommodations, though, he remarked, "It'll do, but my dog's house is bigger than this." His colleagues decided to show him the big city. When he saw the stockyards, he said, "That ain't much. We've got branding corrals on my ranch bigger than that." When he saw the skyscrapers, he dismissed them, "We've got tombstones at home taller than that." After an entire day of his telling them how small things in Chicago were compared to things in Texas, the rancher's annoyed hosts decided to get even: ...They put rats in the Texan's bed. That evening, they stayed in the common living room after the Texan had gone to bed. When he climbed under the sheets, the unpleasant surprise brought him quickly to his feet, screaming, "What was that?" His colleagues, who had rushed in, answered, "Those are Chicago bedbugs." ..."Oh," he replied, regaining his composure. "You're right.... Young'uns, aren't they?" (Adapted from Hodgin 1998:264-265)

We are impressed and obsessed with size. Despite good judgment, it is not always easy to resist the assumption that bigger is better. The same applies to our evaluation of churches. Ministers as well as members often admire larger congregations because they have more resources and, as a result, can do more. They attract more people, have more thrilling worship, meet more needs, run more varied programs, and support more missionary work. As a result, those in the pulpit of a small church may set their sights either on making their present church bigger or on securing a position in a bigger congregation, while those in the pews of a small church may decide simply to go to a bigger church.

This attitude presents a problem for many congregations. The typical church in the United States has no more than fifty in attendance at a given morning service, and many (including most Seventh Day Baptist churches) have fewer still. Do little churches mean little success, or does size not necessarily have anything to do with success? How do you measure success? ...Paul addresses this question indirectly in his letter to Philemon, where we learn that Bigger Is not Necessarily Better.

Paul writes two letters to believers in Colossae,¹ one of which is this correspondence to Philemon.² In both letters, he mentions house churches, but he addresses the second epistle to one such congregation.³ The letter has only one chapter, so if you can find it, please turn to...

Philemon 1b To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 2 to Apphia [probably his wife]... to Archippus [perhaps his son]...and to the church that meets in your home:

The occasion of this missive is the return of Onesimus, Philemon's runaway slave. Paul hopes to restore him to Philemon, although not as the slave he once was but as the brother in Christ he has become.⁴ This is a private matter, not an issue for the entire church at Colossae, and Paul makes no mention of it in his other letter. It does, however, bear on this particular group, the core of which is Philemon's family, whom Onesimus served. After a standard salutation in v. 3 ("Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ"), Paul relates what he has heard about the congregation's most prominent member, qualities the apostle admires, as we see...

I. The Reasons for Paul's Gratitude over Philemon (Philemon 4-5)

Phlm 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

Paul begins by commending Philemon's reputation. Others, beyond this small fellowship, have noticed his shining example and have spoken about it to Paul. The news of such godliness gladdens the apostle and compels him to express repeatedly his gratitude to God. Paul cites two specific qualities that have come to his attention, virtues the apostle regards as prime indicators of a healthy church.⁵

What do you think they are? What impresses Paul most? Is it...

• The size of the youth group?
• The vibrancy of the music?
• The success of the evangelism program?

... When people come to him with news about a particular congregation, Paul is sure to ask, "How is their faith in the Lord and their love toward each other?"⁶ These are the two qualities Paul has heard are evident in this man, and he congratulates Philemon for them.⁷

A. He has a reputation of faith in the Savior, and
B. He has a reputation of love for the saints.

Although Paul is commending Philemon alone, the reputation of a church's most prominent members often determines the reputation of the church itself, especially that of a small church.

Another minister told me about a small congregation he served for a while, whose most prominent member possessed less than admirable qualities. He was living in open adultery with a woman who attended the church...as did his wife. Despite the minister's best efforts to resolve the situation, the man refused to change. His reputation was well known in the community and stigmatized the church, making growth of any kind almost impossible.⁸

You may wish there were more people here on a regular basis, and it is nice to have numbers, but bigger is not necessarily better. Often, it is just different. Far more important than the quantity of a church's membership is the quality of its faith and love. If they are present, preferably in more than just the most prominent members, you will receive God's commendation, even as Philemon received Paul's.

Regularly exercising faith and love is not the end of one's spiritual maturity, individually or collectively. Just as the apostle looks for these qualities in a church, having found them, he then indicates the next step, with...⁹

II. The Requests in Paul's Prayer for Philemon (Philemon 6)

Philemon 6 [I pray] that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake. (NAS)¹⁰

This "fellowship" of faith is the participation and partnership "in Christ" which believers enjoy together...

• The comfort of shared beliefs,
• The energy for common life and worship,
• The bond that encourages mutual support, and
• The joy of a corporate testimony to God's goodness.

These are how faith finds expression in the church. "Religious faith is not something private," what a person experiences alone (Dunn 1996:319). Faith may begin with a personal decision, but it must become a corporate experience,¹¹ because it is only in a congregational setting that one derives its greatest benefits. Fellowship is also a means of increasing one's knowledge of God, which is what Paul prays for Philemon, that...

A. He will have active fellowship, and that
B. He will have full understanding ("knowledge of every good thing").

Although Paul's petition is for Philemon alone, the answer to this prayer comes within the congregation, specifically within the small church that meets in his home.

So, how can you strengthen your faith, making it more effective, as Paul prays for Philemon?¹² ...According to Paul, that process entails increasing your knowledge of the One in whom you believe, understanding better His character and will, because by knowing God better, you can believe in Him more fully:¹³

• In the benefit of His precepts,
• In the certainty of His promises,
• In the sufficiency of His provision,
• In the comfort of His presence.

Does this describe the development of your faith?¹⁴ [It] is not just social relationships—however enjoyable they may be—it should produce spiritual results .¹⁵

After explaining his prayer for Philemon, the apostle recounts the benefits of their association,¹⁶ as we see...

III. The Results of Paul's Friendship with Philemon (Philemon 7)

Philemon 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Philemon may have been well-to-do and, thus, able to assist other believers. When he became aware of a particular need, he willingly rendered what aid he could.¹⁷ In his other letter, Paul encourages the Colossians to develop those virtues that contribute to the body's health. In particular, he says, "put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (Col 3:14). It is the same virtue Philemon demonstrates, which gives the apostle "much joy and comfort."

A. He has helped the apostle, even as
B. He has refreshed the saints.

Notice that Paul is not commending the work of a huge organization but of a single individual. While a large church may have greater resources, bigger is not necessarily better. A person often has to go through more channels or cut through more red tape.

• When we moved to Salemville, and I first set up my library in the church (over 60 boxes), I needed bookshelves. Someone, without my asking, just got them...and then assembled them for me.

• When we moved to our new home, which included the relocation of my library, people in the congregation saw our need and helped in a variety of ways. Their involvement made an arduous task far easier for us.

When you see a need and meet it, that expression of love can be a source of "much joy and comfort" to others (Philemon 7), even as it was to us.

Just as bigger is not necessarily better, so smaller is not necessarily safer. A large church may have large problems, but a little church is by no means immune to difficulty. Rarely do the affairs of any fellowship run without disruption. Whatever the problem, though, it must not so consume a congregation that the members neglect the elemental virtues which should characterize the body of Christ, especially the virtue of love.¹⁸ The greatest test and testimony of your Christianity does not occur in the world but in the church, by the way "you love one another" (John 13:35b).

In these few verses, Paul addresses a house church, a fellowship that may consist of a dozen or so members. He indicates, though, that size has no bearing on success. Focusing on one individual, he notes how this person's life has had a broad effect. The same is possible here. Even a small congregation can have an impact for eternity because, where God is concerned, Bigger Is not Necessarily Better.

For a pdf including Bibliography and Endnotes see here.