Small Groups | Wayfarer

I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair...
Nehemiah 13:25a (NIV)

Across my life journey, I’ve experienced seasons of revival at different waypoints in life’s road. There were specific moments in time when I witnessed many people putting their faith in Jesus and becoming followers in a short period of time. In some cases, many of those who became followers were the last people I would have expected to do so.

In each of these seasons, I observed individuals who became faithful disciples. I also observed individuals whose spiritual experience appeared to have only short-term effect. At the same time, I’ve lived long enough of this life journey to have experienced that every individual has their own story regarding their relationship (or lack of relationship) with God. Sometimes an individuals journey waxes and wanes. With others, I’ve experienced zero interest of faith until their death bed. And yes, I’ve witnessed very real, very sincere death-bed conversions.

There is a similar observation I’ve had regarding church programs designed to “create” community through small groups, many of which I played a significant role. There’s a recurring pattern I’ve noticed. Initial hype and interest. Large kick-off event and great participation followed by months of slow waning interest. A few small groups continue to do life together long after the “program” fades into oblivion. Most never make it more than a short season.

These things came to mind as I read today’s final chapter of Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s story ends on a downer. After the miraculous rebuilding of the walls in less than two months and the joyful climactic celebration that kick-started Temple operations for the first time in 150 years, things quickly return to spiritual complacency. The “revival” event in yesterday’s chapter is immediately followed by people going back to doing what they’ve always done. They don’t make a habit of going to Temple and giving their tithes and offering. With no tithes and offerings to provide for all the priests and Levites, they leave the Temple and go back to their fields. Nehemiah finds that the Hebrews pretty much ignore every commitment they made to God’s covenant just a few chapters ago.

Nehemiah goes full-prophet postal screaming, beating, and condemning his people for their lack of faithfulness.

Been there. Done that.

In the quiet this morning, I’m reminded that history tells me the rest of the story. Despite Nehemiah experiencing what seems like the failure of his revival event, the Temple system he restored will actually take off. The “second temple” period he’s begun will become one of the most profitable periods of Jewish history with regard to scholarship, scripture, and literature. Of course, that will eventually wane too. When Jesus arrives on the scene some 500 years later, the Temple system will be thriving but completely corrupt. Forty-years after Jesus death and resurrection, it will be completely wiped out by the Romans.

This leads me back to my observations across my life journey. Like Nehemiah, it’s easy to get caught up in moments and seasons on life’s road. Revivals are exciting, and I’m blessed to have experienced them. Events, however, are moments. The spiritual journey is not an event but an epic story complete with mountain-top climaxes and long wilderness wanderings. There is a spiritual waxing and waning that most people experience across their lives. There are tragic moments when everything seems dark and hopeless, and moments of eucatastrophe when the miraculous breaks through and everything is right with the world. It’s all of it.

I love Nehemiah’s passionate, prophetic heart. But as he screams at his people and attempts to beat them into repentance and obedience, my heart whispers: “Dude! Chill out. There’s a Story God is authoring in all of this. Trust the Story.”

I’m out the rest of the week. We’ll pick-up our chapter-a-day journey on Monday with the book of Hebrews!