WHY DID JESUS SEND THEM OUT TWO’s?
These are two phrases that, on the surface, seem to be the same.
Side by Side.
Each one reach one.
They sound pretty much alike, don't they?
I really like the first one. It is perhaps the best brief definition of Jesus' ministry and the best brief definition of Companionship I can find:
Side by Side.
The second phrase seems to say very much the same thing:
Each one reach one.
But I will submit that there is a subtle, yet substantial difference:
The first phrase describes an important process in a way that is quite SYSTEMIC:
Side by Side
It describes HOW people interact, but doesn't really specify how many.
The second phrase is, on the other hand, fairly LINEAR:
Each one reach one.
It describes HOW MANY people are involved in the process, but not really how that process unfolds.
It is possible to see Companionship from either a linear or systemic perspective. But quite difficult to do both.
Companionship might be "Each one reaching one". But "One by one" is more an important tool of companionship than the purpose.
The purpose of Companionship becomes clearer once Side by Side is paired with another phrase: Circle of Care. Alone, either of these phrases could be seen as linear, as sequential. as step by step. And Companionship is, quite often, Step by Step. Very literally.
I like to say that
Side by Side is the FIRST STEP
in gathering together a Circle of Care.
If that's true, then Side by Side really means:
Each one reach one (plus one).
When Jesus said,
“Wherever two (or three) are gathered in my name,”
I think Jesus was thinking systemically.
Two wasn't the culmination of his holy ideal.
Two was the beginning.
Two is fine. But in twos we can easily get confined.
Two is a great place to start.
But two people (without recognizing the presence of Jesus) are very limited in what they can accomplish.
Two is a great place to start.
But two people (without realizing that others are present and available, praying and capable of far more support when needed) are very limited in the number of resources that they, alone, can access.
But two (or three) opens a LOT of additional doors.
Two (or three) means we aren’t just limited to creating a line, a chain of people, each connected to each other by only one hand.
Two (or three) means that we are actively looking, seeking for a connection for both of our hands.
Two (or three) means we understand the greater stability we feel when we know that both of our arms are anchored by support.
Two (or three) means we have somebody else there, in case the human being that we are counting on experiences a momentary lapse that all of us, as humans, experience.
The only real question is this:
Did Jesus send out the disciples so each one could reach one (plus one)?
Or did the math actually work this way?
Each one (plus one) reaches one.
Jesus sent out one. Plus one.
To reach one. And become. Two (or three).
One plus one plus one equals: Two (or three).
Always with Jesus present in the equation.
Each one reach one is good.
Each one (plus one) reach one is even better.
But here is how a Prayer Tree differs from a Prayer Chain.
Not only in the math.
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4
This is a Linear Equation.
A Linear Equation means that everybody
gets reached only when EVERYBODY reaches out. There is no kind of safety valve in the system if somebody winds up being human. And lets the Prayer Chain down.
2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 16
This is a Geometric Equation ... or a Systemic Equation.
A Geometric Equation not only yields far greater results after five generations. It also allows this to be true.
One (plus one) reaches One (plus one).
2 x 2
1) One reaches me.
2) I also am ONE.
3) And I reach one
4) (plus one).
That means FOUR PEOPLE are connected in every interaction.
Plus the invaluable presence of Christ.
Now if we think of information only flowing one way.
If we think of communication only flowing one way.
Then this kind of geometric equation can’t work well.
But that too is the difference between a Prayer Tree and a Prayer Chain.
Prayer Chains, being linear, are thought of like a telephone wire. The message goes down the line. The prayer concern is pushed down the line.
Prayer Chains are rarely designed to also RECEIVE prayer requests and push them back UP the line. There is a built in assumption that the information only flows one way. Downhill.
A Tree is designed to allow multi-directional communication.
The roots communicate with the leaves, both uphill AND downhill.
Life giving carbon dioxide is pulled in through the leaves.
Water and light are added into the equation.
And a chemical reaction occurs.
Life is supported.
And oxygen is pushed back out into the environment.
The very oxygen that animals (and people) need to sustain life.
We call this process photosynthesis. A life giving chemical equation.
A Prayer Tree has a similar Life Giving Chemical Equation.
It feeds into a Circle of Care.
Every time 2 x 2 = 4, a Circle of Care is already forming.
And every 2 x 2 = 4 can easily become a Prayer Circle of its own.
With information flowing not just uphill and downhill, but across the Tree as well.
In a full Circle.
And with each generation, that Circle of Care has the capacity to grow exponentially. After four generations, 1+1+1+1 equals 1 x 4 = 4.
After four generations, 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 16.
After 10 generations, 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1 equals 1 x 10 = 10.
After 10 generations 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 1024.
Sure, human lapses can prevent everyone in the Prayer Tree from getting important messages. But a Prayer Tree and a Circle of Care rely upon this premise:
It is okay, even beneficial to share our prayer needs honestly, openly, and faithfully.
Most prayer needs do not need to remain private and confidential.
And people can openly and faithfully share the Prayer Needs, not just one direction, along one channel of communication. But along many channels in many different directions.
Thus, even if one formal channel should fail, there are many other channels that can still keep vital information flowing.
Some Prayer Needs DO need to stay private and confidential. Some certainly do.
But those kinds of Prayer Needs are no more appropriate to share in a linear Prayer Chain than they are in a systemic Prayer Tree.
Chains are no better than Trees in keeping private information confidential. The essence of confidentiality is to cleanly delineate who does … and who does not … need to know private information.
A Circle of Care realizes that every individual who knows about the prayer need increases the available resources that could help to meet that prayer need.
This is a vital part of the work of the Holy Spirit.
To facilitate open and honest communication.
To get good information into the hands of the person or group of people that can best meet the prayer need.
Now if only one or two people humble themselves and share their Prayer Needs openly, a Circle of Care cannot function systemically.
A Circle of Care assumes that we ALL have needs, so we ALL have Prayer Needs.
When everyone in the Circle of Care offers their prayer needs, this facilitates the flow of good information. And everyone benefits.
Yes. Humans are human. And not everyone can deal respectfully with the Prayer Needs of others. And steps will need to be taken to keep a Circle of Care safe from humans who can’t help but sow discord and strife.
But a Circle of Care also believes this: God can turn into a blessing anything and everything that an individual human (or even a group of individual humans) can do to sow discord and strife.
So when Jesus sent his disciples out 2 x 2, he also taught them how to brush the dust off of their feet and move on. How to give back to God any humans who cannot play nice and play fair.
For that’s what 2 x 2 helps us do. Trust in the geometric grace of God. Whose healing power is far greater than any linear discord we human individuals can do.
Think of it this way, if you will.
Even our one and only, omnipotent, omnipresent God.
Chose Two (or Three) in forming a Trinity.
Hopefully it does not sound blasphemous to you when I say,
Even God seems to rely upon the power of: Each one (plus one) reaches one (plus one).
Thus.
We pray.
In the name of the One, plus One, plus One.
Equals One.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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