two by two

(Luke 10:1) After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.

Something I have been considering lately is the sending out of the disciples two by two. Paul continues this process in the early church. Leaders like St. Francis have the same system. Why all this two by two sending?

The obvious answer is support and encouragement in the midst of a “seldom wide open, sometimes neutral, frequently reluctant, occasionally hostile” audience. There is another reason that is compelling.

Christian faith is a way of life. Jesus invites us into this life in God’s Kingdom. We experience this life now rather than simply waiting around for it someday when we “go to heaven.” When we are led by God’s Spirit we live differently. We live well. Hence the going out in “twos.”

The disciple exhibits the power of the good news of Jesus by the way he/she treats his/her ministry partner. Going out in twos provides a visual illustration of a way of life rather than someone just talking about it. The potential disciple of Jesus doesn’t so much discover a teaching they wish to follow, but rather a life they wish to lead. They see the way Christians treat each other and want to be treated that way, too.

So, quit going to church, studying your Bible, praying, and putting that “not perfect; just forgiven” bumper sticker on your car if you aren’t going to get along in your family. Don’t wear a “My boss is a Jewish carpenter” T shirt if you are fond of bagging on Christians of a different denomination. The old saying, “I don’t care how much you know until I know how much you care” is not an optional bit of wisdom that is up for debate. If we can’t get our relationships right we will not be seen as right in the faith that informs those relationships.