Only a Handful
By Glendol McClure

I recently heard a brother say that another Christian questioned him regarding his motive for attending a congregation that had a small number of members. The person asking the question wondered why this brother would waste his time worshiping with such a small congregation; he spoke disparagingly of this particular congregation and said that it was made up of "only a handful."

The majority of people in the world, and even some Christians, derive comfort from large numbers and majority rule. However, from a spiritual standpoint, large numbers and majority rule matter little.

Jesus denounced the notion of taking comfort in numbers and majority rule when He said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13,14) Even Moses instructed the Israelites regarding the result of following the lead of multitudes; he wrote, "You shall not follow a multitude in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice." (Exodus 23:2-NASB)

Throughout history, and even in our day, many people have gone to their graves believing that majority rule and large numbers are the standards that determine right and wrong.

The Bible uses the word remnant to denote the idea of only a handful. In the Old Testament, several Hebrew words are rendered remnant. Generally, the word remnant means: that which is left over, that which remains, the residue, one who escapes, a survivor, or one loosed from bonds. In the New Testament, remnant or left-over is the equivalent of the Greek words: kataleimma, leimma, and loipoy.

These words are associated with activities of everyday life. When people or objects are separated from a larger group, that which is left over is the remnant. Some may view as a remnant the few dollars one has left of his hard-earned paycheck after he pays the necessary bills.

In the Scriptures, we see examples of what we may think of as remnant cases. In these, the godly people were generally the minority--a remnant, or only a handful as compared to the majority. These survived because they were steadfast, lived righteous lives, and obeyed God. Following are three examples of those of old who fit into the remnant, or only-a-handful, category:

  1. Noah and his family. They were the survivors, the remnant (Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-23). Compared to the majority--the evil people of their time whom God destroyed-Noah's family was only a handful. Concerning these evil people, Noah, and the members of his household, the apostle Peter wrote, "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, where in few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." (1 Peter 3:20)

  2. When compared to the wicked people of Sodom whom God destroyed, Lot and his family were only a handful (Genesis 18:17-33; 19:1-29).

  3. Elijah and the 7000 Israelites whose knees had not bowed to Baal were just a remnant, or a handful, compared to the entire nation. "It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." (1 Kings 19:17-18)

Time and space do not permit the discussion of other Bible characters who, because they were faithful to God, would be considered remnant cases. Throughout world history, the ungodly have vastly out-numbered the godly.

Even in this day and age, only a remnant, or handful, is faithful to God. Of this world's vast population, how many are Christians? The apostle Paul wrote, "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called." (1 Corinthians 1:26)

Of those who consider themselves religious, only a handful have been baptized into Christ and added to His church. Of the congregations that are identified as churches of Christ, only a handful truly abide in the "doctrine of Christ" and strive to do all things according to His authority--"in the name of the Lord." (Colossians 3:17)

Of the conservative (non-institutional) congregations of the Lord's church, only a remnant resists compromising the truth.

The inevitable result of false teaching and compromise is division. Only a handful stands for truth. Sadly, the remnant that stands and opposes error and false teaching is often falsely accused of causing division and fracture. In 1 Kings 18:17, Ahab falsely accused Elijah of troubling Israel; he said, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" Elijah replied, "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim." (1 Kings 18:18) Ahab and his followers were the real trouble makers, as are those today who forsake the Lord's commandments and follow the error of false teachers and the doctrines and commandments of men (Mark 7:7-8).

A well-known gospel preacher in Annandale Va., in his November 12, 1996 lesson on Fellowship, contended that matters of doctrine can be included under Romans 14. He stated, "If only matters of indifference are under this principle [Romans 14- TGM], then brethren what the conclusion is (and these brethren are admitting that it is the conclusion though it's not being widely preached this way), the conclusion is every single thing that you believe to be a matter of law of God or every single thing that I believe to be a matter of law of God must be made a test of local fellowshipping. Don't worry about the money to build buildings. You won't need any. You can meet by yourself in a phone booth." (See GOT, Vol. XLI, No.6, March 20, 1997, pp. 6-12.)

This brother's statement, "You can meet by yourself in a phone booth" indicates that he cringes at the thought of small numbers. Other statements in his lesson illustrate a spirit of compromise. Brethren who lovingly proclaim and abide in the "doctrine of Christ" and remain free of compromise have little about which to worry, even if they do have to meet in phone booths! I would rather meet by myself in a phone booth than join hands with a cathedral of brethren who compromise God's word. How about you?

We had better heed the Apostle John's warning, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is a partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 9-11), and not fear being only a handful! Dear readers, please think on these things.

Indeed, in the past, God has used a small number of people to do many mighty things. Allow me to share some Brother McClure did not mention in his article:

God Almighty has often used only a few to accomplish great things. He does not depend on numbers-but on committed men and women who trust Him more than themselves. Are you part of the mighty few? (KMG)


Go Back to our Main Page