Small Unit Cohesion

In December 1944, the American armies were approaching the borders of Germany. The American soldiers were optimistic; believing that victory was only weeks away. However, the German High Command had a different idea. They committed virtually all their reserves in a desperate gamble designed to fracture the American battle line and drive to the sea. This would serve two purposes. It would allow the German army access to badly needed supplies at American expense and it would, perhaps, buy enough time for a third generation of wonder weapons to reach production, giving the Germans the edge they would need to defeat the superior forces arrayed against them. One of these wonder weapons could have been the atomic bomb. In the middle of a terrible blizzard that neutralized American air power, the Germans launched a huge mechanized assault. American units disintegrated in the face of this unexpected attack. The German blitzkrieg drove relentlessly towards its objectives, but the heroic stand of the 101st Airborne Division, the famous counter attack by Patton’s forces, and a lack of supplies stopped the Germans in time. The good guys won, but it was a very close thing.

American officers were shocked by the reaction of their troops to this attack. In some instances, veteran combat units collapsed and men who had repeatedly proven themselves in battle ran off in an attempt to save their own lives. In some instance, untrained replacements fought like tigers. For example, a group of Army cooks who had just finished their training, but had not yet been distributed to their ultimate postings with various combat units, made a heroic stand against a vastly superior German force. The Army brought in psychologists to study the problem. They termed their conclusion, “small unit cohesion.” They discovered that if an American soldier was not separated from his buddies, he would fight very well, even in the face of certain death. If the American solider was separated from his immediate unit and found himself with strangers, he was quite likely to run in an attempt to save his own life. If soldiers had shared the many hardships of combat with each other, if they really knew each other, those men trusted each other, and they respected each other. The thought of betraying someone who might have even saved your life and then looking into his eyes at some future time is simply not a possibility wired into human DNA. However, if it was some guy you didn’t know and would not be likely to ever meet again, who cares?

Last week I discovered and distributed an interesting sermon on the use of money, written by John Wesley. I have always admired John Wesley even though I don’t always agree with all his ideas. Of course the language sounds like it was written 250 years ago, so it can be a difficult read for a 21st century American.

Good historians always study a man as a man in his time and his culture. John Wesley’s impact on his time and culture was extraordinary. He was faced with a situation that is very similar to the situation that the Church in America faces today. Over the course of his lifetime, England changed from a rural, agrarian, feudal society to a more urban, industrial, proto-capitalistic society. Peasants were driven from their land into what Blake described as “Dark Satanic mills,” and into coal mines that were even more dangerous and horrible. Cut loose from their cultural roots and moral standards, Englishmen reacted as any humans would in such a situation. Drunkenness and prostitution were common in the lower classes. The upper classes were corrupt and equally degenerate. Somehow Wesley found a way to speak Jesus into this mess. One of the things he discovered was people were more likely to live a Christian life if they were closely connected to a small group of fellow believers. These “classes” became an integral part of the development of Wesley’s Methodism. Believers in these groups were encouraged to confess their sins to one another, share their testimonies, and lift one another up in prayer. They held each other accountable for their behavior. One of these areas of accountability was the use of money. In teaching his followers, “Gain all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can,” while remaining within the boundaries of acceptable Christian behavior, Wesley was equipping his followers with the tools necessary to face the disruptions of the industrial revolution. By championing hard work, sobriety, and thrift Wesley gave the criminals and uneducated laborers who came to Jesus as a result of his ministry what they needed to escape the mines, the factories, and the gallows. Instead of finding a short unpleasant route to death and eternal damnation, they became small businessmen or land holders capable of supporting themselves and their families.

Accountability is not really something that can be artificially given. It is something that must be earned. One of my favorite Bible stories concerns the four friends who literally ripped the roof off a building in their attempt to lay their buddy at the Master’s feet. Talk about accountability. Do you have four friends who would pay any price to carry you to Jesus? I think I do, but probably not many more than four. Most of my “friends” are just nice polite Christians. I have discovered that if I become inconvenient they quickly find a way to disappear or if they move out of the immediate area, I never hear from them again, even if I am making a good faith attempt to maintain contact. I do have a few friends with whom I have shared good times and bad times over many years. When I needed them they were there. They have earned the right to hit me in the head with a board if that is what I need. They also know me well enough to know when I need dope slapped in the side of the head. As it is written, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” I believe they would pay any price, financial or emotional to bring me to the feet of Jesus, when that is what I need. Find yourself four friends and hold each other accountable in all areas, including finance.

Mark.2
[1] And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
[2] And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
[3] And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
[4] And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
[5] When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
[6] But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
[7] Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
[8] And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
[9] Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
[10] But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
[11] I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
[12] And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.