The Power of Collective Action
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Introduction

The concept of collective action is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative, illustrating the profound impact of unity and cooperation among God's people. Throughout Scripture, collective action is portrayed as a means through which God's purposes are fulfilled, His people are strengthened, and His glory is revealed. This entry explores the biblical foundations and examples of collective action, emphasizing its significance in the life of the believer and the community of faith.

Biblical Foundations

The Bible consistently underscores the importance of unity and collective effort among God's people. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, the wisdom literature highlights the strength found in numbers: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up." This passage emphasizes the practical benefits of working together, suggesting that collective action leads to greater success and resilience.

The New Testament further develops this theme, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the apostles. In Matthew 18:19-20, Jesus affirms the power of agreement and unity in prayer: "Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them." This promise underscores the spiritual authority and presence of Christ that accompanies collective action in His name.

Examples of Collective Action

1. The Building of the Tabernacle and the Temple

The construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness and later the Temple in Jerusalem are prime examples of collective action among the Israelites. In Exodus 35:29, the people of Israel are described as bringing freewill offerings to the LORD for the work of the Tabernacle: "So all the men and women whose hearts were willing brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do." This collective effort, driven by willing hearts, resulted in the successful completion of a dwelling place for God's presence.

2. The Walls of Jerusalem

The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah's leadership is another significant instance of collective action. Nehemiah 4:6 records the unity and determination of the people: "So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." Despite opposition and challenges, the collective resolve and cooperation of the people led to the restoration of their city.

3. The Early Church

The early church in the Book of Acts provides a powerful model of collective action in the spread of the Gospel and the establishment of Christian communities. Acts 2:44-47 describes the believers as being together and having everything in common, selling their possessions to give to anyone in need, and meeting together with glad and sincere hearts. This unity and shared purpose resulted in the Lord adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

Theological Implications

The power of collective action in the Bible is not merely a practical or social concept but is deeply theological. It reflects the nature of God as a relational being, existing in perfect unity within the Trinity. The call for believers to act collectively is an invitation to participate in the divine nature and to reflect God's character to the world. In John 17:21, Jesus prays for the unity of His followers, "that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me."

Conclusion

The biblical narrative consistently affirms the power and importance of collective action among God's people. Through unity and cooperation, believers are able to accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God, demonstrating His love and power to the world.
Subtopics

Power

Power of Christ is Able to Subdue all Things

Power of Christ: As Man, is from the Father

Power of Christ: As the Son of God, is the Power of God

Power of Christ: Bodies of, Will be Changed By

Power of Christ: Described As Supreme

Power of Christ: Destroying the Works of Satan

Power of Christ: Enabling Others to Work Miracles

Power of Christ: Everlasting

Power of Christ: Exemplified in Creation

Power of Christ: Forgiving Sins

Power of Christ: Giving Eternal Life

Power of Christ: Giving Spiritual Life

Power of Christ: Glorious

Power of Christ: Helped By

Power of Christ: His Teaching

Power of Christ: Ministers should Make Known

Power of Christ: Over all Flesh

Power of Christ: Over all Things

Power of Christ: Overcoming Satan

Power of Christ: Overcoming the World

Power of Christ: Performing Miracles

Power of Christ: Present in the Assembly of Saints

Power of Christ: Preserved By

Power of Christ: Raising the Dead

Power of Christ: Rests Upon Saints

Power of Christ: Rising from the Dead

Power of Christ: Saints Made Willing By

Power of Christ: Salvation

Power of Christ: Strengthened By

Power of Christ: The Wicked Will be Destroyed By

Power of Christ: Unlimited

Power of Christ: Upholding all Things

Power of Christ: Will be Specially Manifested at his Second Coming

Power of Christ: Will Subdue all Power

Power of God in Delivering his People

Power of God in Establishing and Governing all Things

Power of God in Making the Gospel Effectual

Power of God in the Creation

Power of God in the Destruction of the Wicked

Power of God in the Miracles of Christ

Power of God in the Resurrection of Christ

Power of God in the Resurrection of Saints

Power of God is a Ground of Trust

Power of God is the Source of all Strength

Power of God: All Things Possible To

Power of God: Can Save by Many or by Few

Power of God: Delivered By

Power of God: do not Know

Power of God: Effectual

Power of God: Efficiency of Ministers is Through

Power of God: Everlasting

Power of God: Exalted By

Power of God: Exerted in Behalf of Saints

Power of God: Feared

Power of God: Glorious

Power of God: Great

Power of God: Have Against Them

Power of God: Have Confidence In

Power of God: Incomparable

Power of God: Incomprehensible

Power of God: Irresistable

Power of God: Kept By, Unto Salvation

Power of God: Magnified

Power of God: Mighty

Power of God: Nothing Too Difficult For

Power of God: One of his Attributes

Power of God: Pleaded in Prayer

Power of God: Receive Increase of Grace By

Power of God: Saints Long for Exhibitions of

Power of God: should be Acknowledged

Power of God: Sovereign

Power of God: Strengthened By

Power of God: Strong

Power of God: Supported in Affliction By

Power of God: The Arm of God

Power of God: The Faith That Saints Rely On

Power of God: The Finger of God

Power of God: The Hand of God

Power of God: The Heavenly Host Magnified

Power of God: The Thunder of his Power

Power of God: The Voice of God

Power of God: Unsearchable

Power of God: Upheld By

Power of God: Will be Destroyed by

Power of God: Works in and for Saints

Power of Keys

Power of the Holy Spirit is the Power of God

Power of the Holy Spirit: Abound in Hope by

Power of the Holy Spirit: Christ Commenced his Ministry In

Power of the Holy Spirit: Christ Worked his Miracles By

Power of the Holy Spirit: Enabled to Speak the Truth Boldly by

Power of the Holy Spirit: Giving Spiritual Life

Power of the Holy Spirit: God's Word the Instrument of

Power of the Holy Spirit: Helped in Prayer by

Power of the Holy Spirit: Making the Gospel Effective

Power of the Holy Spirit: Overcoming all Difficulties

Power of the Holy Spirit: Performing Miracles

Power of the Holy Spirit: Promised by Christ

Power of the Holy Spirit: Promised by the Father

Power of the Holy Spirit: Qualifies Ministers

Power of the Holy Spirit: Raising Christ from the Dead

Power of the Holy Spirit: Strengthened by

Power of the Holy Spirit: The Conception of Christ

Power of the Holy Spirit: The Creation

Power of the Holy Spirit: Upheld by

Power of Words

Power: Spiritual

The Power of Christ is Able to Subdue all Things

The Power of Christ: As Man, is from the Father

The Power of Christ: As the Son of God, is the Power of God

The Power of Christ: Everlasting

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Creation

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Destroying the Works of Satan

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Enabling Others to Work Miracles

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Forgiving Sins

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Giving Eternal Life

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Giving Spiritual Life

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in His Teaching

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Overcoming Satan

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Overcoming the World

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Raising Himself from the Dead

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Raising the Dead

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Salvation

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Upholding all Things

The Power of Christ: Exhibited in Working Miracles

The Power of Christ: Glorious

The Power of Christ: Ministers should Make Known

The Power of Christ: Over all Flesh

The Power of Christ: Over all Things

The Power of Christ: Present in the Assembly of Saints

The Power of Christ: Rests Upon Saints

The Power of Christ: Saints: Bodies of, Shall be Changed By

The Power of Christ: Saints: Helped By

The Power of Christ: Saints: Made Willingly By

The Power of Christ: Saints: Preserved By

The Power of Christ: Saints: Strengthened By

The Power of Christ: Shall be Specially Manifested at his Second Coming

The Power of Christ: Shall Subdue all Power

The Power of Christ: Supreme

The Power of Christ: The Wicked Shall be Destroyed By

The Power of Christ: Unlimited

The Power of God is a Ground of Trust

The Power of God is One of his Attributes

The Power of God is the Source of all Strength

The Power of God: All Things Possible To

The Power of God: Can Save by Many or by Few

The Power of God: Effectual

The Power of God: Efficiency of Ministers is Through

The Power of God: Everlasting

The Power of God: Exerted in Behalf of Saints

The Power of God: Exhibited in Creation

The Power of God: Exhibited in Delivering his People

The Power of God: Exhibited in Establishing and Governing all Things

The Power of God: Exhibited in Making the Gospel Effectual

The Power of God: Exhibited in The Destruction of the Wicked

The Power of God: Exhibited in The Miracles of Christ

The Power of God: Exhibited in The Resurrection of Christ

The Power of God: Exhibited in The Resurrection of Saints

The Power of God: Expressed by the Arm of God

The Power of God: Expressed by the Finger of God

The Power of God: Expressed by the Hand of God

The Power of God: Expressed by the Thunder of his Power

The Power of God: Expressed by the Voice of God

The Power of God: Glorious

The Power of God: Great

The Power of God: Incomparable

The Power of God: Incomprehensible

The Power of God: Irresistible

The Power of God: Mighty

The Power of God: Nothing Too Hard For

The Power of God: Saints: Delivered By

The Power of God: Saints: Exalted By

The Power of God: Saints: Have Confidence In

The Power of God: Saints: Kept By, to Salvation

The Power of God: Saints: Long for Exhibitions

The Power of God: Saints: Receive Increase of Grace By

The Power of God: Saints: Strengthened By

The Power of God: Saints: Supported in Affliction By

The Power of God: Saints: Upheld By

The Power of God: should be Acknowledged

The Power of God: should be Feared

The Power of God: should be Magnified

The Power of God: should be Pleaded in Prayer

The Power of God: Sovereign

The Power of God: Strong

The Power of God: The Faith of Saints Stands In

The Power of God: The Heavenly Host Magnify

The Power of God: The Wicked: Have Against Them

The Power of God: The Wicked: Know Not

The Power of God: The Wicked: Shall be Destroyed By

The Power of God: Unsearchable

The Power of God: Works In, and for Saints

The Power of the Holy Spirit is the Power of God

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Christ Commenced his Ministry In

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Christ Wrought his Miracles By

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Creation

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Giving Spiritual Life

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Making the Gospel Efficacious

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Overcoming all Difficulties

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Promised by Christ

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Promised by the Father

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Raising Christ from the Dead

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in The Conception of Christ

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Exhibited in Working Miracles

The Power of the Holy Spirit: God's Word the Instrument of

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Qualifies Ministers

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Saints: Abound in Hope By

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Saints: Enable to Speak the Truth Boldly By

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Saints: Helped in Prayer By

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Saints: Strengthened By

The Power of the Holy Spirit: Saints: Upheld By

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The Power of Collaboration
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