CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP (Part 1)
In our contemporary society, many people take the name Christians but they are not disciples. They are in the large crowd that follow Jesus and claim to be Christians but do so on their own agenda, terms and aspirations. In many ways they do things that portray or suggest (make them look like) they are followers of Jesus Christ. These include: belonging to a Church denomination, attending Church services and fellowship meetings regularly, bearing Christian name, reading the bible daily, praying ceaselessly, making profession of faith and giving generously but are neither born again nor living Christian lifestyle. The name Christian should be synonymous with disciple. Discipleship is separate from salvation. One believes in Jesus Christ to be saved, while one serves Jesus Christ to become a disciple. In ideal case, one should be a Christian and a disciple. However in reality, all Christians are not disciples and all disciples are not Christians. For example: Judas was a disciple but never regenerated; had his different agenda and motives. Another thought expressing discipleship opines, “All disciples are Christians but not all Christians are disciples.” This seems to imply that discipleship is a second level in Christianity, for selected people, the elite and the trained. This could be the problem area!
Defining Discipleship, Larry Sarver wrote, “These two terms (Christian and Disciple) mean the same thing in the same way that I mean that the same thing when I speak of “my spouse” or “my wife.” Invariably, a Christian should be a disciple but in real life, this is not so. A disciple is a true follower of Jesus Christ. The scripture says, “Any one who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be my disciple or a Christian (Luke 14:27). Literally, Dictionary.com defines disciple as: a person who is a pupil or adherent of the doctrines of another. One who embraces and assists in spreading the teaching of others. He’s a follower of another person. “A Christian disciple is one who makes a conscious decision to follow Christ in pursuit of becoming a fisher of men.” Another definition states that a Christian disciple is a person who accepts and assists in the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ. This definition could be linked with Matthew 4:19 where Jesus said unto them follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. It means I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish. Are you a true disciple?
Christian Discipleship has been described as a process of learning about the teachings of Jesus Christ, internalizing them and then acting on them. Another description put it this way, “Christian Discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped by the Holy Spirit who resides in our hearts, to overcome the pressures and trials of this present life and become more and more like Christ.” This concept was launched about 2000 years ago when Jesus Christ entered into human history and hand-picked His first followers – called out to men. Christian discipleship is summed up in the Great Commission, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surely I am with you always even to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18b-20).
The teaching here commands to make disciples of all nations not to make disciples out of Christians. The moment a person believes in Jesus and receives eternal life that person becomes a disciple of Jesus and as the person develops and grows in Christian life and practice, he/she is undergoing the process of discipleship. It invariably means a decision to follow Jesus Christ is the beginning of a Christian discipleship. Making disciples is crucial because it’s the Lord’s chosen method of spreading the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. A disciple must be one who is assured of his salvation and activated by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:26-27); growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18) and shares Christ’s burden for the lost souls of men and women. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of harvest therefore to send out workers into His harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38).
Many people are quick to announce or testify their long years of becoming a Christians (or when they got born again) like a status symbol but have little or nothing to show for it. They have no passion for lost souls and disobey Jesus ‘final command – the Great Commission. They appear to have a misconception that discipleship and witnessing are for certain group of Christians, who are specially trained for the job. Some opine that just as Jesus discipled a small group so does discipleship exists and advanced in small groups. This is why the Church is not growing and sustained. Many people became Christians by the witnesses of other Christians but they have failed to continue with the trend. It implies a disobedience of Jesus great command for Great Commission. These groups of people just stop their Christianity on the salvation level and experience. They have not submitted themselves to sound Biblical teachings and dutiful mentorship. We should understand that when a person believes on Jesus for salvation, the person is a disciple at conversion. Again the New Testament picture of the Church is every member is a minister. Little wonder Apostle Peter wrote, “You are… a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) and Apostle Paul added, “To each has been given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good ( 1 Cor. 12:7).
Others are tutored by leaders who are interested in personal gains and are devoid of sound doctrine. They profess Christ as Savior and Lord with their mouth but their hearts are tasty for riches and worldliness. Like Judas, many people doing the Church business today use the name of Jesus but have different agenda and motives. These could be perceived in their speeches and behaviors. Some float Churches as a way of obeying Jesus’ commands for Great Commission but their inclinations and pursuits are not towards discipleship. There is nothing wrong with inviting people to Church but the biblical pattern “is to go to them” (Mark 16:15). They interested in gold not souls; built tall walls against lost souls, the poor and disadvantaged and open doors to the rich and well-to-do. All they seek for in the bible are verses that speak about money to teach their followers. Even when the passages are not money related they speak into them to mean what they want and preach and teach them persuasively. They also introduce Old Testament doctrines and give interpretations to brace their heresy. The good thing about it is that God judges our motives and actions and judgment will start in the house of God. The more reason there will be unbelievable surprises at the gate of heaven. Your guess is as good as mine.
A true disciple is different from just a follower. “A follower is like a casual sport fan; he is excited when his favored team wins. A committed or true disciple is ecstatic when their teams win and devastated when they lose. They are with them always and share their moments of joy and grief.” Three main requested requirements of being a disciple are: i) A disciple know what God expects; ii) A disciple does what God expects and iii) A disciple teaches others so that they know what God expects and does it.
When Jesus calls people to follow Him, He doesn’t just want spectators/observers but those who will be interested in what He does. He desires people who will be committed or devoted to what He did and continue to do even today in the power of the Holy Ghost. Jesus does not want passerbies or watchers but those who will became active participants in His business – The Great Commission. Being a disciple is a lifetime work and not part time or one time event. It’s not an easy task. It takes hard work and devotion. Jesus must come first and above everything else in life and you must love people that Jesus loves.
Writing on The Discipleship Deficit: Where have all the discipleship Gone?, Greg Ogden describes the state of discipleship today as superficial. Many who claim Jesus as Savior seem not to comprehend the implications of following Him as Lord. He wondered how Christian leaders moan over the moral decline of our society when many at the same time indicate a meaningful encounter with Jesus Christ. Again, how can millions of professed Christians be wagging our fingers in anger at a civilization that has turned away from God? He summed it by saying we have a discipleship deficit. I shall not agree less with him. If I may add or better put ask: where were the disciples and evangelicals when prayers and bible studies were kicked out in Public schools and the bible was removed from public arenas?