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| Discipleship that Makes a Difference |
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Not long ago, I was once again awakened to the need of discipleship after an article I read entitled, Kingdom and Discipleship, as they once were they are “devising evangelical justifications for whatever was coming down the pike from secular academe.” Since Christian universities produce the next generation of Christian thinkers, the future consequences of this trend are mind-boggling. As a consequence, the urgency of returning to Christ’s method of discipleship is vital.
Today we are seeing in Evangelical scholarship the inability to distinguish the sacred from the secular. For instance a few years ago I was attending a Christian University pursuing a graduate degree in education. As part of one of my classes we visited the planetarium. After the professor finished his talk, he opened the session up for students to ask questions. I was the first to respond. I asked him what latest scientific evidence that has been uncovered that would point to divine design. You see the divine design movement postulates that there is scientific evidence that points to a creator. It rejects naturalistic assumptions regarding science and seeks to come to unbiased conclusions by utilizing the tools of scientific inquiry.
The professor’s response was amazingly naive. He said that he doesn’t try to use science to prove his beliefs. He stated, “If science proves that the Christian faith is not true then I am left with nothing to rest my faith on.” He instead adopted for a theistic evolutionary view that basically attempts to amalgamate evolution with Christianity. It affirms that the idea that God created the universe is somehow compatible with the theory of evolution. Instead of seeking a distinctly Christian intellectual response to the evolutionary argument, he chose to embrace a creation story that denounces God as the creator and somehow tries to put a Jesus bumper sticker on it. What the professor forgot was that if the Bible is true and explains the true nature of reality then an unbiased scientific observation would reinforce the idea that God created the universe, not deny it.
Martin Luther expanded on the idea of discipleship when he said, “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing”. A disciple of Jesus Christ may have to decide between respectability from a secular vantage point or honoring God. The statement made by Luther was not dissimilar to our Lord’s statement regarding discipleship. In Matthew 16:24 “Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Discipleship means faithfulness to our Lord in every facet of life. It is faithfulness in how we act, think, behave, and believe. Stated in the above mentioned Scripture passage are three principles of discipleship that Christ demands of his followers.
Self-Denial
First, the Christian who aspires to be a disciple must deny himself or herself. This appeal of self-denial is commonplace throughout the New Testament. The Apostle Paul uses a different word to describe virtually the same concept, which is used in I Corinthians 9:27. It states, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (NIV). Paul understood that he had a responsibility of denying himself and pleasing Christ above what he desired.
Moreover, Tertillian gives further insight into the concept of self-denial. He exhorted his followers to focus on what John Piper calls “future grace.” Tertillian invited the people to be totally dependent upon the Lord, look past their current situation and maintain their focus on their heavenly reward. He writes,
Blessed ones, count whatever is hard in this lot of yours as a discipline of your powers of mind and body. You are about to pass through a noble struggle, in which the living God is your manager and the Holy Spirit is your trainer. The prize is an eternal crown of angelic essence-citizenship in the heavens, glory everlasting.
This becomes the essence of the Christian’s denial of self. It means looking past immediate rewards and disciplining oneself to be heavenly minded. This is precisely what Paul had in mind when he said, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (NIV).
Take up the Cross
Second, the Christian who aspires to be a disciple must take up his or her cross. In the gospels Jesus made some demanding statements towards those who sought to follow Him. On one occasion Jesus had a conversation with a rich man, who, from the context of the story, was extremely tied to wealth. Jesus exhorted the rich man to sell all of his passions and give them to the poor (Matt. 19:21). The rich man responds to this exhortation in dismay. Matthew states that when the rich man “…heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth” (Matt 19:22).
Many people have responded to the commission to take up ones cross in a similar manner. They have walked away from the call of Christ. This is exactly what many Christian colleges are beginning to do. Their response gives credence to a statement made by G K Chesterton many years ago. He stated, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult, and left untried. (G. K. Chesterton in "What's Wrong with the World," Christianity Today, Vol. 39, no. 1.).
Taking up the cross means submitting one’s life to Christ and dying to self. Paul made a poignant comment regarding this idea when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). Christ has called his disciples to do just this– submit our lives to Christ and die to our flesh.
Follow Christ
Third, the Christian who aspires to be a disciple must follow Christ. To follow Him, Jesus made it clear that it meant forsaking all. In the Gospel according to Mark Jesus explains to the disciples what had just taken place in a conversation he had with the rich man. In the middle of that conversation Peter reacts to Jesus stating, “We have left everything to follow you!" (Mark 10:28 NIV). This is the call of anyone who names the name of Jesus. However, the call to follow is not without rewards. Jesus goes on to say,
… No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life (Mark 10:29-30).
Certainly, the requirements of following Jesus are not without stringent demands. However, in this passage Jesus makes it clear that the rewards far outweigh the demands. Furthermore, following Christ means walking as Jesus walked. It “is about growing and maturing - it is the process of becoming like Jesus Christ. In order to accomplish this “it requires [one] to examine and change [how one] think[s], feel[s] and act[s]. Thankfully HE also gives us HIS Spirit and HIS Word to assist in the transformation process.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, when Christians adopt these principals of discipleship and apply them to their lives, they will reflect the character and nature of Christ. John R W. Stott is correct when he says that being salt and light means reflecting the characteristics of the beatitudes in ones life. By denying oneself, taking up one's cross, and following Christ allows the disciple to take on the character and nature of Christ. I will finish this blog with some steps that will assist in the discipleship process.
“In Rebuilding Your Broken World, Gordon MacDonald suggests twenty-six questions to help develop accountability and invite feedback. If we desire to grow, we should submit our selves to a spiritual mentor and answer these questions honestly.
1. How is your relationship with God right now?
2. What have you read in the Bible in the past week?
3. What has God said to you in this reading?
4. Where do you find yourself resisting Him these days?
5. What specific things are you praying for in regard to yourself?
7. What are the specific tasks facing you right now that you consider incomplete?
8. What habits intimidate you?
9. What have you read in the secular press this week?
10. What general reading are you doing?
11. What have you done to play?
12. How are you doing with your spouse? Kids?
13. If I were to ask your spouse about your state of mind, state of spirit, state of energy level, what would the response be?
14. Are you sensing spiritual attacks from the enemy right now?
15. If Satan were to try to invalidate you as a person or as a servant of the Lord, how might he do it?
16. What is the state of your sexual perspective? Tempted? Dealing with fantasies? Entertainment?
17. Where are you financially right now? (things under control? under anxiety? in great debt?)
18. Are there any unresolved conflicts in your circle of relationships right now?
19. When was the last time you spent time with a good friend of your own gender?
20. What kind of time have you spent with anyone who is a non-Christian this month?
21. What challenges do you think you're going to face in the coming week? Month?
22. What would you say are your fears at this present time?
23. Are you sleeping well?
24. What three things are you most thankful for?
25. Do you like yourself at this point in your pilgrimage?
26. What are your greatest confusions about your relationship with God?”
Paul Borthwick, Leading the Way, Navpress, 1989, pp. 171-172
Bibliography
http://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/discipleship.htm
http://www.bible.ca/H-Carry-Cross.htm
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi/simplify.cgi?20020102_untried.html http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/d/discipleship.htm Kingdom and Discipleship, By: Harrington, Daniel J., America, 00027049, 1/16/2006, Vol. 194, Issue 2 |
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Tim,
The article was too long for me to read yet in its entirety, but I'm starring now based on the 26 questions at the end. Excellent! I plan to use them at our next men's accountability breakfast in 2 weeks. Thanks for another excellent post! ~mike |
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Hey, Tim,
Another great article! In our day of megachurches and consumer driven worship, where people can pick and choose what church they like and get lost in the masses, it's easy to forget that the Great Commission is a call to make disciples, not just "reach people." God bless us and help us become what we were called to be. |
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MaKelly |
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September 04, 2007 at 7:20am |
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Pastor Tim this is a great message I took this class when I was in Freeport NY at wolm, and it does make a difference
1. your a servant for life - Exodus 21:2-6
2.Characteristics of a Holy Life Psalms 15:1-5
3.Standing in the gap Ezekiel 22:30
4.sincers search for God jeremiah 29:10-14
5, key to walking with God Pslams 18:25 -26
6..those who obey the Lord Joel 2:11
7. Follow Jesus Matthew 9:9
8.Counting cost Matthew 8:19-20
Because my life is like living in a fish bowel and all the world is watching, and you are right I am to walk and talk like Jesus because I am a christain representing Jesus. God also knows He is the only perfect one so I'm going to press on to strive for profection. The book “In Rebuilding Your Broken World, Gordon MacDonald, yes I do have to work on a few things on that list, but I must say I know my world in christ Kingdom of God that lives in me & personal is not broken thanks to my God.
Pastor Tim is there anyone that you know that can say they do everything on that list? PHILIPPIANS 3
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
COST OF DISCIPLESHIP, THE
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1937) Dietrich Bonhoeffer had smart genes. His father was the foremost neurologist and psychiatrist teaching at the University of Berlin; his mother was the granddaughter of a noted church historian. Dietrich began theological studies as a teenager and qualified to teach at the University of Berlin at age 24.
In his early writings, Bonhoeffer said God was found in the Word and realized in real-life situations. He asserted that Christ lived in the community of believers. These assumptions underlie his later works as well.
While studying at Union Theological Seminary in New York City (1930-1931), Bonhoeffer team-taught a Sunday school class at a church in Harlem. He learned as much as he taught. This experience proved to be a powerful lesson on how people could endure dehumanizing oppression by exercising simple, biblical faith, particularly in praise and worship. Bonhoeffer later returned to Germany, where Adolf Hitler was gathering power.
While many pastors yielded to Hitler’s interference in church affairs, Bonhoeffer resisted and helped create the Confessing Church in Germany. In 1935 he began and led an illegal seminary in Finkenwalde. He also identified himself with the resistance movement against Hitler.
Published in 1937, The Cost of Discipleship established Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a theologian of high distinction. With this work, Bonhoeffer reaffirms the concept of faith in the Christian life, emphasizing the Word (the Scriptures); the sacraments (baptism and the Lord’s Supper); and the earthly community of faith (the church). The book’s title in German is simply Discipleship, since Bonhoeffer takes faith, justification, and sanctification (the pillars of reformed theology) and unites them into the single concept of following Christ.
The key formula of his work is “only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.” Bonhoeffer claims that this theorem revalidates the complete premise of justification and restores its true value. But Bonhoeffer was always inclined to emphasize the community of faith as well. In The Cost of Discipleship Bonhoeffer insists that “it is impossible to become a new man as a solitary individual. . . . It means the church, the body of Christ, in fact it means Christ himself.” This does not mean, however, that discipleship should become a world movement or creed; nor is discipleship an ideology or technique, since these require measurable results. To Bonhoeffer, right Christology requires a person to be called and to follow. Those who do this “are ready to suffer with the Word.”
The book is divided into four chapters. The first one challenges the reader with a discourse on grace and discipleship. Bonhoeffer attacks the “cheap grace” that was being preached in the churches of his time; he counters this easy-believism by asserting, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Chapter 2 further develops Bonhoeffer’s discussion of discipleship as it examines Jesus Christ’s demands on the believer in the Sermon on the Mount. Chapter 3 discusses spreading this message of Jesus Christ, and chapter 4 addresses the believer’s relationship to the church, the body of Christ on earth.
In this classic work, Bonhoeffer describes a disciple’s life as simple and carefree. This simplicity is rooted in the disciple’s obedience to one master, which sets the disciple free from other concerns. The truth of this work is reinforced by the real-life example of Bonhoeffer himself.
Watching the Nazis’ growing violence against Jews and others, Bonhoeffer plotted with others to kill Hitler. An attempt failed, and Bonhoeffer was arrested. He was hanged in 1944.
Few authors have lived out their writings to such an extent. Bonhoeffer expressed what he believed in print, and then he acted on those beliefs.
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shane |
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September 04, 2007 at 7:42am |
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I enjoyed and agree with everything in your blog except for the example you used at the beginning dealing with evolution and Christianity. I don't see a passion for discipleship excluding the scientific explanation adopted by this professor. It seems to me he is finding where the scientific experts can be placed in Christianities history. I believe one of the main qualities of discipleship is the ability to look at every issue objectively not subjectively. If what we have always thought isn't true, that doesn't make us less of a disciplined disciple of Christ. The closer I get to Christ the more I desire what he desires. He would desire to question everything and be shocked at nothing. Truth is truth no matter what we believe and a modification to our thinking may be necessary now and then, not because we are not discipleship oriented but because we are.
Shane |
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Shane,
Thank you for your response. I undertsand that the issue of origins is very much a debatable issue within Evangelical circles. My concern with the professors response was that a naturaistic interpretation of science was superior to the Bible when establishing his version of the creation story.
With that said, you have given me an idea for my next blog. Which version of the creation story do we believe?
1. Creation
2. Divine Design
3. Theistic Evolution
4. Evolution
Thanks again Shane for your response! |
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MaKelly, Danny, Mike, Thank you for your responses.
MaKelly, I loved the Bonhoeffer quote that you gave that says, "only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”
Danny, you are exactly right when you said that the Great Commission is a call to make disciples, not just "reach people."
Mike, those questions should be great for your accountability breakfast! |
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Deb |
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September 04, 2007 at 9:36am |
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| Pastor Tim, this is a well written and well thought out blog. I do appreciate the questions towards the end. They are good questions to gauge where we are in our walk with God. I plan to keep them handy. |
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Eddie |
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September 04, 2007 at 9:56am |
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| Very well said yet again Pastor Tim. |
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Deb, Reverend Floyd, Eddie thank you for your kind words.
Rev. Floyd I am honored to have my post on your blog. |
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| I might add that while we count the cost of following Christ. We might want to count the cost of following the enemy. Jails Institutions, Death and Hopelessness. The truth of the matter the cost of following Christ is high but it's stated up front and Christ already paid the bulk of it. |
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I am so pleased that I took the time to read your blog today...every last word including the bibliography... Pastor Tim. I was still chewing on the Technology in the Church blog (and I must say it changed my life, and led me to Pastor Ken and Arminata, who are experts in the art of e-videoing and podcasting and are willing to share their know-how with...US!!!!!!!! I sent the article and comments to the prime movers and shakers at my church in Largo, Florida as well...WHAT A GREAT DISCUSSION (part I and II)! So I wasn't "ready" for this one on discipleship, but it happened to be what my pastor is speaking on all month. This gives me a "leg up" on the horse. I must confess, I've been a Christian in church for 50 years and yet I've never heard it explained so clearly and so succinctly! If everyone only had this one page, and did what it suggests, it could turn America upside down and spread to the rest of the world. I'm already getting ready with increased enthusiasm and energy to podcast to India and other places as "Gospel Mother Goose"...(technological child evangelism) as a direct result of your last blog. I told my pastor with results like Pastor Ken and Arminata have been having, there is no time to waste in getting the live-wire Christians at our church to share on the internet! They went from 20 people wanting to hear to 4000 in 8 months! What an opportunity! How can we sit still?! My homeschooled daughter and I will ask each other the 26 questions each week and see what happens. God definitely had a plan in letting me "stumble upon" MyChurch.com through Paul Mason (whom I call the Christian Shakespeare of Prayer). You and he are such blessings...may I encourage you to send your blogs and comments as podcasts or evideos to the seminary in Bangalore to edify the pastors in training there (it would help them with learning English to hear them since I bet their English isn't all that good, maybe someone could translate the transcripts!)...and I'm hoping to send computers and camcorders to them in the near future (Lord supplying) to enable them to communicate with their countrymen. Perhaps Christianity will enter the Moslem world this way. I'm going to suggest to the Independent Mission Board that we ask each country to flood India with gifts of computers. Then they won't be able to resist. I hope many muslims who haven't caved in to the Taliban (which thinks pictures are evil) will use the computers and find the podcasts. Connie Radomski, First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks member, also a Burning Bush Prayer Group member |
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| And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2Cor3:18) ...sorry folks, this popped into my head as I read the above comment. God bless you Sam |
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1. How is your relationship with God right now? Prayerfull
2. What have you read in the Bible in the past week? Genisis, Exodus, Leciticus, John, Matthew, Jude and some Psalms
3. What has God said to you in this reading? In the beginning ... and the evening and the morning was the first day.... and the evening and the morning were the second day (day beginns in the evening.) Passover is at least 8 days long and has two sabbats. one of these (the second) was the day after Jesus was in tombed was that sabath a Friday evening? or a Thursday evening?
4. Where do you find yourself resisting Him these days?
In everything I can't walk or breath with out him throught the holy Ghost I am able to carry on.
5. What specific things are you praying for in regard to yourself?
A closer walk with Jesus and more respect for my finances I.E. better stuartship.
7. What are the specific tasks facing you right now that you consider incomplete?
The great commision who? have I brought to Christ? Has any one changed have I truley made all the changes I need to make?
8. What habits intimidate you?
9. What have you read in the secular press this week?
Homelessness and section eight in California LACounty are we working on geting back or credibillity our ranking our ability to help others we had lost our standing with the government what is being done? found no answers. only more questions.
10. What general reading are you doing? Egypt. the toms of the kings, the dead sea scrools the lost books of the bible, Billy D Williams "S life story forgot the name of that one, Sidney Poiter's The Measure of a man, Andrew M Greeley this years 4 books have read all previous years already, The Torah, The Tanuka.
11. What have you done to play?
tetrus on my phone
12. How are you doing with your spouse? Kids?
phone and e-mail them
13. If I were to ask your spouse about your state of mind, state of spirit, state of energy level, what would the response be? NA
14. Are you sensing spiritual attacks from the enemy right now? No yesterday when I could not walk and had to pay rent yes today no though I need at least $100.00 to replace funds I should not have used to feed church members going to a fellowship meeting where they had food after.
15. If Satan were to try to invalidate you as a person or as a servant of the Lord, how might he do it? He is al way trying but Now I think I usually detect him and stop him in his tracks.
16. What is the state of your sexual perspective? fairly leavel Tempted? fighting temptation Dealing with fantasies? praying agenst them Entertainment? No
17. Where are you financially right now? (things under control?mostly under anxiety?somewhat but trying to leave it at the alter it is hard when on a limited income an can't work without ending up in the hospital in great debt?about $100.00 out of control)
18. Are there any unresolved conflicts in your circle of relationships right now?
Not that I am aware of.
19. When was the last time you spent time with a good friend of your own gender? None live near me so it has been a while though I have spent time with a few of the sisters in my church. Praying and leting them know I care about them. They probubly don't think of me as a friend.
20. What kind of time have you spent with anyone who is a non-Christian this month?
I just baked cookies and distributed them to about a dozen homeless people.
21. What challenges do you think you're going to face in the coming week? Meetings with my Adult Literacy Student (helping him deal with some of the problems that come up when you work and have everthing memorized because you can't read and the one who has read to you is now sick and can not read to him. Month more of that and finances how to make money I don't have and getting ready for Pastors anaversary? and the Church anaversary + + + + +.
22. What would you say are your fears at this present time?
23. Are you sleeping well? No
24. What three things are you most thankful for? Salvation Kids Church
25. Do you like yourself at this point in your pilgrimage? Yes
26. What are your greatest confusions about your relationship with God?”NA
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Pastor Tim,
Excellent post. I love how God speaks to each of us and reveals Himself to us. In our E-Telecast I spoke about the very things you wrote about.... "What Have You Done For Him lately" using Rom 12:1 "give your body as a living sacrifice...."
"Preparing For the Cross Walk" Mark 8:34 " Jesus say, if any one would be followers of me, let him set aside his own self ambitions, shoulder his cross and follow me."
And beginning tomorrow... on the E-Telecast, "Following In the Footsteps of Christ".... The Christian life ought to be one of sacrifical living...
Pastor Aminata |
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