I have often sensed that Western Christianity’s consistent failure in the area of discipleship is rooted in the fact that there are so few actual “disciples” of the person of Jesus Christ within the movement. This isn’t to say that folks aren’t “Believers” (i.e. in the man, Jesus or His teachings), or that they do not take their faith seriously, it’s just that our westernized sensibilities aren’t particularly compatible with the concept of completely surrendering our lives to anything outside of ourselves.
While we understand that the original disciples sacrificed everything to follow Jesus, we reason that our particular brand of religious practice is an acceptable substitute. After all, we’ve made a “decision for Christ,” we’ve been baptized, we regularly attend, we give offerings (maybe even tithe), we do our daily devotions, we partake of sacraments, we study our bibles, we go to worship concerts, we wear religious t-shirts, we apply religious bumper stickers to our SUVs, and we’re “not ashamed” to let folks know that we are Christians. Some even speak in tongues, prophesy, and see miracles happen. But none of that necessarily equates to the discipleship that Jesus describes.
He said that whoever wants to be His disciple must deny themselves, taking up their cross daily, and following Him (Luke 9:23). Denying ourselves looks like forfeiting the “way that seems right” to us (Prov.14:12) in favor of the way that is exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask for or imagine (Eph.3:20). It’s not trying to gain our lives, but yielding our lives to Him and His purposes (Matt.16:25). It’s doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, and esteeming others above ourselves (Phil.2:3). It’s taking every thought captive, and making it obedient to Christ (2Cor.10:5) and loving the way He loves (John 13:34).
It’s refusing to be conformed to the pattern of this world and allowing our minds to be renewed (Rom.12:2), so that His character would be manifest in us (Gal.5:22-23). Ultimately, it’s being transformed into the image of Christ (2Cor.3:18), so that His light would shine upon the darkest corners of His creation.
The decision to surrender our lives (i.e. take up our cross) and “follow” Jesus is not a one-time thing, it’s an everyday process (Luke 9:23), and a journey that lasts a lifetime (Phil.1:6), which is completely at odds with our cultural and religious paradigms. We prefer to think of ourselves as, “saved, sanctified, and going heaven,” which implies that the work has already been completed, and we’re just waiting for the bus to take us to the mansion He’s prepared for us.
Our version of discipleship generally consists of inviting people to come to our church, or to outreach events, yet our friends, neighbors and/or co-workers may not see any tangible evidence of our supposed passion for Christ as they walk along side of us on a daily basis. This is the anti-thesis of what Jesus described.
If the western church has any hope of fulfilling “The Great Commission (Matt.28:19),” we must first go back and become true disciples ourselves. Jesus taught that unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed (John 12:24). Without taking that step we aren’t likely to accomplish much more than the promotion of “Christian” values, the perpetuation of “Christian” culture, and/or the preservation of the “church” industry.
Read Full Post »
Bjcorbin's Blog 
The Great Omission
Posted in Commentaries, tagged disciple, discipleship, esteeming others, Great Commission, Jesus, obedience, selfish ambition, substitute, surrender, transformed, vain conceit on August 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I have often sensed that Western Christianity’s consistent failure in the area of discipleship is rooted in the fact that there are so few actual “disciples” of the person of Jesus Christ within the movement. This isn’t to say that folks aren’t “Believers” (i.e. in the man, Jesus or His teachings), or that they do not take their faith seriously, it’s just that our westernized sensibilities aren’t particularly compatible with the concept of completely surrendering our lives to anything outside of ourselves.
While we understand that the original disciples sacrificed everything to follow Jesus, we reason that our particular brand of religious practice is an acceptable substitute. After all, we’ve made a “decision for Christ,” we’ve been baptized, we regularly attend, we give offerings (maybe even tithe), we do our daily devotions, we partake of sacraments, we study our bibles, we go to worship concerts, we wear religious t-shirts, we apply religious bumper stickers to our SUVs, and we’re “not ashamed” to let folks know that we are Christians. Some even speak in tongues, prophesy, and see miracles happen. But none of that necessarily equates to the discipleship that Jesus describes.
He said that whoever wants to be His disciple must deny themselves, taking up their cross daily, and following Him (Luke 9:23). Denying ourselves looks like forfeiting the “way that seems right” to us (Prov.14:12) in favor of the way that is exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask for or imagine (Eph.3:20). It’s not trying to gain our lives, but yielding our lives to Him and His purposes (Matt.16:25). It’s doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, and esteeming others above ourselves (Phil.2:3). It’s taking every thought captive, and making it obedient to Christ (2Cor.10:5) and loving the way He loves (John 13:34).
It’s refusing to be conformed to the pattern of this world and allowing our minds to be renewed (Rom.12:2), so that His character would be manifest in us (Gal.5:22-23). Ultimately, it’s being transformed into the image of Christ (2Cor.3:18), so that His light would shine upon the darkest corners of His creation.
The decision to surrender our lives (i.e. take up our cross) and “follow” Jesus is not a one-time thing, it’s an everyday process (Luke 9:23), and a journey that lasts a lifetime (Phil.1:6), which is completely at odds with our cultural and religious paradigms. We prefer to think of ourselves as, “saved, sanctified, and going heaven,” which implies that the work has already been completed, and we’re just waiting for the bus to take us to the mansion He’s prepared for us.
Our version of discipleship generally consists of inviting people to come to our church, or to outreach events, yet our friends, neighbors and/or co-workers may not see any tangible evidence of our supposed passion for Christ as they walk along side of us on a daily basis. This is the anti-thesis of what Jesus described.
If the western church has any hope of fulfilling “The Great Commission (Matt.28:19),” we must first go back and become true disciples ourselves. Jesus taught that unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed (John 12:24). Without taking that step we aren’t likely to accomplish much more than the promotion of “Christian” values, the perpetuation of “Christian” culture, and/or the preservation of the “church” industry.
Rate this:
Read Full Post »