Spirituality is incomplete except within a broader setting in which disciples of Jesus try to live their discipleship in committed, honest and coherent ways. And discernment is at the heart of discipleship, because when we walk a disciple's path we are constantly faced with changing situations in which we have to discover how to be faithful to the gospel and the leading of the Spirit, and true to ourselves. – David Lonsdale, "Discernment of Spirits"
ideas you hold concerning discipleship? How do people become more like Jesus in real time. I certainly affirm (and cling to) the
cosmic side of the equation…that God is going to do a miraculous work in each
person who is a follower of Christ.
In fact it solemnly promises in Philippians 1:6 that, “…being
confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Ahhhh! It is
like a refreshing rain after days of summer heat. I love that smell and I love that promise.
But back to my question, regarding the part
that we play in the process, what is your foundational core belief about how it
happens?
A month or so ago, I had
the privilege of attending a retreat at a Benedictine monastery in
Nebraska. The retreat’s theme was
looking closely at the spirituality of Henri Nouwen, particularly keying off of
his book, The Return of the Prodigal.
During one of the discussions it was stated that, “Discipleship is a
journey to discernment.” I am a
reasonably quick thinker and I have a hypersensitive crap detector. That said, you should know that I
immediately recoiled (inside, not on the out – outside I was keep’in it cool)
with the idea, with scrutiny, wondering is that true? Could it be that this axiom might really be at the center of
discipleship?
See, I have read, studied,
experimented for most of my adult life with what it means to apprentice someone
in the way of Jesus. I have done
courses, led Bible-studies, initiated “come and follow” types of
ministries, engaged in one on one relationships, led groups of 3 on 3’s, 12’s, 50’s, even hundreds, all
seemingly good gestures that I believe helped those participating in them. However, for much of the church, discipleship is some form of behavioralism. It is to develop skill sets on how to pray better, give
more, read the Bible more, stop doing a particular sin and start doing some really
godly activity…really, behave yourself. It is training people to behave a
certain "Christian-ly" way. Mostly, it shows up under
the rubric of “doing” rather than “being.”
So, the fundamental
question has to be what is the goal?
I think it would be reasonable to arrive at something like a person
being conformed to Christ. Paul
even uses that as an ultimate target in Romans when he says we are all
predestined to be, “…conformed
to the image of his Son…”
See, for me the definitive end game is
transformation, not lock-step behaviorism. A changed life,
yes, but that change is not only acting more like Jesus, but also “being” more
like Him. In other words,
transformation is both inside and out.
Now, back to my axiom: “Discipleship is a journey to discernment.” In I John 3:1-3, the beloved apostle
wrote,
“See what great
love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did
not know him. Dear friends, now we are
children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know
that when Christ appears, we
shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All
who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”
Though this section Scripture certainly
contains an eschatological aspect to it, the transformative anchor is deeply
connected to the idea of encounter or seeing Jesus. The literal definition of discernment carries with it the
idea of perception or seeing something rightly. In other words, if we can get people into a place where they
encounter Jesus or see Him in some substantial way, then actual transformation
is possible. This is not to
minimize the need for skill set development in disciple-making (all of us need
to learn how to do stuff), but real substantive transformation will not happen
without an real and existential encounter with Christ.
Here are a couple of questions:
- What
has been your experience with discipleship? Has it been more cognitive and skill-set driven or more
existential, experiential driven? - And,
how do we lead people into this more experiential model of discipleship?
I’d
like to get some of you thoughts…and then after that, I will (humbly) provide at least the germ of how I believe it happens.
Ok,
go!
r
I’ve got thoughts going in lots of directions on this topic… But mostly I’m just thankful to be with guys like you who are wrestling with this stuff and running after a vision of life in the kingdom that is free and full.
A bit late to the game here, but this “conversation” is one that consistently exists within me, and one that I’m more and more trying to live into with those I live and work with.
So…
1. My experience began as a process of “knowing”, referring to the 1 John text you mention. As a 19 year old I was overcome and surprised by the tangible presence of God, by an experiential and developing daily reality that altered every aspect of my life. This isn’t to say that my behavior was modified in every measurable way, but that the compelling and come and follow me way of Jesus opened up possibilities I had never known, but had deeply longed for… Since then I’ve lived between that beginning, and a variety of cognitive, skill based environments or theories regarding being and making disciples. The former has always lovingly haunted me, and continues to as I become more and more uneasy and uninterested in the latter.
2. As far as the leading goes, I’m experimenting with that. To this point here are a few things I’m processing…
We can’t manufacture an experience with God, a “knowing”, for anyone regardless of the system or mode we create or adopt. And with that, knowing the system or mode must not be assumed to be the same thing as experiencing or knowing God. At the same time, I do think we can anticipate God’s continual good and kind work of redemption in the folks we’re planted among, and I think this requires of us a different skill – one of hopeful anticipation, that has eyes and ears to see and hear the reverberations of Jesus and his kingdom in a variety of ways, words, and expressions.
We have to be together, regularly, and receive and share our stories in light of the large story, the Bible. Somehow we have to openly read and be read by the text, together. I think this can work out in a variety of ways… And I think your thoughts on discernment are what I’m trying to get at, in some way, here.
Pretty basic stuff, I know. But all of this, I have a hunch, should produce in us peace, joy, love, confidence and active hope – the ability to live as, to be the children of God that he says we are.
Good thoughts Eric, I wonder much of the same.
Exactly Arnie, I share your apprehensions. After decades in and among church life, I’ve seen too much that has been rooted in ego, kingdom building with a little k, and pressure to perform or conform. I’ve wondered at the audacity of some of our calls to “lead and shape others”. Is there a way to be a fellow traveler that influences others without having to form a system? Why do we spend so much time thinking about changing one another?
Discipleship has always been a scary word for me for just the reasons you outlined above ie that the concept has degenerated into teaching a behavior rather than being an example that draws those being discipled deeper into the grace and love of God. Those who are eager to disciple others are generally the ones I want to avoid. I am not sure how it should work but discernment and humility seems to be a prudent way to approach the subject.
This is growing into a pretty big deal for me. Wrestling with how someone really is transformed. Is it conformity to a bunch “how to’s” or inner life working itself out.
Thank you for this post Rob. You helped put words to some thoughts I have been wrestling with regarding ‘discipleship’ as it relates to product over process. So often I think we see discipleship as a root instead of a fruit of life lived in and through Christ.