Recently I was having a dialogue with some brothers about the meaning of the word “disciple.” The Bible has much to say about discipleship and the word seems to be important in our understanding of how to be a Christian. Every biblical Christian wants to be thought of as “a disciple of Jesus.” The words “Christian” and “disciple of Jesus” should be the same term. Unfortunately, in our day and culture, they are not. It all hangs on understanding of what is the definition of a disciple.
Words get bandied about until they lose their meaning. A father is minimally anyone who has a child, whether by procreation or adoption. However, we all know that it takes more to be a real father than the assignment of a moniker. A good father provides, trains up, sacrifices himself, models good behavior, provides correction and will die for his child. However, many so called “fathers” will not even live with their child’s mother or acknowledge their child, much less do what it takes to be a real father.
Sarah Palin is known for many clever statements and whether you like her or not you gotta like her speechwriter. One thing she said really struck me as definitive. She was comparing her role as Mayor of Wasilla to the experience of her opponent who was a community organizer. She said, “A Mayor is like a community organizer, except that a Mayor has “actual duties.” It strikes me that a Christian is like a disciple of Jesus, except that a disciple of Jesus has “actual duties.”
Father’s Day is a time to honor the man who has and performs actual duties, and the better he has done them, the more he is honored. We cannot deny that the biological progenitor is at some levels a father, but the nomenclature is merely a technicality. Similarly, any born-again man or woman is technically a disciple, but not necessarily in the way that meets the biblical definition.
When Nancy and I met the Lord, were born again, or asked Jesus in to our hearts (pick a term), we did so in a church that taught us first and foremost that Jesus is Lord. We understood the commitment we were making. We were submitting ourselves to a Master to be discipled; i.e., to be shaped, changed and modified in His image. We also knew that we had gotten “saved,” but that was not the focus of the experience for us. That difference has made ALL the difference.
A “disciple” is one who is a learner under the discipline of a Master so that he might become like the “Master.” A man may study mathematics from 10 different math teachers. It would be wrong to call him a disciple of any of the 10 teachers. He is more properly a student of mathematics, almost a disciple of mathematics.
It is not the goal of a disciple to learn what the Master knows. (That might more properly describe the Mentor-Mentee relationship.)It is the goal of a disciple to become like the Master. In that process one will eventually learn what the Master knows.(That would more properly describe the Master-Disciple relationship.)The distinguishing biblical characteristic is that while a mentee honors his or her mentor, the disciple is committed to obey and serve his or her master.
Jesus, the man, was a disciple to His Father in Heaven. Jesus did not spend time with God to learn what God knows. He spent time with God to become like Him and to do His will. “I and the Father are one,” Jesus said. “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father”. Jesus also said, “I come to do the will of the Father.” Obedience to the Master is central to discipleship.
Many of us are operating on a substandard understanding of what is discipleship. We tend to think of it as Bible study and/or church-going. Both are involved, but neither is the definition or even the key component of biblical discipleship. One problem in the modern American church is that we are experientially far removed from what shapes the definition of discipleship. We are strangers, even enemies, to several of the key components of the definition; i.e., kingship, obedience and servanthood.
In the book of Judges, we are often told that during the era of the Judges (1335-1000 BC), “there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes.” This phrase would adequately describe most of us in America and in the American church. When our country was founded, there was a major discussion about what style of government would provide the best leadership and guidance after we separated from Great Britain and its monarchy. Many of our founding fathers and our citizens expected and lobbied for a monarchy, but the spirit of democracy carried the day. Even so, the right to govern was initially given only to landowners, and non-whites were not represented equally with whites.
The full egalitarianism we see today came gradually over time and significant changes in that direction continued to be made as late as the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and are ongoing. That discussion is still going forward as it related to, for instance, the personhood of the unborn and the alien. The continued migration of our culture away from feudal and monarchial styles of the past has had a deleterious effect on Christianity and the church. This migration has diminished and negatively affected our understanding of biblical discipleship.
Jesus demonstrated and taught that biblical discipleship involves acknowledging the Lordship of God and His delegates in our lives, obedience as a central operating principle and servanthood as a lifestyle. The modern American Christian church speaks all too often of discipleship as advanced Bible study. Christian discipleship has “actual duties” concerning obedience to God and His delegated authorities in our lives.
We may tolerate a boss at work, because we want a paycheck, but even there one seldom sees heartfelt submission. Paul tells us that we should submit to our bosses as unto the Lord. We are called to do our work with excellence as if Jesus was our employer.
Col 3:23-25 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality. NASB
The Bible tells us we must obey all governmental authority as if they were appointed by God, even if we do not agree with them. We can certainly disagree with them, but we may not revile them in the process. That does not sit well with our American sensitivities. When Paul wrote these words (below) the governing authorities were the corrupt Sanhedrin and the pagan, brutal Roman emperor. What we have today, as corrupt as it is, is certainly better that either of those.
Rom 13:1-7 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. 5 Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. NASB
Obviously, if one’s authority attempts to require sinful behavior, one must respectfully decline and be willing to take the consequences. This is called by theologians “the Conscience Clause.” Peter and John demonstrate this in action in Acts 4 and 5 when they decline to stop preaching in Jesus name. Notice that even their resistance is done submissively and with respect. But the biblical bias is toward obedience to authorities.
Acts 4:18-22 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard. ” 21 And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which they might punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. NASB
Acts 5:26-29 Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, lest they should be stoned). 27 And when they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “We must obey God rather than men. NASB
Obedience to parents is at an all-time low and honor for our parents has also diminished dramatically in our culture. As a rule, we have become a less submissive society at all levels and rebellion is often celebrated in our music, our movies and our mores in spite of clear biblical teaching.
Eph 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. NASB
We almost totally ignore biblical sexual mores even among Christians, and God forbid that anyone should tell us how to spend “our” money. So it is no wonder that obedience to our pastors and spiritual elders has all but gone by the wayside.
Heb 13:17 Obey your (spiritual) leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. NASB
Another key element of biblical discipleship that has all but disappeared from the teaching of the modern American church is sanctification. The Bible is replete with calls upon our lives to “stop sinning” and to become like Jesus in this lifetime. And yet this principle, central to the teachings of Jesus, John, Paul, James, John Wesley and others
is seldom if all taught or encouraged in the American church. Holiness is seen as an archaic doctrine embraced by laughable people. In fact, it is usually treated as impossible and no longer to be expected. After all, I am “only human.”
While it is true that we as humans cannot sanctify ourselves, it is the Gospel’s good news that the Holy Spirit can change us if we will seek Him and cooperate with Him. This is one of the daily “actual duties” of a disciple of Jesus. By the time of Jesus, the rabbis had dumbed down the Torah Laws in order to make them “doable.” Pharisees advertised that they could keep the Law. Common sinners who saw through such charades
just gave up trying and hoped God would grade on the curve.
Even in our day, people in churches often play at “let’s pretend” or “I’m Okay, You’re Okay.” The antinomianism of the first century has given away to the “cheap grace” of this era. (Antinomianism is the refusal to except traditional norms or standards. Example: today many consider the call to celibacy outside of marriage to be outdated and no longer required. Many active, “committed” unmarried Christians have told me, “No one is going to tell me who I can sleep with!”)
When Jesus arrived, He rebuffed the teaching of the rabbis and pushed the requirements of the Law back up to where God originally set them. Three easily seen examples of this are seen in His teaching on murder, adultery and divorce.
Matt 5:21-22 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool ,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. NASB
Matt 5:27-28″You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery ‘; 28 but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. NASB
Matt 5:31-32 “And it was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; 32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the cause of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. NASB
Jesus, Paul and Wesley all taught that while we could not sanctify ourselves, God will clean us up by His Holy Spirit if we seek him. Jesus said that He was going away in order to send us a helper, the Holy Spirit, who would convict us of our sin and teach us to become like Jesus.
Paul tells us in Romans 8:28-30 that God will work all things to produce goodness in us who love God and are called according to His purposes. Not only that, God will guarantee that we will be “conformed to the image of His Son,” Jesus, if we seek Him. Then God promises to relate to us as if we are already justified while the work of sanctification is in progress.
Wesley said it this way, “God does all the work of salvation if we will seek Him.” The doctrine of entire sanctification comes from Jesus, Paul and Wesley, and yet it is seldom taught any more, even in Wesleyan churches.
Biblical discipleship has “actual duties” concerning the process of sanctification. Modern American Christianity calls all too often for a faithless resignation and acceptance of sin as being inevitable until we get to Heaven. Major denominations are accepting sin as innate design issues. “I was born to be a homosexual, so I cannot change.” “I am a red-blooded American male, so I cannot help but lust after women.” “Man was just not wired to be monogamous, and anyone who tries is attempting the unnatural.” “It is genetic and, therefore excusable” is the new moral mantra. This is just a return to first century antinomianism. Biblical disciples of Jesus have “actual duties” to reject such thinking.
As a society, we have come to expect people to control their urges to murder, lie, steal and commit adultery. All of these things are thought to be innate as well. Children do not naturally share things or tell the truth. We have to teach them and we expect them to learn it. We penalize them at all levels of society, if they do not.
We expect adults to refrain from having sex with children even though there are scientists who assure us that some men are hard wired for pedophilia. We are all hard wired for anger, jealousy, envy, greed, lust and many other sinful urges that we, nonetheless, expect people to manage. Biblical disciples have “actual duties” to seek God for the spiritual power to overcome these things, not just to know the scripture and modern literature that discusses them.
Jesus spoke to these principles and many more when discussing the nature of true disciples. “Take up your cross…” “Lose your life in order to gain it…” These are calls upon us to “actual duties.”
Matt 16:24-27 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. 26 “For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? NASB
Too many of us think that once we get “saved,” we can just retire and wait until Heaven comes. One wonders if what Jesus would say to us would not be similar to what He said to His “retired” disciples in Gethsemane.
Matt 26:45 Then He came to the disciples, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? NASB
Jesus clearly tells us to go make disciples and teach them to “know their Bible and their denominational doctrine real well,” right? Actually, No! Jesus commands us that we teach disciples “to observe all that I commanded you.”
Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. ” NASB
Making disciples involves teaching them “actual duties.” Of course, before we can teach “actual duties,” we must be doing them ourselves. We must be learners under discipline also. We must model what we wish to teach a disciple if we expect them to follow. In fact, our disciples will learn what we actually do (for better or worse) versus what we say. I guess we all need more time in the prayer closet with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus tells us that true biblical disciples “abide in His word.” “Abiding” means living out and dwelling in the principles He taught us. It involves a lot more than simple knowledge of His principles. “Abiding,” “living out” and “dwelling in” are action words. Jesus goes on to say that abiding in Him involves keeping His commandments just like He (Jesus) kept the Father’s commandments.
John 8:31-33 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” NASB
John 15:7-11 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. 8 “By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. NASB
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” NASB
Biblical discipleship is more than a call to knowledge. James tells us that the demons in Hell have great knowledge of Jesus’ teaching, and it terrifies them, but it does not save them or make them disciples. Biblical discipleship is a call to action; i.e., to learning and performing “actual duties.”
James 2:19-20 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and (they) shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? NASB