1 Corinthians 11:1 (Biblical-Obedience Discipleship)
“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”
This is perhaps the best description of Biblical discipleship there is. Not teaching, but doing. We seek as best we can to obey the example of Christ as others look to us for their example.
Ultimately, we seek in discipleship to lead others to a recognition of who Christ is and what He wants from us in life. We want people to be able to walk on their own. However, along the way we need to realize that others will initially look to us to know what God wants from us. Therefore it is important to live life as God wants; living visibly before others. We need to be an open book.
The model commonly seen for discipleship in western culture is usually quite different. It is all about head knowledge. What can we learn? What does the Bible say? We think that discipleship is all about reading and lecturing and maybe even a few tests to prove that we can spit the knowledge back out when asked. Fill your head up. The more you know; the better person you are. Education is the answer to all problems.
Instead discipleship should be about obedience. We obey God and pass His commands and wishes on to others. Instead of weekly exercises in weekly doses of information—hopefully 60-90 minutes worth; we should shoot for one truth at a time. Received, absorbed and lived out. Once you obey one truth you are ready for the next. Instead of classrooms in church buildings—we should meet at tables in homes or wherever people really live. Don’t tell someone how to live a life pleasing to God, show them how to do it.
This is perhaps the best description of Biblical discipleship there is. Not teaching, but doing. We seek as best we can to obey the example of Christ as others look to us for their example.
Ultimately, we seek in discipleship to lead others to a recognition of who Christ is and what He wants from us in life. We want people to be able to walk on their own. However, along the way we need to realize that others will initially look to us to know what God wants from us. Therefore it is important to live life as God wants; living visibly before others. We need to be an open book.
The model commonly seen for discipleship in western culture is usually quite different. It is all about head knowledge. What can we learn? What does the Bible say? We think that discipleship is all about reading and lecturing and maybe even a few tests to prove that we can spit the knowledge back out when asked. Fill your head up. The more you know; the better person you are. Education is the answer to all problems.
Instead discipleship should be about obedience. We obey God and pass His commands and wishes on to others. Instead of weekly exercises in weekly doses of information—hopefully 60-90 minutes worth; we should shoot for one truth at a time. Received, absorbed and lived out. Once you obey one truth you are ready for the next. Instead of classrooms in church buildings—we should meet at tables in homes or wherever people really live. Don’t tell someone how to live a life pleasing to God, show them how to do it.
Good word, Jason!
ReplyDeleteKnow any Barozinskye's or barozinski's...family from Poland or Germany...came over in 1871.
ReplyDeleteWell here in Illinois I recommend Pbc.org People are missing the new covenant as Paul taught in 2Cor.2:14 to about chapter 6....awesome Characteristics of Authentic Christianity:unquenchable optimism,unvarying success,unforgettable impact,unimpeachable integrity and the undeniability of changed lives...the janitor