What is Discipleship?
What is Discipleship? I have asked myself this question frequently for a few decades. I may be a little late for the party, but I am trying to do something about this now. Let me ask you a question … Do you remember the last words spoken to you by someone you loved? I had a grandfather until I was 31 years old who shaped much of my worldview from an early age. My Poppa was a great man with flaws like any other man but a work ethic and helpful spirit that enabled and inspired me to do many things. Pop was committed to his family and worked to provide as much happiness and security as he could for most of his life. I loved that man. I still love that man and each day; I think about him and do the things he taught me. I will never forget his last words to me, which were spoken over the phone late at night during a catastrophic hurricane while I was deployed. He simply said, “Promise me, no matter what happens to me, you will continue to do what you’re doing with your life. You're doing what you're supposed to do, and I want you to continue. I love you and I’m proud of you.” Within a few hours of that phone call, he was gone. Those words, his last words, have never left me.
What does that have to do with discipleship? Well, consider the following: Jesus, in His final words to the disciples, recorded in Matthew 28:19 - 20, said 19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” And… that is exactly what they did! They listened to him! Their Lord’s final words were taken very seriously, and they were not forgotten! This resulted in the church becoming the church, and the teachings of Jesus went worldwide with a lasting impact to this present day! Here's my point: Discipleship should be synonymous with being a Christian, but it is not. The word disciple is used 261 times in the New Testament. The word “Christian” is only used three times (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). Jesus’ final words, His final command as He ascended to the Father is exactly what the disciples and the early church did. Clearly, we have missed something in the modern church.
Ipsos Research conducted a study in 2022 in which they found, 76% of Americans affirm that Jesus was a historical figure. Even 50% of the unchurched agree. However, when the unchurched were asked to select words they associate with Christians they chose hypocritical (55%), judgmental (54%), and self-righteous (50%) (Jesus in America Study, Ipsos Research, 2022). No one said, “disciple”.
As I surveyed, the modern church landscape, I can see the term Christian is a somewhat fashionable label in our society these days. Look around your community and you will find a church on nearly every block and in every strip mall. We have numerous Christian things to do and places to go. We have Christian dating sites, Christian genres of music and art, Christian counseling, Christian celebrities, Christian schools, Christian clothing lines, and Christian entertainment companies. Jesus is our friend, our neighbor, our “homeboy”. Jesus is our fashion statement and bumper sticker while serving us as a convenient helper and friend in our times of need. Church people know Christian music and the artist's background stories better than the Bible and the testimony of Christ. Yet, despite all of the Christian stuff we have at our fingertips, our nation, our cities, our churches, and our families are in worse shape now than ever.
In my own life, the lack of discipleship as Jesus commanded has certainly been obvious. I have not been a disciple or made disciples very often throughout my Christian journey. Yes, I have gone to church, and I have been a part of “ministries” and I even considered a career as a professional minister at one point in my life. But I know me better than anyone… and I knew that was the wrong path unless I was fully committed, and I was not. Recently, I decided to try and change that about myself. Through biblical education, real discipleship-based studies, and long hours of research at a scholarly level, I am learning things I never considered. It is coming at a cost, but it is worth it. I have learned a lot, and I will share it throughout this blog and other offerings. Maybe you will identify with me and want to come along? Maybe not.
