Dissing Discipleship

A contemporary “weigh in” on an ancient value.

First, knowing so many ministry-types serve Jesus' goals, I don't want to seem unduly critical of any in addressing a concern. If you're a dedicated servant-leader, I'm on your side! But I want to bluntly talk about the lessened "weight" being given today to Jesus' strategy for advancing His church. He said, "Go—make disciples!"—and this foundational call is increasingly being "dissed."

"Dissing"—the pop word for disrespect—is becoming normalized regarding discipleship. I don't think it's calculated, but it's occurring as "doing church" supplants "becoming the church." A dimming focus on plain, New Testament discipling is bringing us to the brink of evolving dumbed-down saints, a deceivable elect and a crippled Body emptied of ministry strength and unready to face persecution.

Without discipleship, we are at risk of garnering believers in Jesus while not growing stable, committed, empowered agents of Christ. Jesus spoke of people who "for joy" lay claim to faith, but who do not endure. They wither when trials or pressure comes (see Mark 4:5, 17)—and Christians are facing an increase of both in our world.

As leaders, we would well be warned of our common vulnerability to being distracted by the abundance of "enhancements" available to ministry today. "Make up" isn't evil, but it's no substitute for leading believers to "take up" the disciple's cross and be shaped as His true followers. We're within frightening reach of being able to grow bigger churches while failing to grow bigger people.

We are increasingly tooled and trained in technology and management techniques, better resourced with music and media effects, and better housed and staged for added consumer appeal. While not attacking these outsourced resources, I'm asking about our outcomes. Amid our heavyweight enterprises at refining style, we are growing weak in substance. In our version of the bride "trimming to be pretty," are we ending with lightweight believers?

Here are some oft-accepted habits that hint at our weakness. I'm damning none of them, but I'm asking, "What do they weigh?"

Special music and skills may assist our worshipping God, and real discipling indeed requires encountering Him. But if my guitarist is being given an 8-bar lick between verses, does the applause generated create an event rather than an encounter with God?

A 7-minute drama, carefully, cleverly prepared to reinforce the message of God's word can be heart-searching and hilarious. But if our skits become more for fun than for focus, are we simply "rolling in commercials" for an end product that isn't—or was never—in Jesus' mind?

Today's pastor-teacher lives in a world requiring more than a "speaker." It looks for "communicators." Has that mandate turned our focus away from our discipling task to our delivery style? In preaching, might I gain smiles with my cleverness while losing my grip on my sword, satisfying "itching ears" (2 Tim. 4:3) while watering down "the apostle's doctrine" (Acts 2:42)?

What about my "charismatic" potential for breeding some people whose preoccupation with "prophetic words from the Lord" have drawn them away from a hunger to be fed the word of God? My "prophesying" may attract a following, but in the end, will they follow Jesus?

Let's focus on the real and lasting. This demanding hour calls for disciplers—leaders who won't be "diss-tanced" from the call.

Jack Hayford is the founder of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, Calif., chancellor of The King's College and Seminary and the president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.

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Comments

+1 #4 Sojourner Truth 2009-11-17 11:08 I came into the church as a young person, and was lovingly discipled for a long time—as long as I needed this type of care. Later, I felt free to ask for help when I needed it. For this am most grateful. I do see a certain "neglect" of new members/converts today, compared to the wise care I received. My husband and I care for a small group with the approval of our pastor, but he feels it is unneccessary, believing that once people are Spirit-filled, the Holy Spirit will lead and guide them into all truth—without further assistance from the church. He believes in putting them "to work" immediately, and we have seen sad consequences. Quote

+1 #3 JeffG 2009-09-18 14:07 Thank you Pastor Jack, you always provide such a refreshing perspective. I'm a lay leader in a mega church and have had only a few casual mentors. I've never really been discipled, but I'm always on the look out for a good mature person to take me under their wing. I'm now at the point in ministry where I find myself casually disciplining, but I am at a loss to how since I don't have much of a role model.

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0 #2 G 2009-08-20 09:54 What a wonderful, refreshing word! Thank you! Quote

0 #1 Brent Bullock 2009-02-28 11:58 Great article. It's a bit mild from my perspective. The Great Commision is the core purpose of the church, and while new believers are coming forward, the depth of discipleship in the church is increasingly lowered. Discipleship should be our prime focus, the foundational elements of loving Jesus are needed to make those seeds take root in good fertile soil, and grow up to produce more fruit. I recommend First Steps discipleship resources from www.disciplinganother.com

God Save the U.S.A. Quote

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