Good morning. For our Wednesday evening adult studies, we have been enjoying Dr. Tony Evan’s book and video series, “Kingdom Disciples”. From the start, Dr. Evans points out that one of the problems faced in the Christian church of today is a shortage of genuine disciples. He uses the analogy of college students who choose to audit a particular class. To audit a class means that you want to sit in on the lectures and perhaps be a part of the discussions, but you do not want to be graded. You are able to receive the information, but without the usual accountability or responsibilities. Attendance is always optional, and if it isn’t working out as you expected, you can always leave. He points out that this approach can easily be found within churches, people who attend when it suits them, contribute as they choose, participate only superficially, and keep their level of accountability as low as possible.
Problems arise when there is too large a percentage of those who are “auditing” in faith; things simply don’t get done.
Jesus’ great commission of Matthew 28:16-20 is this: Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Please note that the work of the church, the Body of Christ, begins by making disciples. From every tribe and nation, we are to make disciples. Bringing people to a place of commitment in Christ through baptism and teaching them to obey everything the Lord has commanded.
The word we translate as “disciple” is “mathetes”. A simple translation would be “dedicated learner”. What the word meant to the people of the first century was an individual who had committed themselves to a particular teacher. As a fully committed student it was their role to learn all they could learn and to do all that their teaching “master” instructed them to do. The level of enthusiasm for such a dedicated learner was tied to their excitement and interest in the words and works of the one they were following.
Being a “dedicated learner” was, by definition, a matter of commitment and obedience.
That is not to say that every disciple is at the same place at the same time. Far from it. Some are newer and less mature in their understanding and in their walk with their master. Some have been fully committed for a longer time, and they are seen as “mature” in their walk. Many are somewhere in between, but all are committed to growing and becoming greater in their knowledge, service, and function. Discipleship is a committed process, a journey.
Is Jesus a difficult master? No, He is a loving, caring, encouraging, helping friend to all who commit themselves to a full walk with Him. We read in Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you always.”
It is very early in the New Year. Perhaps we could take a moment of honest self-assessment as discern where we are in our walk with the Lord. Are disciples, committed to growth and service? Or are we auditing our faith, satisfied with lesser blessings?
Something to think about, and to bring to the Lord in prayer.
Vern