Discipleship #PastorsBlog Stardate 68273.5

So at this present time at CityHill we are grappling with ‘discipleship’. I know we are not alone, this is a question being raised publicly and in secret by many Pastors.

From the pulpit there is always a program or an ideology a church has regarding its approach or strategy to discipleship. In secret, I have found no one, who is confident in owning discipleship. If I did find any one who was confident of owning it, I would be wary of them.

Often I hear people say just do what is in the New Testament, many church goers/members put forward this helpful suggestion. If we were for a moment to take that stance what would it even look like? Do you want me to walk up to you in your work environment and family business and ask you to leave it, no not when your notice period ends and they have a replacement, right now!

Do you really want to live with me? follow me around and pretty much have to go with what ever I say as written. That wasn’t exclusive to Jesus, that was part and parcel with discipleship in their context. Hence often you would hear Jesus say things like, ‘you have heard it said, but I say to you…’ as he addresses a popular known main stream teaching which he is about to leave decimated at the way side.

Try doing that in todays context when we are experiencing the challenges of discipling a generation that is hyper connected. If you have a faithful Christian in a western context who is fervent for the Lord, try discipling them into the vision of your local church, while every thing you say is challenged next to the teaching of a well known Christian leader the other side of the planet who has a large following but no accountability for that individual and their context.

People see discipleship as learning a skill set and growing in ministry, discipleship is holistic and involves repeatedly being disagreed with you until you embrace the world view, life style, teachings and actions of the Rabbi/teacher.

Are you sure you want to be discipled? If you still do, will you let your Pastor disciple you?

Those are two huge questions, which when answered can open up the ability for church to grow and move forward into new avenues of blessing. But while we avoid the elephant in the room and fail to ask this deep question of ourselves, we are just kidding, liking an ideology of discipleship we have no intention of actually following.