“And the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. Those by the roadside are the ones who hear; then the Devil comes and takes the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy. And these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And those which fell among thorns are the ones who, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of life, and do not bear to maturity. But those on the good ground are the ones who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.”
Luke 8:11-15
I believe that few Christians today truly understand “Discipleship” including myself.
My goal was to study biblical discipleship and define some of the reasons for our lack of knowledge and understanding concerning its meaning and then seek out the solution.
I will first examine modern pitfalls to following Christ, and then the biblical pattern for discipleship.
MODERN PITFALLS TO DISCIPLESHIP
The road to discipleship is lined with hazards and the better we understand these pitfalls the more likely we will be able to navigate safely around them.
Admiration: The first pitfall or even a roadblock to true discipleship is the nearly unanimous respect with which we speak of Jesus. Even when we proclaim the death of God, we also celebrate the life of Christ.
This admiration is not an advantage because in an environment of universal celebration, there is no longer anything distinctive or risky in praising Him. Admiration diminishes His original mission and shields us from the painful necessities of obedience to His demands. We substitute the admiration for obedience. We give Him praise instead of surrender.
Distaste for Authority: The second major barrier or pitfall to modern discipleship is the anti-authority stance of our times. The idea of obeying authorities today causes many to assume that our freedoms are being taken away.
Rather than submitting to others, many people today look to self as the highest authority. The catchphrases of today are self-knowledge, self-esteem, and self-actualization. The philosophy is self-assertion, and the goal is self-determination. I believe that the generation of today has become intolerant of old-fashioned virtues such as discipline and self-denial.
Next week we’ll take a look at “Cultural Change” and “Imperfect Models”.