In order to be a follower of Jesus, or a follower of anyone for that matter, one must understand what is being asked of them. You cannot say you are following someone if you do not know what that person expects of you. If your mother says, “Do as I say,” which many mothers do, you may be extremely eager to do as she wishes, but you have no way of following her requests until she gives you some direction. In much the same way we cannot begin to follow Jesus, or be His disciple for that matter, until we understand what it is the He desires of us. Once we understand that we can begin to follow Him, and be confident we are doing a satisfactory job of being His disciple.
The word disciple - which comes from the Greek word mathetes (meaning learner or pupil) – often gets thrown around in church circles like a frisbee at a picnic, but do we understand what it really means? We assume that it means a person who follows Jesus, but we only assume that because that is what we have been told by people much like us; people who heard the word somewhere along the way and decided to use it because it sounded spiritual. Moreover, follow is a very relative term since it could mean a high level of commitment to something or someone, and it also could imply that we follow Jesus the same way we follow the local news, picking up tidbits here and there, and whenever we go to the hair salon.
In order to understand what the word disciple means – in the context of following Jesus – we must understand what the apostles did. The apostles of Christ are the best example we have of what it means to follow our savior in a fashion that both pleases and honors Him.
So what are the requirements of true discipleship?
In Matthew 16:24 Jesus says to His disciples, “If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” This is perhaps the most challenging of all the calls of true discipleship. Jesus is not asking us to simply add Him to our list of commitments that we already have, after all that wouldn’t be so hard to do, we add new commitments almost everyday without a second thought. He is not even asking that we put Him at the top of the list, which is definitely more challenging, but still not terrifying. No, He is asking us to remove all of our other commitments and leave following Him as our sole obligation and purpose in life. When Jesus says deny He means everything. And we know He is serious about that because in Luke 14:26 He says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brother and sisters – yes even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.” The ironic thing is that perhaps the easiest piece of this statement to swallow is the hate your own life part. Many of us can relate to hating our own life, since we have found no satisfaction in what the world has to offer - and paradoxically - what we have to offer it. But hating one’s own family is something completely different. Why would Christ ask us to adhere to a request that has such damaging ramifications, and so obviously goes against everything we know to be true and good?
It all comes down to understanding what discipleship truly signifies. If we love Christ the way that we should it will be as if we hate everything else that is in the world, because all of its value will pale in comparison with that which we attach to the Son of God. When we compare the way that we love others, even our next of kin, to the way that we love and adore Jesus, it will be as if we are neglecting them, and leaving them without and ounce of care. Once we have loved Christ this much we will understand what it means to be a true disciple.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Two Pastors, Two Answers
Discipleship is something of an enigma. On the one had we all know what it means to be a disciple, on the other hand, we really have no idea. I cannot count the number of times that as a paid member of a church staff I have asked myself the question, “Is what I am doing consistent with the Biblical model of discipleship?” Maybe I am just ignorant, or shallow, but my guess is that I am not the only one in the world who has asked him or herself this question.
The first pastor that I asked the question, “What does discipleship mean?” Was the pastor at my home church. He looked at me squarely and said, “Discipleship means duplicating oneself.” I thought about that for a second and it scared me. Do I want to duplicate myself? My first thought was, absolutely not! I walked away from his office wondering what the world would be like with more me’s in it. I saw a place that was full of guys with curly hair and big ears that was very loud because everyone was trying to be the first one to make a wisecrack about something. I did not like what I saw, it scared me, and confirmed my initial reaction. Then I thought about it some more and realized that in a place where everyone was like me nothing could go wrong because everyone would have the right opinion about everything. At least that was my opinion. If discipleship is about duplication, it is not about duplicating me. That is the conclusion that I came to after considering the consequences of a world packed with people that are only willing to pay for a burger when they can get another one for free - not good for a struggling economy - and have a habit of leaving their car on empty whenever someone else is going to be driving it - not good for making friends. This would be a less than perfect place for one to make their home, to say the least.
The second pastor that I talked with is a youth pastor and he defined discipleship as, “the process of raising spiritually mature believers.” And like any good youth pastor he came up with that definition off the top of his head – in my experience youth pastors either learn how to think fast or drown slowly. I must say, the word raising did not sound as scary as the word duplicating. Where duplicating seemed quick and uncontrolled, raising seemed steady and structured. If you’re duplicating something you don’t have much time to make sure you get it right, but when you’re raising something you have the benefit of time and correction to make sure that the product develops the way you intend it to, and ultimately looks like what you expect it to. Duplication is one big trial and error. Raising is a process of smaller trials and errors where the risk of failure is spread out over time. Of course maybe I am totally wrong about all of this, and I am completely willing to accept that.
The heart of the issue really is not what my definition of a word is, or for that matter what anyone else’s definition of a word is. The heart of the issue is what does it mean to disciple? This is probably the part when you expect me to tell you, and I don’t blame you for having that expectation, that is how our minds have been trained to work. But I am not going to say what it means to disciple someone; not because I don’t have an opinion, simply because in the grand scheme of things my opinion means squat. The only opinion that holds an ounce of weight comes from a man who died on a tree thousands of years ago, and then rose from the dead and proceeded to take his place at the right hand of his father, and in the hearts of all men who would allow him to enter - please excuse my run-on sentence. And what did he say? Was it something controversial, something charismatic, something mysterious, something esoteric, something brave? I guess that all depends on how you interpret the words, “Come follow me!”
The first pastor that I asked the question, “What does discipleship mean?” Was the pastor at my home church. He looked at me squarely and said, “Discipleship means duplicating oneself.” I thought about that for a second and it scared me. Do I want to duplicate myself? My first thought was, absolutely not! I walked away from his office wondering what the world would be like with more me’s in it. I saw a place that was full of guys with curly hair and big ears that was very loud because everyone was trying to be the first one to make a wisecrack about something. I did not like what I saw, it scared me, and confirmed my initial reaction. Then I thought about it some more and realized that in a place where everyone was like me nothing could go wrong because everyone would have the right opinion about everything. At least that was my opinion. If discipleship is about duplication, it is not about duplicating me. That is the conclusion that I came to after considering the consequences of a world packed with people that are only willing to pay for a burger when they can get another one for free - not good for a struggling economy - and have a habit of leaving their car on empty whenever someone else is going to be driving it - not good for making friends. This would be a less than perfect place for one to make their home, to say the least.
The second pastor that I talked with is a youth pastor and he defined discipleship as, “the process of raising spiritually mature believers.” And like any good youth pastor he came up with that definition off the top of his head – in my experience youth pastors either learn how to think fast or drown slowly. I must say, the word raising did not sound as scary as the word duplicating. Where duplicating seemed quick and uncontrolled, raising seemed steady and structured. If you’re duplicating something you don’t have much time to make sure you get it right, but when you’re raising something you have the benefit of time and correction to make sure that the product develops the way you intend it to, and ultimately looks like what you expect it to. Duplication is one big trial and error. Raising is a process of smaller trials and errors where the risk of failure is spread out over time. Of course maybe I am totally wrong about all of this, and I am completely willing to accept that.
The heart of the issue really is not what my definition of a word is, or for that matter what anyone else’s definition of a word is. The heart of the issue is what does it mean to disciple? This is probably the part when you expect me to tell you, and I don’t blame you for having that expectation, that is how our minds have been trained to work. But I am not going to say what it means to disciple someone; not because I don’t have an opinion, simply because in the grand scheme of things my opinion means squat. The only opinion that holds an ounce of weight comes from a man who died on a tree thousands of years ago, and then rose from the dead and proceeded to take his place at the right hand of his father, and in the hearts of all men who would allow him to enter - please excuse my run-on sentence. And what did he say? Was it something controversial, something charismatic, something mysterious, something esoteric, something brave? I guess that all depends on how you interpret the words, “Come follow me!”
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Bigger and Better
I have a confession to make. I really want an iphone. Everyone I know has one. Okay, I know that is an exaggeration, but that is what it seems like. The other day I sat across the table from a friend who had an iphone, and even though he was talking to me all I could do was stare at it as if I were Gollum, and it were the ring from Lord of the Rings. If I would have said “My precious,” in a high and broken voice it sadly would not have been far from the truth.
I have another confession to make. This is not the first time I have looked at something someone else had and immediately wondered what it might be like to have my own paws wrapped around it. I guess you could say that when it comes to envy I am a habitual offender to the nth degree. I am still not sure what the nth degree is, but it sounds serious.
The good thing, now that you are completely aware of one of my greatest struggles, is that I have come to recognize this fact about myself and it has caused me to take a closer look at the sin of envy, and come to grips with why it is such a tough one for me to overcome.
Socrates once said, “Envy is the ulcer of the soul.” If I added up every time I have seen something that is bigger and/or better and wished it were mine, that analogy becomes pretty scary in a hurry. I guess you could say I am in need of the spiritual equivalent to Pepcid AC for my envy. Unfortunately, treating envy is much more difficult than treating an ulcer, not to say that treating an ulcer is simple, but because spiritual problems usually require much more attention than physical ones. There have been different physical issues I have battled throughout my life, fortunately none of them too serious, but I can honestly say that not one has compared with the magnitude of many of the spiritual battles that have gone on in my soul, and in my mind - not the least of which is envy.
When Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 that our fight is “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” we usually conjure up images of angels and demons locked in the heat of battle trying to over power each other with their supernatural abilities, and that may be what Paul is talking about. But couldn’t he also be referring to the war that is taking place in our soul. The mounting battle between the “powers of this dark world” - that want us to give into our deepest sinful desires - and God’s love, which calls us to obey Him, and flee from the devil.
Envy is a battleground in the heart of all people, and God knows it. That is why He said to the Israelites in the Old Testament, “Do not look longingly at your neighbor’s house, and do not consider what it might be like if you were married to his wife, and don’t even think about sitting behind the wheel of his car.” Okay, maybe it doesn’t say car, but I think we can safely assume a car is the modern day equivalent of a donkey.
As I have had time to consider the sin of envy, I have come to realize why it is such a dangerous sin. Like many others it involves a slippery slope. Envy does not turn anyone immediately into a licentious reprobate. If it did that we would probably be much more leery of it. The problem with envy is that it’s a creeper (that is how one of my friends describes her spicy chili that isn’t hot at first). Over time it separates us from God by shifting our focus onto whatever is bigger and/or better and causing God to appear smaller and less appealing. It is not that things like the iphone are inherently wrong. It is that those of us who look upon it with envy are.
I have another confession to make. This is not the first time I have looked at something someone else had and immediately wondered what it might be like to have my own paws wrapped around it. I guess you could say that when it comes to envy I am a habitual offender to the nth degree. I am still not sure what the nth degree is, but it sounds serious.
The good thing, now that you are completely aware of one of my greatest struggles, is that I have come to recognize this fact about myself and it has caused me to take a closer look at the sin of envy, and come to grips with why it is such a tough one for me to overcome.
Socrates once said, “Envy is the ulcer of the soul.” If I added up every time I have seen something that is bigger and/or better and wished it were mine, that analogy becomes pretty scary in a hurry. I guess you could say I am in need of the spiritual equivalent to Pepcid AC for my envy. Unfortunately, treating envy is much more difficult than treating an ulcer, not to say that treating an ulcer is simple, but because spiritual problems usually require much more attention than physical ones. There have been different physical issues I have battled throughout my life, fortunately none of them too serious, but I can honestly say that not one has compared with the magnitude of many of the spiritual battles that have gone on in my soul, and in my mind - not the least of which is envy.
When Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 that our fight is “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” we usually conjure up images of angels and demons locked in the heat of battle trying to over power each other with their supernatural abilities, and that may be what Paul is talking about. But couldn’t he also be referring to the war that is taking place in our soul. The mounting battle between the “powers of this dark world” - that want us to give into our deepest sinful desires - and God’s love, which calls us to obey Him, and flee from the devil.
Envy is a battleground in the heart of all people, and God knows it. That is why He said to the Israelites in the Old Testament, “Do not look longingly at your neighbor’s house, and do not consider what it might be like if you were married to his wife, and don’t even think about sitting behind the wheel of his car.” Okay, maybe it doesn’t say car, but I think we can safely assume a car is the modern day equivalent of a donkey.
As I have had time to consider the sin of envy, I have come to realize why it is such a dangerous sin. Like many others it involves a slippery slope. Envy does not turn anyone immediately into a licentious reprobate. If it did that we would probably be much more leery of it. The problem with envy is that it’s a creeper (that is how one of my friends describes her spicy chili that isn’t hot at first). Over time it separates us from God by shifting our focus onto whatever is bigger and/or better and causing God to appear smaller and less appealing. It is not that things like the iphone are inherently wrong. It is that those of us who look upon it with envy are.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Silence is Golden, and Gold is Tempting
There was once a president of a university who said to his pupils, “I invite you to take a little card and put it on your mirror or display it in some prominent place where it can serve as a daily reminder. I suggest that you inscribe on that card the phrase, “Truth is outraged by silence.”
When I first heard this quote two thoughts came into my mind. The first was, Can silence actually be a sinful temptation, and the second was, Have I ever been responsible for enraging truth with my silence?
When we think of temptations silence is not usually the first one that comes to mind. We think of characteristics like lust, selfishness, hatred, jealousy, but we do not usually add silence to the list. Silence seems like something that is passive, and at times even praise-worthy. After all, the wisest man whoever lived said, “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” So why should silence be considered a temptation, or something negative that the devil uses to battle the forces of light in this world?
Sir Frances Bacon, the 16th century statesman and philosopher once said, “Silence is the virtue of fools.” Bacon, though perhaps not the best example of Christian character, may have been onto something when he said this. Silence is often seen as a positive trait because it shows discernment and wisdom, but as Bacon alludes to, it can also be used as an alternative to sharing the truth about something. Silence in the midst of wrongdoing is only an affirmation of what is taking place. Should someone choose to remain silent while another person is perpetrating evil, are they as much of an accomplice as one who participates in the actual sin itself? One of the most obvious biblical examples of this type of scenario is the story of Pilate the governor. When the crowds called for Barabbas - the guilty man - to be released instead of Jesus, Pilate responded by washing his hands in front of the crowd and saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood...It is your responsibility!” How many times in our life have we been a part of a situation, where we did not agree with the verdict, but in an attempt to protect ourselves from scrutiny and even attack, we go along with it? This is exactly what Pilate did. The last thing he wanted to worry about was having a revolt on his hands by the Jewish people in his region, and he was determined to do whatever it took to keep this from happening, even if it meant going against what his conscience was telling him. So in short, yes, silence or acquiescence, can be a sinful temptation in the right, or should I say wrong, circumstance.
My second question, have I ever been responsible for enraging the truth with my silence is much easier to respond to, painful, but easy. I recall vividly a time in high school when one of my classmates stood up for his Christian beliefs, in the midst of a hostile environment, and I did nothing to support him as he was accused of being religious and a prude. But the fact is, I did not want the people in my class turning on me and saying the same types of things. What is obvious is that in my reluctance to stand up for the truth I was giving into the same temptation that Pilate fell for - the temptation to choose convenience over responsibility, and all at the expense of truth.
Jesus said, “ I am the way and the truth and the life.” Anything done at the expense of truth is done at the expense of Christ’s likeness. Jesus not only stands for truth, but He is truth, and his proclamation was not meant to be esoteric or hyperbole, it was meant to share with the world the nature of its savior. Whenever we are tempted to use silence in a situation that calls for the truth, we should recognize our obligation not only to the truth, but to our Lord who is truth. We represent him.
When I first heard this quote two thoughts came into my mind. The first was, Can silence actually be a sinful temptation, and the second was, Have I ever been responsible for enraging truth with my silence?
When we think of temptations silence is not usually the first one that comes to mind. We think of characteristics like lust, selfishness, hatred, jealousy, but we do not usually add silence to the list. Silence seems like something that is passive, and at times even praise-worthy. After all, the wisest man whoever lived said, “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” So why should silence be considered a temptation, or something negative that the devil uses to battle the forces of light in this world?
Sir Frances Bacon, the 16th century statesman and philosopher once said, “Silence is the virtue of fools.” Bacon, though perhaps not the best example of Christian character, may have been onto something when he said this. Silence is often seen as a positive trait because it shows discernment and wisdom, but as Bacon alludes to, it can also be used as an alternative to sharing the truth about something. Silence in the midst of wrongdoing is only an affirmation of what is taking place. Should someone choose to remain silent while another person is perpetrating evil, are they as much of an accomplice as one who participates in the actual sin itself? One of the most obvious biblical examples of this type of scenario is the story of Pilate the governor. When the crowds called for Barabbas - the guilty man - to be released instead of Jesus, Pilate responded by washing his hands in front of the crowd and saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood...It is your responsibility!” How many times in our life have we been a part of a situation, where we did not agree with the verdict, but in an attempt to protect ourselves from scrutiny and even attack, we go along with it? This is exactly what Pilate did. The last thing he wanted to worry about was having a revolt on his hands by the Jewish people in his region, and he was determined to do whatever it took to keep this from happening, even if it meant going against what his conscience was telling him. So in short, yes, silence or acquiescence, can be a sinful temptation in the right, or should I say wrong, circumstance.
My second question, have I ever been responsible for enraging the truth with my silence is much easier to respond to, painful, but easy. I recall vividly a time in high school when one of my classmates stood up for his Christian beliefs, in the midst of a hostile environment, and I did nothing to support him as he was accused of being religious and a prude. But the fact is, I did not want the people in my class turning on me and saying the same types of things. What is obvious is that in my reluctance to stand up for the truth I was giving into the same temptation that Pilate fell for - the temptation to choose convenience over responsibility, and all at the expense of truth.
Jesus said, “ I am the way and the truth and the life.” Anything done at the expense of truth is done at the expense of Christ’s likeness. Jesus not only stands for truth, but He is truth, and his proclamation was not meant to be esoteric or hyperbole, it was meant to share with the world the nature of its savior. Whenever we are tempted to use silence in a situation that calls for the truth, we should recognize our obligation not only to the truth, but to our Lord who is truth. We represent him.
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