Discipleship - a patient acquisition of virtue
SubscribeBeen thinking a lot lately about what discipleship should look like within the context of a local church. How exactly does a church help facilitate the spiritual growth of people, without unwittingly creating a culture of consumerism in which people expect to receive but are never challenged to contribute? Well, we're working on some answers, but I wanted to share a quote from a book I am re-reading by Eugene Peterson entitled A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. He says:
"It is not difficult in such a world to get a person interested in the message of the gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful attrition rate. Many claim to have been born again, but the evidence for mature Christian discipleship is slim. In our kind of culture anything, even news about God, can be sold if it is packaged freshly; but when it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap. There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness." [ p.16]
What a statement. As we struggle and strain at CrossPointe to wisely craft a culture of discipleship, pray that God would give us the gift of a sustained enthusiasm for "patient acquisition of virtue."
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Paul Fincher on Mar 24, 2009 7:25pm
Great post... Peterson is right though, in my own life, discipleship has not been very popular (or tremendously efficient) because it's a life long process that doesn't always yield instant results. Too often I'm a microwave kinda guy, if i don't see instant success, it must not be working. Even more, it actually COSTS something from us. I'm really glad that we as a tribe have decided to shoulder this task of actually 'making disciples'.
Kristian Ogden on Mar 25, 2009 2:09pm
Thanks Brad, good post. I am really missing all you guys. Maybe this Sunday I can make an appearance.
Anyways, like Paul, the microwave concept instantly came to my mind as I read Peterson's words. Unfortunately, church culture has taught us (including myself) that we have the ability within ourselves to become better Christians and that the process is a bunch of "doing" and "not doing." We try to come up with moral and spiritual equations that equal holiness, but the only thing that equals holiness is God and we tend to leave him totally out. Over the last year or so, I have realized that holiness comes with a price and that price is myself. I have to deny myself and allow God to consume my every thought, my every action, everything. Kristian should be disappearing and Christ should become more and more evident. I think discipleship more than anything is a lot of community and accountability. Of course the same church culture has painted the picture of discipleship to look like Sunday School or Bible College. I think when most Christians hear the word discipleship, they kind of groan a little subconsciously because they start thinking of the "doing"/"not doing" equation. I am so blessed to be apart of a group of believers that doesn't just want to go with the flow of trend and tradition but seeks after the true heart of God for his Church.
Thanks again Brad. :-)
MARK JONES on Apr 25, 2009 4:22pm
Yeah I agree with the author. I think that's why you always have to harp on response. We need that reminder and motivation.