IN its broader sense,
discipleship has been described as the commitment of putting together, forming
and building up the lives of future generations, like Moses telling the
Israelites about “the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which the
Lord God commanded to teach (them) that (they) may do them, that (they) may
fear the God, to keep it all, including the future generations of God’s people
and that their days may be prolonged” (Dt 6:1F). This command stands true for us even today.
Discipleship also involves carrying on the
plan of God without a leadership gap, as in Joshua being designated next in
line, after Moses’ death, as the one who will lead the chosen people to the
promise land.
During Jesus’ time, it involves
training just a few people to reach all nations; He ordained twelve (Mk 3:13)
“that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.”
The commission was to “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).
Discipleship likewise involves
transfer of leadership when the time is right. This kind of leadership is
influence, the ability to achieve followers and people development. A great
leader or discipler is seen not because of his or her power, but because of his
or her ability to empower others. A discipler’s responsibility is developing
others to do the work, building people by taking them through steps of
leadership: He does it; he does it and his disciple is with him; then the
disciple does it and the discipler is with him and finally the disciple does it
and his discipler is in the background giving him the confidence for the
effort.
With all these, discipleship
still have its essentials—the basics or the requisites, while it has enemies,
those that challenge it. One of the first essential is UNION. It is blending or
joining together. As Jesus referred to in John 15:5-8: “I am the vine; you are
the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much
fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he
is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown
into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask
whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified,
that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
In verse 16 of the same chapter
Christ continued to say that He “have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain”.
Other translations say that Jesus
has appointed us and ordained the latter which means being “set forth.” The Tagalog translation of the scripture states: nguni't kayo'y hinirang (lifted up
or elevated) ko, at aking kayong inihalal (elected or designated).” Christ is
the person behind and the preserver of the ministry of the gospel, even to the
end of the world and we above all things need to help safeguard this with
prayer and brotherly love.
Jesus loved his disciples for he
chose and ordained them to be the prime instruments of his glory and honor in
the world. Though we make that holy calling our own choice, Christ's choice is
prior to ours and directs and determines it. The negative aspect of this union
is INDEPENDENCE, that’s when we act in self determination. There’s a danger
here when someone or we act in complete exemption from control of God and when
do not rely on Him. Though independence is excellent as to mind in
qualification of a judge, in this case, when he acts without bias or influence
from others, such word or good feature is inapplicable to our relation with
God.
The second essential is BALANCED
LIFE. Mark writes about the sower who threw seeds on the ground where some of
them fell among thorns; such as hear the word, “and the cares of this world,
and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in,
choke the word, and it became unfruitful. And these are they who are sown on
good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some
thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mk 4:18-20) Those that heard and
understood brought forth fruit: development or progress. “Many are affected
with the word for the present, who yet receive no abiding benefit by it. The
motions of soul they have, answerable to what they hear, are but a mere flash,
like the crackling of thorns under a pot,” says the Henry commentary.
The enemy of a balanced life is
social diseases, a malady that affects the community. Mark identified this,
from Jesus’ words, the cares of the world (v19) they that worry about the needs
of this life and are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of
other things. All other kinds of desires, that is. So the message of God gets
choked out, and they never produce anything. The deceitful ness of riches, one
who sees own possessions as more valuable than the word of God. The riches of
man which are the fruit of this worldly care, along with the pleasures of this
life and the lusts of other things-- the enjoyments one indulge and in turn
draws off so much of one's attention, absorbing so much of one's interest, and
using up so much of one's time. “Love not the world, neither the things that
are in the world. If any man loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
(1John 2:15F) Let us not be like Martha, who is so concerned and apprehensive,
and troubled about many things.
Next is MATURITY. Paul wrote the
Corinthians, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as
to carnal, even as to babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with
meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and
divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1Cor 3:1FF) He was saying as if: “My friends, you are
acting like the people of this world. That's why I could not speak to you as
spiritual people. You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ are
concerned.” Christians, as mature persons, should “speak wisdom among them that
are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, or of the princes of this world,
that come to naught.” The way in which this wisdom was communicated is
important. That which had never entered into the heart of man God had revealed
by His Spirit, so that they might know the things which are freely given of
God.
The enemy of maturity is
worldliness, described in the dictionary as a “predominant or biggest passion
for obtaining the good things of this life; covetousness; addictedness to gain
and temporal enjoyments.” Proverbs 21:17
says that “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth
wine and oil shall not be rich.” Titus wrote that in “denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world.” (Titus 2:17) James also said that “friendship of the world is enmity
with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of
God.” (James 4:4).
Sometimes, a disciple may be slow
to learn. Paul lamented in his letter to the Hebrews “of whom we have many
things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when
for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again
which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as
have need of milk, and not of strong meat (Heb 5:11-F).
The apostle meant for his readers
“to have time for learning, and yet make no proficiency, is an aggravation of
dullness; moreover, that men ought to be hearers, and make some good
proficiency in hearing, before they are fit to be teachers of others; also,
that persons are not only to hear for their own edification, but for the
instruction of others, though all hearers are not designed for public teachers;
for to be teachers of others, requires a considerable share of knowledge.” Be
prepared, therefore to seek your heart and do its so that you will be able to
teach God’s statutes and judgment to others (Ezra 7:10).
