Rediscovering Discipleship
My friend Terry has really captured an important point in the statement above. Have we missed something and thus ended up with a Gospel message that provides only guiderails for daily living and an insurance policy for the end of life? If this is the case, how did we miss the plan God had for us to enjoy the best possible life now and ensure the future viability of the church? Surely the life of a Jesus follower is more than hanging on until this life is over and then the real living starts in heaven. As I have reflected on Terry's statement, I have come to the conclusion that in the western church we have not done well helping people identify what it means to be in Christ and walking daily by the Spirit. I don't think this was intentional. We were well - meaning in our efforts to help people come into a relationship with Jesus and to live lives fully dedicated to him.
My personal story may help to illustrate what I have observed over many years of leadership in ministry. My Christian walk took a decided turn for the better during revival meetings in the early 1970's. In these meetings we were taught to confess our pride and humbly walk with God. Another emphasis in our church at that time was the call to engage in missions by either going or sending. In those early years of my faith journey, I also had the privilege of sitting under some amazing preachers who discipled me in ways that are too numerous to mention.
Later as I transitioned into full time ministry myself, I discovered that many of the young men and women studying at the college and seminary where I worked, were not interested in preaching as a vocation but rather preferred training for work in Christian Education or youth ministry.
In the 1980's the weekly prayer meeting was replaced by small groups meeting in homes. Then during the 1990's worship took center stage and churches emphasized worship bands and extended periods of congregational singing which resulted in less time for preaching, so sermons became shorter and at the same time adult bible classes also disappeared.
Gradually the main event for Christians has become the weekly worship service. For many adults this once weekly event may be the only involvement they have to express their faith. Of course, many may also connect with a ministry or person they appreciate via the internet.
I don't mean to come across as negative about the way church is being done today nor the process that got us here. After all I played a role in the transitions that got us to where we are today. Throughout the many changes in the way church is done I have continued to be blessed and my faith has deepened. Nevertheless, we now find ourselves in a place where evangelism and discipleship are not the main focus of most churches.
Maybe it is time for another change in direction. I don't think the current model is sustainable because it is not attracting very many of those who do not currently attend a church. Something needs to change for the church to thrive and grow and impact the generations to come.
A lot of church leaders know we have a problem that needs to be addressed. I hear a lot about the need for discipleship, but I don't hear a lot about how we will practically do discipleship in a way that also incorporates an evangelistic element.
The first step will be to train and mobilize the people sitting in the pews (or chairs) to engage in the community and get involved outside the church walls. It will take more than the encouragement to go and make disciples. They will need to be equipped with the tools necessary to do the job.