Spiritual Discipleship - Introduction

Spiritual Discipleship - Introduction
The initial call of Christ to the men with whom He planned to associate in His purpose of world evangelization was a call to discipleship.

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." - Mark 1:16-17

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. - Matthew 28:19-20

It is not without significance that the word disciple occurs in the New Testament 269 times, Christian only 3 times and believers 2 times. This surely indicates that the task of the church is not so much to makr "Christians" or "believers" but "disciples." Adisciple must, of course be a believer; but according to Christ's conditions of discipleship (Luke 14:25-33), not all believers are disciples of the New Testament stamp.

The word disciplemeans "a learner," but Jesus infused into that simple word a wealth of profound meaning. As used by Him and by Paul, it means "a learner or pupil who accepts the teaching of Christ, not only in belief but also in lifestyle." This involves acceptance of the views and practice of the Teacher. In other words, it means learning with the purpose to obey what is learned. It involves a deliberate choice, a definite denial, and a determined obedience.

Today one may be regarded as a Christian even if there are few, if any, signs of progress in discipleship. IT was not so in the early church. Then discipleship involved the kind of commitment Peter spoke about when he protested to the Lord, "We have left everything to follow you!" (Mark 10:28)

The temper of our times is for instant gratification and shor-term commmitment- quick answers to prayer and quick results with a minimum of effort and discomfort. But there is no such thing as easy and instant discipleship. One can commence a walk of discipleship in a moment, but the first step must lengthen into a life-long walk. There is no such thing as short-term discipleship.

To some who have been nurtured on the "easy believism" doctrine, the radical demands of Christ may seem excessive and unreasonable. The result is that after they have traveled a short distance, and the path grows more steep and rugged, they are like the disciples mentioned in John 6:66: "From that time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." He is looking for men and women of quality for whom there is no turning back.


I thought the introduction of the book I'm currently reading touched on some pertinent factors resulting in the lack of power christians have today! Many profess to be christians or even believers of the word of God. However, how many are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will put what they have learnt and believe into practise. As James rightly mentioned, what is faith without works? Faith is dead without works. I look around me and I see christians, no, I see people who profess the faith. I fail to see people who are different, or "perculiar" from the rest of the world. I hear of easy believism practised, people who seek gain from the Lord, as though our Holy God was a genie. I see how exam-christians fill our classrooms. I find it hard to believe christians spouting vulgarities and listening to rock or pop music. Aparently, our society is filled with professing christians. But how many, how many out of the big number of christians we see around us, are followers and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ? Who is willing to be different from the world and take a firm stand for Christ? Who is willing to give up our bad habits or fleshly desires to give glory to God? Who will choose to be praying and reading God's word rather then to do the things we enjoy to do?

It is true, unless we become disciples and followers of the Lord, we shall fall away like many who have did. Further down in the book, the author showed how Jesus was not afraid to deter or make known to those following Him the true meaning of discipleship. Jesus taught of how the builders had to count the cost before building and how the commander of an army has to see if he has enough soldiers to fight the thousands his enemies bring. He was not afraid to tell the truth that being a follower of Christ is tough! While we go forth to preach the gospel of the Cross, while we explain the simplicity and free love, grace and salvation of our Savior, we should not hide the meaning of disicpleship from people. We were told to make disciples, not believers nor christians. I believe that despite it being tough, being a follower of the One true God, and Savior of our souls proves to be worth it all!