Traveling throughout Israel I talked with Dr. David Hansen, Dr. Jim Martin, and Dr. Wave Nunnally about discipleship, which came from the Pharisaic movement (roughly 250 BC): the Rabbi and his disciples. A person wishing to be a disciple of a rabbi would approach and ask the rabbi if he could follow him. The Rabbi then would either say yes or no, he might say he is not ready or should follow another Rabbi. The definition of disciple in this context is one who is submitted to the authority of the Rabbi. For example, because the Bible might not talk about whether rescuing a sheep from a pit is breaking the Sabbath or not, one would ask their Rabbi and whatever they said, the disciple would be "bound" to. There is a difference between a disciple of a Rabbi and one who just needs a question about law answered. However, if either ask for a rabbi's advice they are bound to what that rabbi tells them to do. And one cannot ask for the opinion of two Rabbis, that is considered wrong. This aspect could even change the popular interpretation of the "Rich Young Ruler" (Lk 18, Mt 19, Mk 10) who comes to Jesus
Furthermore, a disciple (one who is submitted to the authority of a particular Rabbi) would then follow and their Rabbi everywhere, live where they live. Which we see with Jesus and his disciples as well. Rabbis had a trade job. All that to say there is no such thing as growth in discipleship, this idea of mentorship and character development as we define it as today. Communal living is an essential part of discipleship. Discipleship is not a come to church one or two days a week; it is every moment of every day, in one's waking and in one's going to sleep, in one's family time, quiet time, work time.
Nevertheless, I have no idea how to implement these things in society today, because this was not countercultural in Jesus' day. But in America it is 180 in the other direction. I guess it has to be self initiated, a grassroots movement, not managed and implemented by some authority, but moved by the wind. Jesus was an observant Jew, who knew his culture and how to interact with it appropriately, yet he still, as an observant Jew, was countercultural with his people, against pagan cities, such as one of the Decapolis, like Caesarea Philippi, which he refers to and is in the general area (the 'outskirts'), but it never says that he goes into this not just hellenized roman city, but wicked pagan city.
What Jesus did do that was countercultural was "call" his disciples. That was unheard of, and it was looked down upon because it is kind of like suggesting no one wants to be his disciple so he has to go find someone who will follow him. Jesus explains this countercultural action in John 15. Verse 6 quotes Jesus, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. . . ." This is in the context of obeying Jesus' command to love one another, by serving and laying down one's life.
Finally, how can churches throughout America implement discipleship that looks like the above? I wish I had all the answers, but I don't, so you will have to be creative, open, and humble, be adventurous and let's connect people to Jesus.
More Articles and Podcasts by Author
by Richie D. Nelson: House Church Coordinator at New Life Community Church in St. Louis
No comments:
Post a Comment