Are some exempt from Discipleship?

exempt-full Recently I have been doing a lot or re-thinking and reading about discipleship. Last month I read organic disciplemaking which I thoroughly enjoyed how it spoke about discipleship as a highly creative process. Most recently I finished transforming discipleship which includes a triad model that I believe is revolutionary to say the least. Both books I highly recommend and really got me thinking to ask some really difficult questions. When it comes to discipleship as a fundamentally relational process are some Christians exempt? I say this not to be sarcastic or point fingers but to deal with a question I have been thinking about a lot.

When I was in high school I had the opportunity to run sound and really head up all the technical needs on a volunteer basis for our youth ministry. I felt that God was really using me to further His kingdom and I still believe He was during that time. Looking back I knew I was hungry to disciple others but didn’t know how and so I saw myself as exempt from discipleship. I thought I was exempt because I was doing my part by running sound and putting lots of hours in without ever getting paid. I thought Discipleship was for the adults who were in their forties still unsure what that word really meant back then. Later in college I discovered the power that meaningful personal relationships can play in discipling (helping others mature in Christ) others by investing not only the word of God but my life as well (1 thess 2:8).

Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Matthew 28:19

This is our commission to go and make disciples…. we can’t ignore this. What the commission does not say is go and work in a church or go and serve in some capacity in the church. Yet this seems to be what happens from my observation. If I work at a church or if I serve or volunteer (choir, tech ministry, usher etc…) than I have done my duty and therefore I am exempt from discipleship. In an attempt to meet needs the church has often become an organization of specialization. If you teach we can help you teach God’s word. If you sing….come and sing in the choir. Oh and if you can disciple people we can help you to do that too. Discipleship has become a specialization just like singing in the choir or working in the arts ministry.

I realize this may be offensive and yet the gospel is offensive and so is the great commission. If we are to think that we are exempt because we just aren’t good at it or are better at something else in the church we are sorely mistaken. I am not arguing that every person in the church lead a bible study. Neither am I arguing that serving in the church is not important because it is very important in my opinion. What I am stressing is the need for the church to take discipleship seriously and call its people to invest in a few each year.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

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By radiantfirst

http://intensedebate.com/people/PD2 PD2

GREAT topic! Here are my thoughts and comments. Discipleship is a personal responsibility as a Christian and has nothing to do with a church. Now, within the realm of Discipleship I'd say you have areas that you can put your hands to – things like the ministries that are called out specifically in 1 Corinthians 12:28:

"And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues"

For instance, the work we do within the Church and through the Church, is in the form of helps and in some cases administration. But notice, we are not appointed to one and only one ministry – all of these ministries should be at work within our lives. Yes, the Church and those that have a greater anointing for each of these help, train, and raise up those that are wanting a greater manifestation of these ministries in and through all they do. But once they are trained up or shown how to minister in these areas, that is when we are to fulfill the Great Commission. The Great Commission is a personal responsibility and through that personal responsibility, when we are assembled together, the Church as a whole then takes part in it too.

PD2
http://intensedebate.com/people/radiantfirst radiantfirst

I agree completely that the great commission is a personal responsibility. I guess what I don't understand is why do so many Christians act as if its the church's responsibility and because they think that way they compartmentalize it as a piece of the pie of the church. We say those people do discipleship and those people work in this or that ministry. Its almost like a la carte and you pick your ministry and if you don't happen to be great at discipleship you pick something else. In my opinion everyone is called to personally disciple others if they are a mature Believer. Perhaps there just aren't enough mature believers….
http://intensedebate.com/people/PD2 PD2

Sadly, I'd have to agree with you that there are not enough mature believers. And yet again, here is another area that sometimes people believe is the Church's responsibility. The maturing of the people can be nurtured through the ministry gifts, but when teaching, preaching, ministering, laying on of hands and all manner of other impartations have been poured out to the people, at some point that person must begin to take the personal responsibility of maturing themselves or taking the impartations and doing something with them – believing them, acting on them, putting them into action. Faith without works is dead. And I personally believe that not enough people take what they have and step out with it to even begin the maturing process – they have all tools, Word, and everything necessary – all they need to do is the two letter Word Jesus told them in the Great Commission – GO!

Are some exempt from Discipleship?

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