A few weeks ago I was helping a ministry team define their view of discipleship. I always find this process fascinating because the conversation usually start with ‘our model is Biblical’ and then they go on to explain what they do which is almost always historically based not Biblically based. This is not unusual because most of us are entrenched in our thinking and we consider what we think and do to be the correct way.
To bring some clarity to the discussion I introduced the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:16-20 (the Great Commission) and highlighted the key descriptors that are not obvious in most modern translations.
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me and I have given that authority to you. Therefore while you are going about your normal life, make disciples of all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and walk, talk, listen, ask, experience life together and help them to just obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
The Church intentionally practised this commission for the first three centuries but, in the early fourth century, the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and his son Emperor Theodosius established Christianity as the state religion in A.D. 380. These historical events saw the beginning of what is called Constantinian Christendom, a term popularised by the theologian John H. Yoder. Constantinian Christendom introduced a period in which:
- Followers of the Way (Jesus) were no longer persecuted by the state.
- Gatherings of believers moved from being highly relational and meeting in small groups to being highly institutionalised and meeting in sanctified buildings.
- The Church and its people lost their missional intent.
- The practice of intentional discipleship was gradually watered down.
- The Church was accommodated into society and became central to society.
Even though it has been in decline for a long period, Constantinian Christendom (especially in the West) is said to have finally come to an end at the beginning of the 21st century with the emergence of the post-Christian culture and values.
To actively disciple today I believe the Church in the 21st Century will have to become more like the pre-Constantine Church. Discipleship will have to be an unfolding relational process that naturally introduces individuals to Jesus, community, worship and ongoing spiritual growth and reproduction.
Jesus spent three years intensely working with his disciples to prepare them for their future. He didn’t have to make major adjustments to their view of God because they were Jews. He didn’t have to work on their moral behaviour because this was clearly set in place from childhood. What he had to work on was their worldview. This is seen in Peter’s response to the vision recorded in Acts 10. As a Jew, ‘Get up, Peter, Kill and eat’ was all wrong because his worldview told him that this couldn’t be God. So what made the difference? I suggest it was Peter’s recollection of Jesus speaking to the Samaritan Woman at the well (John 4), or his memory of Jesus relating to the Centurion and commending him on his faith (Mathew 8), or perhaps the response of Jesus to the Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15).
What changed Saul from being a persecutor of the ‘Way’ to being Paul, the advocate of the ‘Way’ and a successful Church Planter? Why did it take so long for Paul to get involved in ministry? As a Pharisee he obviously had a good understanding of God from a Jewish worldview. I believe the stronger your worldview, the longer it takes to break down the blockages to seeing the future through the eyes of Jesus.
I am thankful that my worldview has been continually challenged and influenced by open, balanced and honest people who have been willing to consider, discuss and adjust their worldview in the light of what Jesus is doing in the world today. The aim of my time with ministry teams is to help them review their current worldview and face the blockages that prevent them from discipling effectively in a new era.
Invitation
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