By Tim Miller, OVD District Staff, Coordinator of Emerging Leadership
What is a Disciple?
While there are many excellent ways to define a true Christ follower, it would be hard to improve on this simple yet deep description: A disciple is someone who is humble, loving, and Kingdom-focused. This is especially apropos as we think of the American Church.
This discipleship description above is an apt summary of the four key discipleship “lists” found in the New Testament: The Beatitudes (Matthew 5); The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5); The “Think on These Things” (Philippians 4); and “The Discipleship Productivity Recipe” (II Peter 1). Here’s how we might break it down and sum it up at the same time, following the passages in the order they appear:
1. The Poor in Spirit (Humble)
2. Those who Mourn (Loving)
3. The Meek (Humble)
4. Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness (Kingdom-focused)
5. The Merciful (Loving)
6. The Pure in Heart (Kingdom-focused)
7. The Peacemakers (Loving)
8. The Persecuted for Righteousness (Kingdom-focused)
9. Love (Loving)
10. Joy (Kingdom-focused)
11. Peace (Humble)
12. Patience (Loving)
13. Kindness (Loving)
14. Goodness (Humble)
15. Gentleness (Loving)
16. Faithfulness (Kingdom-focused)
17. Self-control (Humble)
18. Whatever is true (Kingdom-focused)
19. Whatever is noble (Humble)
20. Whatever is right (Kingdom-focused)
21. Whatever is pure (Kingdom-focused)
22. Whatever is lovely (Loving)
23. Whatever is admirable (Humble)
24. If it is excellent (Loving)
25. If it is praiseworthy (Humble)
26. Faith (Kingdom-focused)
27. Goodness (Humble)
28. Knowledge (Kingdom-focused)
29. Self-control (Humble)
30. Perseverance (Kingdom-focused)
31. Godliness (Loving)
32. Mutual Affection (Humble)
33. Love (Loving)
So if a disciple is someone who is humble, loving, and Kingdom-focused, what might be the opposite of those realities that if we are honest, reflect an “anti-disciple”? Well the opposite of humility would be hubris or pride. The opposite of love would be selfishness. And the opposite of Kingdom-focused would be a Kingdom focus of the wrong kind, using the Kingdom of this world to try to bring about the Kingdom of God! Certainly all of us struggle from time to time with hubris, selfishness, and a misguided Kingdom agenda. But when those realities tend to dominate our lives and/or are lived out without apology or repentance, we sadly and shockingly are reflecting an anti-discipleship posture!
Unfortunately, those “anti-discipleship” tendencies are alive and well in three “isms” that are way too prevalent among us: consumerism, fundamentalism, and nationalism. Consumerism is this tendency we have to want things we really don’t need, focusing on increasing our standard of living more than our standard of giving, and using God because we love stuff instead of loving God and using stuff to His glory. It’s selfishness pure and simple. And though we often associate such with those in the “prosperity theology” camp, it extends far beyond that. Any life lived without a focus on simplicity is in danger of consumerism. And it blinds us to a hurting local and global world. (Numerous specific examples could be given, but perhaps it is better to simply invite the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and show us areas to address. Otherwise, we “react” to what we feel are other people’s “opinions” and write them off.
Fundamentalism isn’t so much what we believe but how we hold those beliefs. Dan White Jr. defines it by the following seven characteristics: absolute knowledge, a self-righteous spirit, combative dialogue, us versus them in orientation, demonizing in response to other groups or even Christian tribes, policing in terms of the ideological borders, and using shame to ostracize. In other words, we claim that whatever we theologically and doctrinally believe is absolutely the way it is, spend much of our time focusing on what we are against, and cut down others in unloving ways. So much more could be said, but It’s pride, pure and simple. (Again, rather than give examples, I invite us to allow the Spirit to search our hearts). And it keeps us from “doing good”, and it keeps other people from ever really seeing the Jesus we say we follow.
(Christian) nationalism is all about God and country, our country. It is about God blessing the U.S.A. or making her “great again” rather than a longing for God’s blessing on and healing for the nations. Somehow we are better or more in the right or deserve more than others. It is about somehow cooperating with the kingdom of this world in its focus on power tactics to bring about change that keeps us privileged or comfortable, rather than focusing on being servants whose Christ-like love no law can stand against. It results in unabashedly applauding or at least supporting political figures who reflect nothing of the Kingdom lifestyle. It is motivated by the fear that we cannot trust the way of Jesus to work in people’s lives from the inside out or trust that his grace will be sufficient to give us strength in the midst of whatever suffering comes until He returns…because the Jesus’ way just doesn’t reflect common sense as we see it. It is a wrong-headed Kingdom focus, pure and simple. (Again, let’s simply let the Spirit search our hearts for nationalistic examples we emulate). It causes us to totally lose track of the reason we are here in the first place…and distorts the real good news of great joy for all people!
So what must we do?
Should we not humbly and lovingly and graciously confront one another as to what a disciple looks like and live accordingly? Should we not humbly and lovingly and graciously speak truth to power and get after the Kingdom agenda of loving God and others versus worrying about the political one? Should we not be the light of Christ where we live, work, and play, whether our light extends only a few blocks or many miles? Should we not primarily be known for our humility, love, and Kingdom focused servanthood? Are we willing to at least pause and listen to the Holy Spirit for His response?