BLOG 6/17/17. THE OXYMORON OF PASSIVE DISCIPLESHIP
Even a cursory glance at Jesus’ teachings leave no doubt that obedience to his teachings and commands were at the threshold of true discipleship. As a matter of fact, he likened those who heard his commands, and then didn’t do them to a foolish person who tried to build his house without any solid foundation. Seeking to identify oneself with the community of Christ’s followers, and as his disciple, for whatever reason, i.e. personal advantage, need for some kind of personal fulfillment, or because: “I want to go to heaven when I die …” misses the whole point.
In the Letter to the Hebrews, the anonymous author rebukes those who fall into this category: “About this (i.e., the interpretation of the strange account of the Old Testament figure Melchizadek) we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become hard of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. …” (Hebrews 5:11ff.). Or something similar from Paul to Timothy: “… always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (II Timothy 3:7).
The New Testament scriptures, as a matter of fact, never even propose that one should “join the church.” Jesus’ invitation was much more demanding. Yes, he invited all who were “weary and heavy laden” to come to him, in order to find rest. He did promise freedom and abundant life as one embraced him, … But he also required that he, and obedience to his teachings, become the criteria of true discipleship. He would tell those who were proposing to become his followers, that unless a person is willing to forsake all that he has he could not be a true disciple – forsake all all other lords and loyalties.
And yet ever so many ostensible church communities advertise to those who are uncommitted all the wonderful activities and personal benefits would be theirs by identifying with such an institution as theirs. How different is such an invitation to self-fulfillment and personal benefit to Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s stark comment that: “When Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die!” Still there all those who evaluate their ‘discipleship’ by how many church meetings they attend, or Bible studies they participate in, or their tenure in such church communities … somehow never getting the message, somehow never grasping that to invite Jesus into one’s life is to give consent to have his very life and mission, the the genome of his incarnation, to become the determining factor in their lives. They seem always to be avoiding those others still walking in darkness, even though Jesus was always seeking, not the religious/righteous, … but real sinners: the profane, the promiscuous, the shady business men, the ethnics who were despised, and those occupying military forces, along with ordinary folk.
That very large company who seek to hang-out in church meetings for the spiritual comfort and to leave the costly obedience to others, to church professionals, priests, etc. … are a huge contradiction. The Christian church often takes quantum leaps when some traveling messenger of the gospel communicates it to another and introduces that person into Christ’s new life, and then that new believer takes the message and “runs with it” in obedience, and learns discipleship in the process. Christ’s true followers are always contagious, and find ways to express that fervor and contagiousness in creative ways (in love and good works). But true disciples are never passive. To be continued …
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