Relational: The third of three blogs which provide a deeper look at the mission of the church as described in Matthew 28. Here at KBC, we believe the words Intersect, Impact and Imitate best describe the great commission given us by Jesus Christ.
Imitate - verb
1. to follow or endeavor to follow as a model or example
2. to mimic or impersonate
3. to make a copy or reproduce closely
4. to have or assume the appearance of; simulate; resemble
origin: 1525-35 < Latin imiatus past participle of imitari to copy; presumably akin to the base of imago image
The Lord Jesus left his disciples with a very specific commission. They were instructed to "make disciples" from all people groups as they went about their daily lives. Still today, the words "disciple and discipleship" are most often used in religious settings.
It is important for us to not fall into the trap of relegating the word "disciple" only to the 12 men who followed Jesus during His earthly ministry. Certainly these were Jesus' disciples. But there were many others. More accurately we refer to them as His "apostles" when we think of their specific authority and responsibility regarding the beginnings of the Christian church. However, it is clear from Jesus' commission that they were responsible to "reproduce themselves" which is at the core of the words "make disciples".
It is perhaps important for contemporary Christians to re-examine just what Jesus meant when He said, "disciple all nations". What is a disciple? What does it mean to "make disciples"? We had better know what He meant, since this is the very purpose we exist as a Christian church in the first place.
Imitate
By definition, a disciple is one who is a follower or a pupil. A modern equivalent would be "an apprentice", one who is learning (a trade, for example) from another experienced person. Jesus instructed the apostles to make "committed followers or apprentices" of Himself. That is the focus of the word "Imitate" which we have chosen in our three "I's". The origin of "imitate" comes from the idea of reflecting the "image" or likeness of something.
When we use the word "imitate" today, it is likely that you think of the word in a negative light. You may think of "imitation" as opposed to "authentic". Like a "knock-off" Gucci hand bag verses the real thing. (I guess that's not a bad thing depending on your personal finances.) We American's like the real thing. Since we were kids we were told look for the authentic. You know like, Coca Cola "It's the Real Thing".
However, there is a use of the word "imitate" which is much closer to the idea Jesus had in mind when He gave the Great Commission. As in the first definition above, the idea of following or modeling one's behavior after another strikes closer to the truth.
Disciple
Dallas Willard, former Southern Baptist Pastor and professor at the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, is the author of many engaging and enlightening books on this subject. In an article titled, "How Does The Disciple Live", Dr. Willard writes, "As Jesus' disciple, I am His apprentice in kingdom living. I am learning from Him how to lead my life in the Kingdom of the Heavens as He would lead my life if He were I." He continues, "Being His apprentice is, therefore, not a matter of special 'religious' activities, but an orientation and quality of my entire existence."
Dr. Willard describes a threefold learning process for the disciple/apprentice of Jesus. First, learning to do the things Jesus specifically said to do. Second, learning to conduct the usual activities of life, in the character and power of Christ. Third, learning to exercise the power of the Kingdom of Christ in His Word and Spirit.
The article concludes with this statement: "Disciples are those who, seriously intending to become like Jesus from the inside out, systematically and progressively rearrange their affairs to that end, under the guidance of the Word and the Spirit." With this in mind, "discipleship" may refer to the process of restructuring or reordering my world to become more like Christ. In fact, "Christlikeness" is at the core of the title "Christian". Early believers were called Christians, specifically because they lived "like Christ". The word literally means, "Christ like ones".
Jim Putman, in his book, "Real Life Discipleship: Building Churches That Make Disciples" uses a very simple definition of Discipleship based on Jesus' invitation to Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. Seeing them casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee, Jesus calls to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19 ESV). Pastor Putman, defines discipleship as, "one who knows and follows Christ, who is being changed by Christ, and who is committed to the mission of Christ"1. You see the outline in His invitation to the brothers. First, "follow me". Second, "and I will make you". Third, "fishers of men". Disciples are followers of Christ who are transformed by Him and who accomplish the mission of reaching people with the message of life in Christ.
A Finite Process
Many believers connect the concepts of discipleship with spiritual perfection. In so doing they arrive at a place that Scripture does not take us. They come to believe that discipleship is a process that continues throughout their lifetime ending with their becoming like Christ in the life after death. This kind of thinking, keeps them from seeing that the process of apprenticeship to Jesus is something that can be accomplished in a period of time, for those who are committed to His instruction.
In the real "Lord's Prayer" recorded for us in John 17, we see a very interesting statement made by Jesus to the Father in verse 4. Jesus says, "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do." (John 17:4 ESV) I find it interesting that He makes this statement prior to His crucifixion and resurrection. If all that Jesus came to earth to do was to become our propitiation, the satisfaction for sin and our atonement, then what is He referring to in this verse?
I believe Jesus is referring to His work in training the disciples. By this point they had left their ambitions behind and followed Him for three and a half years, learning from Him in real life situations. They had come to really know Him (1 John 1:1-4), they began to understand His manner of life, His passion for the eternal souls of men. No they did not fully understand. They were still hoping for a seat at His right or left hand in an earthly kingdom established after deliverance from Roman occupation. But soon they would understand. They would learn that He would be leaving them. That another "Helper" would be coming who would be in them, teaching and guiding them. But Jesus' work in making them His disciples was complete.
In this I find a very important lesson. We can learn to follow Jesus to the point at which we can truly be called His "Disciple" in this lifetime. The apostle Peter reminds us of this in 2 Peter 1:1-15. The apostle Paul told the Ephesian elders that he had taught them "the whole counsel of God" while He was with them for 3 years (see Acts 20:17-38). Paul would later write to the same Ephesian believers that the very purpose of the church was to bring every believer to maturity in Christ, to Christ-like-ness (see Ephesians 4:11-16).
While it is true that we will not find sinless perfection until our sin nature is fully eradicated in glorification, we can become Jesus' disciples, His apprentices and do our part to accomplish His commission of "making disciples" of all people groups.
Why is this distinction important? Because far too often, we believe that only certain people can make disciples. We come to believe that only those with Bible college or Seminar degrees, only those employed on the church staff, only those with church office titles (pastor, elder, deacon) are charged with this responsibility. It's not for me, it's not my job, it's for the professional at church, don't try this at home. I believe this misunderstanding of apprenticeship and sinless perfection literally keeps us from becoming the followers of Christ we are all called to be.
Becoming Christ's disciple is a finite process. We can all learn how to follow Him. We can all learn how to share His life with those who are lost and dying without Him. We can and must do so now!
Transformation by Apprenticeship
The New Testament understood a disciple to be more than just a person who relies on correct beliefs alone. The true disciples was one who responded to Christ's call to walk closely with Him, one who would forsake everything for the sake of that call. Too often today, we think of the disciple in terms of evangelism - one who shares the gospel. While it proclaiming the availability of life in the kingdom made possible through Jesus is certainly a chief responsibility of a disciple, the disciple is first one who has become an 'apprentice' of Jesus. An apprenticed walked with, observed, learned from and imitated his master. The apprentice was on a journey of becoming like his master by being with Him.
Much of our evangelistic efforts would be better served if we would first commit to time in the yoke with Jesus. The NT apostles (the first disciples / apprentices) spent 3+ years learning from Jesus. They sacrificed their personal property and interests, learning to live simply (simplicity) as they left it all behind. They served the crowds who followed Jesus, and at times separated themselves from the demands and needs of the people learning the importance of solitude. Jesus taught them to pray, meditate and fast. They learned to submit (submission) to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit as they observed Jesus himself doing the same. In fact, they were completely transformed as they spent time "with" Jesus. As they were transformed into men who really lived like Jesus, they became true imitators of the one who they knew for certain held the words of life.
Our challenge today is to learn to walk with Jesus in the same manner as the disciples. It is his purpose to transform us into people whose most immediate attitude, action and reaction in any given situation would be one very similar to what Jesus would think, feel or act if in that situation. As we become more like Him on the inside, others will note the fact that we live like him on the outside. And that is real imitation.
1 - William James Putman, Real-Life Discipleship, NavPress 2010, p.27-33
In the real "Lord's Prayer" recorded for us in John 17, we see a very interesting statement made by Jesus to the Father in verse 4. Jesus says, "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do." (John 17:4 ESV) I find it interesting that He makes this statement prior to His crucifixion and resurrection. If all that Jesus came to earth to do was to become our propitiation, the satisfaction for sin and our atonement, then what is He referring to in this verse?
I believe Jesus is referring to His work in training the disciples. By this point they had left their ambitions behind and followed Him for three and a half years, learning from Him in real life situations. They had come to really know Him (1 John 1:1-4), they began to understand His manner of life, His passion for the eternal souls of men. No they did not fully understand. They were still hoping for a seat at His right or left hand in an earthly kingdom established after deliverance from Roman occupation. But soon they would understand. They would learn that He would be leaving them. That another "Helper" would be coming who would be in them, teaching and guiding them. But Jesus' work in making them His disciples was complete.
In this I find a very important lesson. We can learn to follow Jesus to the point at which we can truly be called His "Disciple" in this lifetime. The apostle Peter reminds us of this in 2 Peter 1:1-15. The apostle Paul told the Ephesian elders that he had taught them "the whole counsel of God" while He was with them for 3 years (see Acts 20:17-38). Paul would later write to the same Ephesian believers that the very purpose of the church was to bring every believer to maturity in Christ, to Christ-like-ness (see Ephesians 4:11-16).
While it is true that we will not find sinless perfection until our sin nature is fully eradicated in glorification, we can become Jesus' disciples, His apprentices and do our part to accomplish His commission of "making disciples" of all people groups.
Why is this distinction important? Because far too often, we believe that only certain people can make disciples. We come to believe that only those with Bible college or Seminar degrees, only those employed on the church staff, only those with church office titles (pastor, elder, deacon) are charged with this responsibility. It's not for me, it's not my job, it's for the professional at church, don't try this at home. I believe this misunderstanding of apprenticeship and sinless perfection literally keeps us from becoming the followers of Christ we are all called to be.
Becoming Christ's disciple is a finite process. We can all learn how to follow Him. We can all learn how to share His life with those who are lost and dying without Him. We can and must do so now!
Transformation by Apprenticeship
The New Testament understood a disciple to be more than just a person who relies on correct beliefs alone. The true disciples was one who responded to Christ's call to walk closely with Him, one who would forsake everything for the sake of that call. Too often today, we think of the disciple in terms of evangelism - one who shares the gospel. While it proclaiming the availability of life in the kingdom made possible through Jesus is certainly a chief responsibility of a disciple, the disciple is first one who has become an 'apprentice' of Jesus. An apprenticed walked with, observed, learned from and imitated his master. The apprentice was on a journey of becoming like his master by being with Him.
Much of our evangelistic efforts would be better served if we would first commit to time in the yoke with Jesus. The NT apostles (the first disciples / apprentices) spent 3+ years learning from Jesus. They sacrificed their personal property and interests, learning to live simply (simplicity) as they left it all behind. They served the crowds who followed Jesus, and at times separated themselves from the demands and needs of the people learning the importance of solitude. Jesus taught them to pray, meditate and fast. They learned to submit (submission) to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit as they observed Jesus himself doing the same. In fact, they were completely transformed as they spent time "with" Jesus. As they were transformed into men who really lived like Jesus, they became true imitators of the one who they knew for certain held the words of life.
Our challenge today is to learn to walk with Jesus in the same manner as the disciples. It is his purpose to transform us into people whose most immediate attitude, action and reaction in any given situation would be one very similar to what Jesus would think, feel or act if in that situation. As we become more like Him on the inside, others will note the fact that we live like him on the outside. And that is real imitation.
1 - William James Putman, Real-Life Discipleship, NavPress 2010, p.27-33
