Discipleship is...

Oh, how I wish I had a simple answer - do you remember those 'love is' cartoons from way back when words of wisdom were dispensed in one easy sentence? Of course, it was never the whole picture.

I have many questions - is discipleship a doing or a being thing? What might a real disciple look like? How do I get to be a disciple?

Can I answer my own questions? Well, with prayer and some inspiration from the Spirit, I can only try and say it as I see it...

To begin, I headed for the dictionary - Oxford English no less.
Discipulus - from the Latin, meaning learner, so there is something of learning about being a disciple. Disciplina, also Latin, has it's meaning in knowledge and instruction, so there is something of being disciplined in being a disciple.
The dictionary also says..'a personal follower of Christ during his life,especially one of the twelve Apostles.'
Fascinating! I suspect that, as a secular publication, there is an element of the 'historical' here. I believe that Jesus is still alive, therefore discipleship is a living and active state.
Finally, the OED tell us that a disciple is 'a follower or pupil of a teacher, leader or philosophy.'
It all fits, but, for some reason, these descriptions alone don't satisfy me.

I want to know what a disciple of Christ might look like today, here, now, July 2011. And I want to be like that!

So, I head to my Bible. What did the original followers of Jesus look like?

Firstly, when He called, they came.
Something deep inside them knew, beyond doubt, that this man was someone special. There was a connection, maybe a yearning, that prompted them to leave what they were doing and follow. They were willing and eager to learn from this man.

Secondly, they were ordinary people.
I'm always grateful for this - it gives me hope, because I'm ordinary too. Jesus didn't call to the powerful, the academic, the politician and the priviledged - No - his invitation was to the fishermen and the tax collector, people who were flawed and unacceptable in general society.
Of course, with the benefit of wisdom, we know that Jesus extends the call to everyone, whatever their situation in life, but those first chosen few serve to remind us that in God's plan, no-one is left out.

Thirdly, they were real.
Following Jesus did not bring about instant perfection. but a gradual transformation. Peter (I love this guy) was still the blunt, speak-before-you-think man he'd ever been. Thomas still had doubts. Judas still harboured disappointments and jealousy and was swayed at the thought of easy money.

Fourthly, they walked alongside him.
At that time the walking was quite literal - where He went, they went.
A few years ago, I volunteered to help with childrens' work at a big Christian event and I still remember an action saying we taught... walk with me, talk with me, see how I do it.
The principle is apprenticeship - learn from the master, learn from others, follow in the footsteps...

So where does this leave me, us, here and now?

Am I willing to give up what I have and know to follow Jesus?
Our following will take a different form to those first disciples BUT in essence, am I willing to put Jesus, his attitudes, his characteristics, his ways, before all the worldy stuff I'm bombarded with daily?
It's not an easy option - drifting along with the things surrounding me might be less painful - or will they?

Will I open myself up to being real?
I am who I am. I'm not quite the me God wants me to be... yet. But, one day, I will be - I'm confident of this. I've given myself over to God and He's busy with me!
I long to see God's people set free to be real - to drop the Sunday masks and be open and honest with one another. To walk alongside one another through good times and bad. To live authentic lives, lives that have integrity, truth and hope, acknowledging and confessing our messes and asking for forgiveness from one another and from God.
Only when we learn from the Master and allow God to help us and make us into the people He designed us to be, will we really begin to reflect Jesus. THEN, others will notice and start asking questions.

I once heard a quote (and I forget who it was from) that went a little like this...

The biggest turn-off for people looking at church today is Christians who say one thing with their lips and do another thing with their lives.

Ouch! Have I ever done that? Yes. Have you?

And so, I've strung together a collection of thoughts - I'm not sure I've given a definitive answer, but this I know... whatever a disciple is, I want to be one and I want to walk alongside others who share he same passion.

To paraphrase Matthew 28:19, I want to go and make disciples, well, at least I want to share what I have and ask God to do the rest!

Is there any other life worth living?