THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP
by Max Frazier, Jr.
Part 1 of a 3 Part Study
One of the catchwords in evangelical churches today is that of discipleship. As one walks through the aisles of any Christian bookstore hundreds of titles on the topic of discipleship greet him or her. Most of these books focus attention upon either how to become a disciple or how to disciple another person. But, how interested are we in really pursuing what discipleship means? I remember a story that I clipped from a magazine a few years ago. Let me share it with you:
Once a man attended a fair and saw another man leading a fine, well-groomed horse. He inquired, Is that a saddle horse? The other replied, No, sir. This horse will buck off a saddle. Nothing can stay on his back.
"Is he a driving horse, then? the man asked. No, he was hitched up once and made kindling wood of the vehicle he should have pulled.
Well, what is he good for? Why is he here? The answer was, Style, man, style. Just look at the picture he makes.
Once I was in a church building and saw people clad in fine clothes coming into the morning service. I asked the preacher, Are those people workers in the church? No, he answered sadly. Do they visit the sick and minister to the poor? Do they attend other services of the church? Never, he answered.
Theres that horse, I said to myself, Nothing but style.
In his well written book, The Divine Conspiracy (to be reviewed later in this issue), Dr. Dallas Willard defines discipleship this way. A disciple, or apprentice, is simply someone who has decided to be with another person, under appropriate conditions, in order to become capable of doing what that person does or to become what that person is. He further states, And as a disciple of Jesus I am with him, by choice and by grace, learning from him how to live in the kingdom of God. This is the crucial idea. That means, we recall, how to live within the range of Gods effective will, his life flowing through mine. Another important way of putting this is to say that I am learning from Jesus to live my life as he would live my life if he were I. I am not necessarily learning to do everything he did, but I am learning how to do everything I do in the manner that he did all that he did.
That last statement really has impacted my life. Am I desiring to learn how to do everything that I do being a husband to my wife, a father to my children, a grandfather to my grandchildren, a Bible teacher to my students in a manner like that of Jesus as He did all that He did? That question has not been asked of me before. It is a concept that I have not heard proclaimed from too many pulpits in recent years. Yet, as I really ask myself that above stated question, I am forced to rethink who I am and why I am here. And, that, I believe, is the essence of discipleship.
I would like to begin a three-part series on discipleship. In this issue our focus will be upon Gods call. In succeeding issues we will examine the themes of cross bearing and the crowns awarded to disciples.
Follow Christ
Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. Mark 1:17
Why should I choose to follow Jesus? Why would anyone want to follow this man who lived two thousand years ago? The Bible tells us of two reasons. First, Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. I am reminded of that truth expressed in John 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. And yet how persistent most people are in wanting to assist God in their salvation. Perhaps my good works will help me. Perhaps my attendance in church services will help me. But only Christ will save usonly Christ.
Why should I choose to follow Jesus? Second, because Jesus has never failed. He has never sinned. He has never erred. This truth is found expressed so clearly in Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin. If we follow Him we know that He will lead us through because He has traveled the same road victoriously.
How should I follow Christ? I must be careful not to run ahead of God. In Exodus 2, there is the story of how Moses, feeling compassion for his people Israel in their bondage and slavery, attempted to become their great deliverer. But all he did was to make a mess of things. Why? Because God was not ready for Israel to be set free, and He certainly did not want it to appear as coming through the strength and position of Moses. Moses, the adoptive son of Pharaohs daughter, could not be a deliverer, but Moses, the fugitive shepherd from Midian, could be. I must follow in the footsteps of Jesus; He must never follow in mine.
Fear Not
Then Jesus said to Simon, Dont be afraid; from now on you will catch men. Luke 5:10
Jesus gave the above statement to a very frightened Simon Peter. You might remember that Jesus had preached a sermon from Peters boat, and afterwards had encouraged Peter to catch some fish even in broad daylight. This miraculous catch of fish had frightened this mighty fisherman. He knelt and grabbed Jesus around the knees and begged Him to depart. Jesus then encourages Peter to not be afraid. He then commissions him to become a fisher of men.
One of the great barriers to effective discipleship is fear. There is this sense that if we really are sold out for God, then He will either ask us to do something or invite us to become something that we do not either want to do or to become. I remember the hesitation I experienced in totally surrendering my life to Jesus Christ because I did not want to either go to India as a missionary or to become a pastor. (It is interesting that God called me into the pastoral ministry for over twenty-six years, and in recent years I have been privileged to travel to India twice representing the Village Schools).
The solution to the problem of fear is the knowledge that Christ is with us. If all I have to rely upon is my own strength, my own resources, then I have a justified cause for fear because I do know my weaknesses, my own limitations. But, knowing that Christ is with me, allows me to echo those words of the Apostle Paul, What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).
I am reminded of the story of Joshua, as recorded for us in the first chapter of the book that bears his name. Joshua is rightfully afraid. He has been in the land and knows what lies before them walled cities, well-equipped armies, and giants. Although his own army had been successful on a couple of occasions during their forty years of wandering, they still were more content to be shepherd who grumbled against God to their leadership. As he looked at himself, Joshua knew that he had neither resources nor even the physical energy to accomplish the victories necessary. Then we hear God proclaim this good news, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9).
How did Jesus walk on this earth while doing the ministry given to Him? It was with the absence of fear. He knew that His Father was with Him. So, too, we can walk without fear knowing that our Father is with us.
Fish for Men
Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. Mark 1:1
I am privileged to live in a state where being a fisherman is almost a prerequisite for citizenship. Every Friday afternoon, I can gaze out my office window in my home and watch thousands of vehicles, many pulling boats, traveling north up I-94 going to the lakes in northern Minnesota. For what reason? Fishing. Now, I have never been a very successful fishermanto be honest with you, I have had no success at all. I can catch mosquitoes and many forms of algaebut of fish I dont even get a nibble. I can even be with others who are catching fish. But do Inot even close. But, as someone told me, what you dont catch, you dont have to clean.
Yet, as I have visited with those who are expert fishermen, I have gleaned from them some thoughts as to what is necessary for the disciple of Jesus Christ to catch men. First, a good fisherman always has a tackle box full of bait. They come in about as many colors as make up the spectrum. Each has its different purpose. You dont catch walleyes with bait designed for bass, and you dont catch bass with bait designed for crappies. The bait that God has given to us is that of His Word. Yet His Word is used in differing ways to catch men for Christ. With some it comes through the teaching of the Word, for others through its rebuking of their errors. God is pleased to take His Word and to minister it to others in ways that impact their lives for His glory. The recipients know the reality of Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Second, a good fisherman needs lots of patience. There are those days when it seems that nothing you do brings success. You go home with your stringer empty. But a dedicated fisherman will get up the next morning, head for the lake with optimism in hand, and go after those elusive big ones. Very few times have I visited with fishermen and had them relate how the fish almost literally jumped into the boat; most of the time it took hours to catch the limit. That is patience.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are to run with patience the race that is set out before us (Hebrews 12:1). One does not become a disciple of Jesus Christ over night. It is a lifetime vocation. It demands patience. As someone said, The Christian life is not a sprintit is a marathon. To be successful in running a marathon a runner needs a disciplined patience. That is true also of the Christian life.
The final necessary requirement for successful fishing is to know where the fish are. A year ago Marlys and I were privileged to speak on a Sunday morning at a small church located on the shores of one of Minnesotas largest lakes. We stayed overnight at one of the resorts along its shores. One of the things we noticed that was available through this resort was guided fishing expeditions on the lake. These guides knew where the fish were, thus making the fishing venture more successfulor at least that was the theory.
I began to ask myself, Who are the fish that God has brought into my life? Who are those to whom He has asked me to share my story? The Apostle Paul certainly knew those fish that God had brought into his lifeEpaphras, Barnabas, Silas, Epaphroditus, Aquila and Priscilla, Dr. Luke, Aristarchus, and of course Timothy. Among his final admonitions to Timothy were these: And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (Second Timothy 2:2). In other words, Timothy know those fish that God has brought into your life and share with them as I have shared with you.
Closing Application
Friends, what has God called His children to do? He has not commanded us to win converts to Christ. You and I cannot convert anyone to Jesus. Only the Father, through the drawing of His Spirit, can do that. Furthermore, He has not commanded us to bring people into the Church as members. But, He has commanded and empowered us to do two things be His witnesses and to make disciples:
Acts 1: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.
Perhaps it is time that we begin to take more seriously this injunction to make disciples. It is not going to happen unless we are intentional about it.
If you would prefer to view this study as a .pdf (portable document file), download it and/or print it, please click on the .pdf link below.
