For the past several months I have been serving as a moderator to a conversation. The topic of discussion has been “abiding in Christ”. In our dialogue Luke 6:43-45 will soon factor in.

For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Some may remember the strategic punch line of the old Evangelism Explosion presentation; “If you were to die tonight and God were to ask you, “Why should I let you into my heaven? How would you respond?” For those unfamiliar with Dr. James Kennedy’s evangelism program, this cruise missile of a question was launched by the team leader at one whose eternity was in question.

As I am mulling over the idea of fruit bearing, I am thinking a new program might be initiated. It could be called Discipleship Explosion. It’s missile would be; “When you stand before the Lord and He asks you to show Him your fruit, what variety will you display?” How would you respond? Would the species of your fruit be of the actions/deeds variety or more of the disposition/attitude variety? A blend?

Closing in on four decades now, I have been haunted by the notion that salvation and discipleship have become two distinctly different tracks a believer can follow as a Christian (at least in western culture). It is as though salvation is an essential track and discipleship is an optional track available for certain “called” ones whose zeal typically qualifies them for advanced education or specialized training. I believe the splintering of salvation into two tracks is an idea inspired and promoted by the wrong kingdom.

I believe this condition has left us with the fallacy that church attendance is a viable option for a Christ follower who has opted out of discipleship. Attending church would have been an utterly foreign concept to first century Christians. They would have never thought of church as an event or a location – something they could opt to attend. If they had any consciousness of themselves at all, I believe they would have simply thought of themselves as the Church. Having church or going to church would have been nonsensical ideas to them. You might be asking, “Where is he going with this?” Truly I wonder that myself on most days.

I know my words are troublesome to some of my closest friends and family because I am asking questions about things they have been taught and fully believe are sacred. After all, it was in the institutional little “c” church where they invited Jesus into their hearts and entered into a community of believers who, together, worked to preserve the things they together deemed sacred. How could this possibly be bad? It may not have been. In fact, more than likely there were elements of His eternal kingdom present in that setting which would account for the legitimate faith and new life that was birthed there in that context.

How blessed that new life was if the overseers of that little “c” church in fact recognized its essential yet partial place in the grand scheme of the kingdom of God and, in the culture these leaders established, they were able to deemphasize themselves (and their sect) as a sacred or, worse yet, the sacred institution and instead drew attention to itself as a part of the sacred organic community of saints that it actually was in God’s sight. And…

How blessed that new life was if the overseers of that particular flock modeled big “C” Church by the way they integrated themselves into the relational fabric of their community and demonstrated with their own lives how Christ is present where two or three have gathered in His name (which might occur at anytime and any place). The lives of the elders conveyed to their community and to the world that little “c” church is way too small to contain God’s ever-expanding kingdom. In the culture they intentionally were building the community’s overseers and elders warred against anything that might convey that those on staff or in ministry were the more-called ones. By virtue of their very lives they conveyed that all lives are “called” lives and all lives are holy lives. And…

How blessed that new life was if its shepherds were visible and lived on the same plane with the hearts entrusted to them. How blessed they would be if, through their modeling and mentoring, those leaders reproduced other hearts, after their own kind, who knew how to shepherd and care for the souls around them; always casting the kingdom vision that we are each sovereignly placed and equipped to love those nearest us; that the circumstances and situations of our neighbors are both our responsibility and our opportunity. And…

How fortunate that new life would be if their spiritual fathers recognized that it was in this place where their lives, both broken and blessed, were intertwined with each other; that these messy relational networks were the appointed and essential context of their own transformation. And…

How blessed that new life was if its shepherds demonstrated that the abundant Life of Christ as Savior, Healer, Deliverer, Counselor and King was as natural as breathing and exists independent of all the institutions and programs that men have or ever will organize.

How blessed that new life was if after witnessing the reality of Christ in their community, they would be (at an age-appropriate time) invited to consider an eternal relationship with Him that begins, develops and ends with Him as both Savior and Lord; those two ideas traveling always as inseparable companions.

How blessed that new life was if they were privileged to see Love being modeled by listening hearts who knew, from personal experience, the landscape and the potential of the human heart beyond its depravity; always conveying the eternal glory, worth and potential of a redeemed heart both now and into eternity. How blessed that new life was if that precious new nature was nurtured such that its spirit grew up strong and confident in its identity as a beloved child; not just tolerated as one hamstrung with a depraved heart.

How blessed that new life was if they witnessed their elders enduring patiently with one another, where they witnessed and experienced a culture being shaped by its own stories of reconciliation. How beneficial it would have been for that young impressionable life to see people coming into the community as they witnessed something akin to the New Testament and connected to something that their aching hearts had always yearned for; a safe place where they might be seen and heard, nurtured and celebrated as a beloved child of a King.

For the record, I don’t believe another program (which would have also been foreign to NT Christians), will be helpful (even my freshly conceived DEP – Discipleship Explosion Program). I suspect programs may actually do violence to the spirit of true discipleship. I believe discipleship is as inseparable as salvation is to our relationship with God. I am deeply concerned that much of what we have done in Jesus’ name has obscured the essence of true discipleship as it has redirected our focus and dependence toward buildings, programs and onto the professionals who administrate them. (i.e. institutional little “c” church) and away from His ever-present Holy Spirit, His inspired Word and the sacrament of daily life.

Father, grant us the courage to ask questions and to dream. Amen.

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap