DISCIPLESHIPThe idea of discipleship is at the very core of the commission Jesus gave to that first little group of followers: "Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).
What is discipleship? A disciple was someone who learnt from a teacher, but unlike our modern understanding, the image is not so much a student taking notes and passing exams, but an apprentice who watches and imitates the teacher so as to adopt their behavior and practice. Disciples became like their teachers.
The apostle Paul described this learning obedience like this: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2).
Disciples do not simply accumulate information in regard to the teachings of Jesus Christ but transformation (metanoia) toward Jesus Christ in every way - complete devotion to God.
The idea of the Christian as a disciple, that is, a follower of the master, Jesus Christ, is helpful in that it picks up on the injunction to obey Jesus commandments and initiate his example (Matt 28:20; John 13: 15, 34-35; John 14:23).
The life of discipleship is not merely an external adherence to rules or rituals but stems from a deep-seated conversion and devotion to Christ. The motivation for change is not fear of condemnation but the love and presence of Christ. It is the initiative and grace of God that brings transformation, and a desire to pursue Christ ahead of all else.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his classic book “The Cost of Discipleship” writes: “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. It remains an abstract idea, a myth which has a place for the Fatherhood of God, but omits Christ as the living Son. … There is trust in God, but no following of Christ."
For Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Christian formation is determined by an asymmetrical agency, in which formation in Christ is a by-product of the believer’s devotion to Christ. Far from being the aim of discipleship, formation is a hidden consequence exclusively wrought by God as the disciple follows Jesus Christ in simple obedience. Bonhoeffer offers an incarnational theory of the cross in the sense that God enters into the midst of our lives and also in the sense that God reveals God’s character, to us in the particular actions and ministry of the "incarnate and crucified Christ.” (p.16)
Formation is utterly God’s action upon the believer. Bonhoeffer’s position prevents any possibility of formation being related to "something" the church does as technique or method.
Bonhoeffer’s reticence to assign human agency to formation, extends beyond his avoidance of spiritual technique in the Christian life. It most basically stemmed from his understanding of the form of Christ. Bonhoeffer regarded conformation into the form of Christ to be a complete transformation of the form of human existence and, therefore, something impossible for humanity to achieve.
“Formation occurs only by being drawn into the form of Jesus Christ, by being conformed to the unique form of the one who became human, was crucified, and is risen. This does not happen as we strive; to become like Jesus,’ as we customarily say, but as the form of Jesus Christ himself so works on us that it moulds us, conforming our form to Christ's own.” (Gal. 4:9)
“... The aim and objective is not to renew human thoughts about God so that they are correct, or that we would subject our individual deeds to the word of God again, but that we, with our whole existence and as living creatures, would become the image of God. Body, soul, and spirit, that is, the form of being human in its totality, is to bear the image of God on earth.”
Tim Catchim and Alan Hirsch note that discipleship is not a solitary activity, but occurs in the context of the faith community:
“Apostolic movement involves a radical community of disciples,
centred on the Lordship of Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, built squarely on a fivefold ministry, organized around mission where everyone (not just professionals) is considered an empowered agent, and tends to be decentralised in organizational structure.” ___________________________
