Transforming Church

>> As long as Christians refuse to witness to what Christ had done for them, or witness instead to what their church offers – the discipleship process will be short-circuited from happening.

>> As long as Christians refrain from leading others into a deeply personal on-going relationship with Christ or manage others instead as to how they should do things – the discipleship process will be short-circuited from happening.

>> As long as Christians do favors for others since they also receive favors or because they know that they will get favors back – the discipleship process will be short-circuited from happening.

>> As long as Christians measure what they give by what they have to or feel that they can give up – the discipleship process will be short-circuited from happening.

What is it that keeps short-circuiting the discipling process? It is when we think we are the ones who initiate this process. It is when we think we are the potter and God is the clay. It is when we think we run or control things. It is when we think we make or enable the discipleship process happen. It is when we try to be self-made disciples.

Face it! This is God’s process, and when a pastor evidences that he/she does not understand how we are to grow as disciples (the primary reason for which Christ started the church and the Holy Spirit struggles to keep it going), the need to repent for getting in the way of that process has to start with the pastor.

What was being short-circuited again and again in the beginning of this article are the faith practices Christ has provided to keep us in touch with Him throughout the day, every day, that the Holy Spirit might transform our lives into what He wants us to be. These practices keep us in touch with Him (grow us as disciples) more than a land phone, cell phone, blackberry, iPod or any technology yet to be invented.

And face it further! Unless we are willing to surrender and let God be the potter in all ways, discipleship will never become the word it is intended to be in our vocabulary. For that to happen, beyond having surrendered our life to Him, we have to give up everything that membership in the church today has come to mean. Regardless of being rostered or a layperson, being part-time or being a volunteer will never allow it to happen. Both of those are foreign to discipleship.

It means that we take the FULL posture of being a servant, 24/7, take all of our marching orders from Christ, and understand that leadership is far more coaching than managing, far more open than defensive and far more self-differentiated than controlling.

I agree with the suggestion in Part One of this article that making this transition happens easier at the start in the setting of a few men and women, or with what we readily identify today as small group ministry, but once a person moves beyond the position of follower and the daily living connection to Christ has been made, once the discipling process is being experienced, growth can come anytime, anywhere and in any size group.

Pastors who struggle with this today need to stop trying to make it happen themselves and concentrate on providing the environment for God to make it happen. He set it up from the beginning for Him to do it. It will begin with you as pastor and it will happen for all those for whom you have assumed some spiritual responsibility. Be willing to train, guide (coach) and provide the environment, and the Holy Spirit will not let you down. If you get impatient and try to grab the reins you will only end up blowing it.

To go back and read Part One of this article click here.

Other related articles:
“Building Discipleship Communities: Where do we start?”
“Getting Going as a Congregation on a Discipleship Lifestyle”
“People are Being Programmed to Death”
“Don’t Be a Member of the Church; be a disciple of Jesus Christ”