Why would anyone want to pursue discipleship?
In our current blog series we are exploring the anatomy of discipleship. We first looked at its Profile in terms of its definition and description (TADB 60). Now I want to explore the Purpose of discipleship by answering the question, “Why is it essential for the Christian life?” Without answering the “why” question, discipleship will be ignored or at best, treated as a temporary novelty.
Imagine for a moment a sort of “Back to the Future” scenario. A modern day automobile is deposited back in time when our hunter gatherer ancestors lived. A hunting party comes upon the car glistening in the sun and cautiously approaches it asking the obvious questions, “What is it and what is it for?”
After seeing his face in the rearview mirror, one member exclaims, “It is a reflection machine!” Another opens the door and sees the leather seats and says, “It is a sleep machine”. After pushing various buttons on the dashboard, another concludes, “It is a noise making machine”.
But if they read the owner’s manual or talked to the designer, they would learn that the purpose of the machine was to facilitate travel … to take people to places they have never been before and to do it in grand style.
When we consult the Owner’s manual for discipleship, we learn that it is not an end in itself but a means to an end. The Designer has a purpose in mind when He invites us to follow Him.
Paul ties God’s work on our behalf with His purpose for discipleship.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:28-29).
Notice that the promised “good” is tied to God’s purpose: conformity to the image of Christ. This purpose is consistent with what Jesus taught in Luke 6:40, “Everyone when he has been fully trained will be like his teacher.” Discipleship is designed to produce men and women who are like Christ/bear His image (See the example in Acts 3:14).
This purpose goes back to the original design of Genesis 1, when man was made in the image of God and told to be fruitful and multiply (reproduce additional image bearers). On the resurrection side of the cross, the same theme of image bearing is repeated only now under a new covenant (See 2 Cor. 3:18).
In Paul’s letters he goes on to say that the purpose of discipleship is to develop not only individuals who share Christlikeness but a whole family of image bearers who acknowledge His preeminence.
“… so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren” (family of image bearers) (Rom 8:29).
“… so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (preeminence) (Col. 1:18).
Too often we get stuck in childhood, asking “what’s in it for me?” rather than “What is His design?” We are like the crowds in Jesus’ day who were looking for a free lunch and health care system. We seek after His benefits more than transformation to be like Him. “What’s in it for me?” attitude will never sustain discipleship.
New Testament discipleship is more than behavior modification. Our old personal operating system had a binary code of control and consumption. Our new operating system (2 Cor. 5:17) is based on the binary code of relationship and responsibility. This new binary code is evidenced in Jesus’ invitation: “Follow Me (relationship) and I will make you fishers of men (responsibility).” The historic Westminster confession states that the chief end of man is to “glorify God (responsibility) and enjoy Him forever (relationship).”
The gospel opens the door to a transformational relationship with Christ that restores our lost identity as His image bearers. Discipleship is the means by which that design is accomplished.
The critical question then is, do we as disciples and disciple-makers embrace the Designer’s purpose for discipleship? As we follow Christ are we seeking to reflect the family likeness of the First Born (Christ)?
Without embracing God’s purpose for discipleship, we are just playing with the buttons on the dashboard of the car when we could be traveling to amazing places we have never been.
For reflection consider other discipleship motivations.
- Col 1:9-10
- 2 Thess. 1:5, 11-12
- 2 Tim 2:4
- Heb. 11:6
- Rom 8:6-8
- 1 Thess. 4:1
- 1 Cor. 10:31
Thanks Ron,
Articles like this one bring clarity and significance to our calling. Keep them coming!