Discipleship Imbalance

I was listening to the Outsiders Podcast this week and they made me think.  They call themselves "Outsiders" because they used to belong to the evangelical church but having rejected Biblical authority, they now find themselves 'outside' the boundaries that most evangelicals will embrace.  This particular podcast was on discipleship and one of the speakers' main contention was that discipleship wasn't about knowing propositional truth but rather the development of the character of Jesus in our lives.  Discipleship he contended, wasn't about being able to recite doctrine, (they seemed to have a pretty strong disdain for doctrine and anyone who believes God actually inspired the Scriptures), but rather about us being changed and transformed by Jesus as we walk through life with Him.

I once heard someone say that 'balance is that place we find ourselves as the pendulum swings to the other extreme.'  I could not agree more.  If we are not careful we tend merely to react and go to the other side of an issue only to find ourselves in error again, but on the other side.  Robertson McQuilken used to say, "We need to live in the center of Biblical tension," or to quote my friend Dick Lane, "We need to fly with two wings of truth."

To reject discipleship as growth in our understanding of truth, and more specifically in our understanding of God's Word, is to ignore so much of what the Bible says.  When Jesus prays for his disciples on the night before His death He says; (John 17:17) "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."  Peter says something similar in his second letter;  "Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;" (2Pet.1:4-6)  Because we have escaped the corruption of this world, in other words we have been saved, Peter tells us to add to our faith goodness and knowledge.  We don't need to reject the idea that discipleship includes our growth in knowledge.

But the 'Outsiders' are right when they say that discipleship isn't just knowing more; its about being transformed into Jesus' likeness.  In fact this is God's intention in salvation; I will be conformed in heart and soul and action to Jesus Himself!  If I am a Christ-follower, if Jesus is indeed my Savior, it is a certainty: I can't help but be more and more like Him with the passing of time.  That means I'll grow in my understanding of truth and doctrine but just as equally important, my character and my life will become more and more like Jesus.  Salvation isn't just about my agreeing that Jesus died for me as the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,'" but its about me entering into a relationship with God Himself.  He comes into my life with power and purpose and I begin to follow and the result is change.  I become like Jesus.

In what way do I become like Jesus?  I begin to take on His character.  I grow in love, patience, kindness and goodness.  I am able to love my enemies and do good to those who despitefully use me. I am able to serve others rather than demanding that others serve me.  I am humble as Jesus was humble.  I am holy, having been declared holy by God through faith, my heart longs to be holy.  Like Jesus I begin to long to spend time with God.  Prayer becomes my heart's desire.  Someone has said, "Jesus loves me just as I am but He loves me too much to leave me that way."  As He by His Spirit 'disciples me,' my heart and character and life are transformed by Him.

Don't make the mistake of discipleship imbalance.  Jesus wants you to grow in truth, in doctrine, and in your character.   Are you a disciple of Jesus?  If so, would you say you are changing, growing in both these regards?  Remember its a life long process.  Some times we take a few steps forward only to find ourselves falling one back.  Don't be discouraged.  Don't give up.  But do examine yourself.  Are you understanding and grasping truth in a growing measure?  Are you loving like Jesus?  Are you patient?  Are you kind?  Are you selfless?  Are you serving others?  Do the poor matter to you?  How about people without Jesus; do you see them as lost sheep without a shepherd? Are you Jesus with 'skin on' to those in your life and in your sphere of influence?

Be a disciple in balance!  Grow in truth.  Grow in godly character.