Disciples are those becoming more like Jesus

An effective church is one which is expressed in relational discipleship, writes Peter Sara.

Many letters to this newspaper respond to  views expressed in this column or by other correspondents about religious matters. Christian beliefs in particular come in for a dollop of criticism.

A theme which recurs is directed at the Church and its conduct, mostly to do with bad things which happened along the way. Often such historical misbehaviour is advanced as the rationale for not being a Christian or for being an atheist or for simply being disengaged.

Rightly so, the response from many adherents of the Christian faith has been to examine these practices and hold them up to the light of the teachings of Jesus so  correction may follow. Apart from identifying abuses and working out ways to deal with them, another response has been to examine the first principles: what is the purpose of the Church?

Contrary to the view that the Church exists as means of religious expression and possibly the purveyor of good works, the biblical perspective is much more radical — nothing less than the transformation of the planet and all humans who live on it.

Jesus modelled this with his own followers, or disciples. Jesus’ last recorded command to his 11 closest followers was simple enough in its expression: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."

Known as the Great Commission, this foundational statement has shaped the movement which followed. Initially called the Way, it became Christianity.

From very small beginnings the movement has grown and includes many people groups also known as nations.

Notably Jesus left no instruction about how this was to be done in terms of organisation or structure, which left plenty of room for the movement to take the various shapes which developed, for better or for worse. But there is a sense that the (Western) Church has lost its effectiveness as the principal means of bringing about spiritual transformation through encounters with Jesus through the Holy Spirit and disciple making .

There has arisen a movement within Christianity which attempts to express and work out the original instruction given by Jesus in a way which better reflects his intention, which was that followers be made of Jesus himself who, in turn, make followers of Jesus. Disciples who make disciples. Disciples are those who are becoming more like Jesus in our being and doing.

This movement does not eschew what is called organised religion or denominations: it seeks to facilitate  obedience to Jesus’ pattern of life and command in ways which work in every culture in every place at all times. The movement, which has many names,  seeks to transform churches to be effective in making disciples. The transformation includes a change of focus away from being Christian to being a disciple of Jesus. The process of making disciples, according to Gunter Krallmann, is "life transference through the channel of relationship".

An effective church is one which is expressed in relational discipleship.

The job of achieving this devolves from the pastor to the people. Jesus said: "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

This was not meant to be the mandate for a professional clergy and a submissive (and probably passive) laity which many churches became. It was meant that the disciple follows Jesus, is  transformed by him and joins Jesus on his mission. The clergy/laity divide disappears. There is no "man of God" at the top. Everyone is engaged. Jesus’ command to love one another serves as the reason and the means for relational engagement. The exemplar of loving is Jesus himself, the most radically loving person of all history. As his disciples become more like Jesus, they become more radically loving. This is outworked in loving acts such as feeding the poor and fighting injustice.  Pope Francis  and Bishop Desmond Tutu are living examples. Martin Luther King Jr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Mother Teresa are magnificent models from  our past.

In various parts of the world this movement is conducted through small groups who facilitate the training of people to be spiritually mature, fully devoted followers of Jesus and makers of disciples. This movement has  small beginnings in New Zealand. A recurring theme of scripture is great things come from small beginnings. It has the potential to have the same explosive power of the Reformation.

- Peter Sara is an elder at Elim Church, Dunedin.