The Forgotten Ways - Part Two

The chapter on disciple making begins with a great quote:

"The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief." - T. S. Eliot

Hirsch begins by illustrating how "easy" the modern church has made discipleship, yet how complex we've made "church". It should really be the other way around. Discipleship is the destiny we all have a followers of Christ. There is no "arrival" point at which we get all there is to get. But, most of the time, discipleship is seen as a classroom-based session for new converts.

He then explains how the major challenge to the viability of Christianity in the Western world is not Buddhism, or Islam, or New Age practices, but something we've all become accustomed to: consumerism. In fact, most advertising is no longer centered around the merits of the product, but the religious experiences of having said product (belonging, identity, meaning, purpose, etc.). There is a great, unfulfilled void in our lives, and marketers are tapping into that void using religious and spiritual language.

After almost a century of this consumeristic focus, the church has begun to mirror the marketplace. We offer religious goods and services, and whoever has the best "product" is the one that dominates the marketplace. "In this [church growth proponents] were sincere and well intentioned, but they must have been also totally ignorant of the ramifications of their counsel - because in the end the medium has so easily overwhelmed the message."

I had a conversation last night about this with a friend, who is the director of operations for a group of restaurants. If the missional church is so engaging and fulfilling, why is not the biggest thing in town? Why do people eat at McDonald's, after they know there's healthy alternatives? If I opened up an authentic Italian restaurant that only served the freshest ingredients, and I was next door to Chili's, how would I do? I would inevitably fail.

Our culture's religious palate has been conditioned to want the easy, passive, convenient God. The one where I can show up on Sunday, manage to stay awake for an hour, and feel that I've done my part. And the problem is, many pastors are doing little to change their palates! How do you do it? How do you change the palate of a community? Free samples, one by one. And you'll have to expect that some people will still prefer McDonald's.

The idea of discipleship is wrapped up in Paul's theology of being "in Christ." Jesus shares in John 15 that we are to abide in Christ. So, "all the spiritual disciplines aim us toward one thing - Christlikeness....To be a follower of Christ does not mean to imitate him literally by mimicking him, but to express him through the medium of one's own life." Hirsch concludes, "In the final analysis, the medium is the message, and the phenomenal movements of God seemed to be able to express the message authentically through the media of both their personal and common lives together."

Linked to this idea is the concept of embodiment, of becoming. Check out what Paul has to say:

"You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." - 1 Thessalonians 1:6-9

"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you." - Philippians 3:17

"We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow." - 2 Thessalonians 3:9

"In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." - Titus 2:7-8

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 11:1

When we embody the mind of Christ, we develop significant influence in the community around us. That influence is what develops us into leaders. This leadership, however, is not like the leadership we are used to. Jesus modeled a discipling leadership with a "life-on-life" approach, not merely dispensing information, but working along side his learners, allowing them to experience what it means to be a follower.

Next, we'll look at the missional-incarnational impulse.