What the Call Means
How can one be a disciple if they do not
know what it is? To understand what a disciple is we need to turn to the word
of God and see what our leader Jesus has told us exactly what is disciple is,
after that we take what we know from the psychology of learning and teaching,
and apply it to our way of discipling and we are now effective. Someone once
told me you have to be sniper and not a machine gunner. Effectiveness is better
than quantity and to achieve this we must have a full understanding of what it
is to be a disciple and what it means to disciple.
The Good Shepherd
In the Scriptures we see a
consistent resemblance in being a shepherd and being in a position to disciple.
If you’re discipling someone essentially you are shepherding them as well. So
we can use this analogy the Scriptures give us and gain some insight and
knowledge. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His
life for the sheep” (John 10:11) the words shepherd and pastor are used interchangeable.
Jesus differentiates between the good shepherd and the bad Shepherd or “hireling.”
One is willing to lay down his life to protect the flock (God’s people), while
the other is quick to run when trouble or problems come and use the flock to
his own advantage. Jesus then, as in all things, is ultimately our only safe
example to follow. The Bible paints some of its most beautiful pictures of human
character in describing a shepherd. Psalm 23 is the classic picture of the good
shepherd which is our link to the way of discipling. Being placed in the positon
of leader of a “flock” is an important position. A shepherd provides everything his people
need, he puts the heart and mind are rest, he heals them and he shows them how
to honor him, he gives peace in place of fear and protects them against harm as
he shows them, step by step, how to walk with God in faith, he feeds them and
speaks life into his people, he encourages,
The Chosen Position
To be in the position of a person
who “disciples” others means you have to have your heart right with God before
anything else. A true leader is one who loves God and loves his people. Our
ministry as Christians, more specially leaders who disciple, is to love God’s
people. That is all, just love and in doing that loving comes discipling, it
all fits together because this is God’s plans for us. He calls each and
everyone one of us to this call—lay down our lives for one another. Many people
sometimes forget what that means, maybe you think it means World War II movie
where the hero dives on the hand grenade and saves his companions from certain
death. That’s great, a wonderful amazing thing, it’s just realistically most of
us don’t have that same situation placed before us. So we should learn from
Jesus who gives us the accurate representation and shows us love involves
action, it is not just a warm feeling. The action that love takes in service to
these requests laying down our life (our desires, our plans) and lifting up and
serving the needs of others. Love will cost us. It’s going to cost us time. It’s
going to cost us sleep. It’s going to cost us resources. That’s what we’re
called to do by the power of His Holy Spirit.
Caution
James
talked about the responsibilities of overseeing God’s people. He wrote, “My
brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a
stricter judgment” (James 3:1) It’s obviously that it’s not something to be undertaken
lighting, but with much prayer. We are teaching and ministering to God’s
people. In the book of Exodus, Moses was leading the people through the desert
and they ran out of water. God told Moses to go out and strike the rock, and it
brought forth water for the people. Later, they ran out of water again, and God
told Moses that this time if he would only speak to the rock, the water would
flow forth. Well, Moses was upset with the people complaining and harassing him
so he yelled at them, hi the rock and the water came out again, just like last
time. But it wasn’t just like last time. God had told Moses to talk to the
rock, not strike it. God told Moses that because he had misrepresented God to
the people that he would not be allowed to lead them into the Promised Land.
What a price he had to pay for misrepresenting God. What can we learn from
this? Do not misrepresent God He does not take it lightly. God’s people are his
people, not ours. God wants us to love them, that’s it.
The Problem
The problem with today is man has
exploited man and now we’re all confused as a society. This same tactic can be
used for good, we just need to under the psychology of it. Let’s take the psychology
of advertising for example, I believe this is a fitting example because at the
core you are trying to present something as attractive, similar to us showing
the gospel.
“A person can he appealed to most easily and most
effectively through his dominating imagery. Thus one who has visual images that
are very clear and distinct appreciates descriptions of scenes. The one who has
strong auditory imagery delights in having auditory images awakened. It is in
general best to awaken as many different classes of images as possible, for in
this way variety is given, and each reader is appealed to in the sort of
imagery which is the most pleasing to him, in which he thinks most readily, and
by means of which he is most easily influenced.”[1]
We as Christians need to take a better more tactful and intelligent
approach when bringing the gospel message to people. Especially in 2014 where
we are a sense driven society. Our 5 sense, (flesh) basically control our
desires. We have to appeal to the 5 senses, and appeal to culture. We must have
a tangible experience of God in order for it to “stick” as a belief.
“One of the great weaknesses of the present day
advertising is found in the fact that the writer of the advertisement fails to
appeal thus indirectly to the senses. How many advertisers describe a piano so
vividly that the reader can hear it? How many food products are so
described that the reader can taste the food? How many advertisements
describe a perfume so that the reader can smell it? How many describe an undergarment
so that the reader can feel the pleasant contact with his body?
Many advertisers seem never to have thought of this, and make no attempt at
such descriptions.”[2]
Ken Ham wrote an article
explain why people reject the gospel today and I believe as someone who will be
in the position to disciple someone it’s important to know why people reject
the gospel in our society. Ken Ham states
“Young people
today have little or no understanding of what is meant by sin or of its
consequences (remember: death and suffering are intrusions—results of sin).
They are growing up in a culture that teaches them they are just evolved
animals and that there is no Creator God to whom they are accountable.
Logically, then, there is no basis for absolutes (which of course is their
absolute!). Everyone has a right to their own opinions. There must be a
tolerance of all views (although Christianity is considered intolerant, because
it is exclusive—Jesus Christ is the only way). For them ‘truth’ is relative.
Television programs and movies portray accepted ‘norms’ as sex outside
marriage, gratuitous violence, materialism, and sensual pleasure. Human life is
not really considered special.”[3]
The 5 Senses
When we read what Ken is saying we can really
start to understand why the message is so rejected, add that with our
generation being the “now” generation and having all the information at our
fingertips (which makes us lazy) we understand the true need for the gospel
message to be presented in a way that touches all 5 senses, breaks down
boundaries of ethnicity and race, and destroy gender inequalities. The Gospel
that penetrates all labels and hits directly in the heart. That’s how God wants
us to represent him. We need to listen and trust in him. “A temperate man
relies on God for a sense of inner peace and security, no matter what is
happening in life.”[4]
How Culture Plays a Part
My best description of the culture being effected is hip
hop. Hip Hop had a huge impact in my life. Growing up without a father figure
and not a Christian I looked to any male role model for guidance (subconsciously).
Hip Hop told me that “if you do what we’re doing you will be successful.” I
followed that path and it brought so much emptiness. So many young men and
women listen to hip hop and make it a philosophy of life. The sad part is most
hip hop that most people know about is all negative. Lecrae a pioneer in
Christian rap says this about culture, “What people tend to do is embellish or
glorify things that only really have a glimmer or an inkling of the real
picture that’s being painted. And money is a good thing, it’s a good thing that
can help people, that can change circumstances. But money is not an ultimate
thing. It does not bring you ultimate satisfaction and I think that’s
irresponsible within hip hop for us to portray it as this ultimate.”[5] Lecrae is telling
how much influence culture can have on our society. Christian Hip Hop itself has been so
influential in so many lives, mine including. So we as Christian needs to
understand this is real, and it’s important. We need to take the time to learn
how we can be more effective.
[1] http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/02/15/the-psychology-of-advertising/
[2] http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1904/01/the-psychology-of-advertising/303465/
[3] https://answersingenesis.org/gospel/what-is-the-gospel-1/
[4] The Measure of a Man, Getz
p 47
[5] http://www.bet.com/news/music/2012/09/07/lecrae-calls-on-hip-hop-stars-to-spark-change-in-the-culture.html
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