DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT INSTANT

No one becomes a disciple in one step, at the moment of conversion. Evangelists should learn not even to expect it.

Many converts have no clue that there is such a thing as discipleship. Most are reluctant, but will respond to persistent efforts to disciple them. Like the rest of us, they grow in the Lord by stops and starts. But a shepherd can help them grow. (Evangelists soon become shepherds too.)

Still, almost as if to keep us from discouragement, some converts are instantly at least willing to become a disciple. Some even hunger for it. A few even disciple themselves, whether anyone helps them or not. (But to such, God often sends a helper.) How we wish the others were more like them!

Discipleship simply means following Christ. It is the only way to grow in Christ. More specifically, discipleship consists of trying to obey Christ’s commands. (See the “path of obedience” in the sketch below.) (From "Basics of Being a Christian")



No one becomes totally obedient in an instant. Actually, we never achieve full obedience to Christ in our lifetimes. Even basic commands like baptism and repentance may not be obeyed right away. But that does not mean there was no conversion, only that better discipleship is needed.

What brings spiritual growth is trying to obey Christ. Think that is easy? Nothing is harder! It goes against our very nature, which is to sin. Obeying Christ means trying not to sin (and after a few hard knocks, trying not to even think about a particular sin – which can make not doing it a lot easier.)

How does trying to obey Christ make us grow spiritually? It builds spiritual muscle, because it is hard. Because – like at the gym – strength grows by working against resistance. As C.S. Lewis said, it is because swimming upstream is so hard that it strengthens us more than floating downstream. Sinning is floating downstream. Not sinning is swimming upstream. The struggle itself is what brings the strength, patience and wisdom we need for the hard times in life. We gain faith too, from seeing that God was always with us in our struggles.

Fortunately, our God gives second chances. He has a plan for each life, though we are seldom exactly on it. Each time we are willing to try again, he makes a way. Discipleship is how we do it.

So discipleship requires, at minimum, two steps: First, being saved by unearned grace. Second, the beginning of discipleship; a long, long path of trying to obey Christ, with another chance after each failure, as long as we live.

(Next time – “Basics of Discipling”)

(Soon after: “Normal and Abnormal Discipling”)

(Soon after that: “Basics of Evangelism”; then, “Methods of Evangelism”)