Originally posted 08-02-2009. Reposted 06-01-2010
A friend of mine asked if I would write a blog post about why there seems to be a lack of discipleship in the American church today. I think the primary reason for this is that we, as American Christians, just don’t know what we’re doing any more. Our tried-and-true discipleship methods that we’ve used for decades just don’t work today and we’re having a hard time figuring out what to do next.
Let’s look first at what’s wrong with our traditional approach to Discipleship.
- Our Assumptions No Longer Work. 40 years ago (or more) “Discipleship” built upon the common knowledge/values that were shared by the average American person. In other words people grew up hearing more about God and the Bible in everyday life back then, so they came to church with at least a basic understanding of Christianity. Today this just isn’t the case. The average population knows of Christianity, but they don’t really know what it means or entails. Thus when the average person becomes a follower of Christ in the America today they start out with almost no foundational understanding whatsoever.
- Our Classrooms No Longer Work. The traditional approach to discipleship took place in the classroom. Today’s people are less interested in knowing the ins and outs of systematic theology and more interested in just figuring out how this Jesus-thing works. The scholarly approach to discipleship doesn’t capture the American attention like it once did.
- Our Categories No Longer Work. In the nice and neat Christian training methods of yesteryear we conveniently put Worship, Discipleship, Mission, Fellowship, and other Christian values into pretty little categories. The reality is that all of these things are intricately intertwined and cannot be separated.
So what needs to change in our Discipleship approach?
- Discipleship must be experiential. We can’t teach in laboratories any more. We must take discipleship to the streets. Look at how Jesus made disciples. Did it involve teaching? Absolutely! But it was done “on-the-job”.
- Discipleship should be decentralized. On-campus discipleship classes just won’t be well attended. The busy American lifestyle interferes too much. So we must figure out how to teach people “on the go.” We absolutely must figure out how to utilize methods like online e-training courses, podcasts, blogs, and social media to make disciples.
- Discipleship cannot be separated from Mission. When Jesus called the 12 it was not to a discipleship class, it was to a mission. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17. What made the 12 Disciples? Their Mission. If we’ll teach people how to be on mission 24-hours-a-day, we’ll make disciples.
Well those are my thoughts on the state of Discipleship in American Christianity today. What are yours?
Reminds me of something I heard recently from a wise man: There are many who claim to be Christians, but very few are disciples of Jesus. // In other words, one set claims to know a lot ABOUT God, while the other actually KNOWS God. One way of spiritual growth is based on learning more propositional truths about God. The other way (the Jesus way) is based on knowing the Truth as a Person. It’s time to get back to our roots when it comes to discipleship. Time to go old school and simply disciple people in the real world, not the classroom. For as that same wise person once said, “Life is the curriculum.”
– DCCowan
Experiential and decentralized are two key thoughts that you’ve expressed. What would that look like in real life? I’m interested because I’m leading my church through a series on discipleship, but, as you say, it must be more than systematic theology. The post-modern demands an experience. Jesus provided that and more for His disciples. How does this look in today’s world?
Experiential means interactive and involving. Lecture is the opposite of experiential. Group discussion, questions, freedom to doubt, and (somewhat) self-directed discipleship is experiential. Look at http://www.monvee.com for some good experiential examples.
By decentralized I mean not at church. Online sessions, discussion groups, discipleship DVDs and books are all examples of a decentralized approach.
Hope this helps!