Discipleship

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

John 13:14-16

I’ve been doing a little reading on the word disciple and its use in the New Testament. My interest is more than academic, though, because I’m convinced that the significance of “discipleship” in Christianity has been lost on most of us. Our attitudes have been thoroughly saturated with a secular outlook, and most of have chosen to make “Christian” only one among many labels used to describe our lives and interests. Discipleship, for many Christians, has been squeezed into a tiny box and put away on the back shelf of the mind. It is only to be taken out at socially acceptable moments, and it is certainly not to be seen in public.

Are my statements too strong? If you think so, then consider this description of “disciple” that I found in a Bible dictionary:

Disciple — a scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Matt. 9:14), and of the Pharisees (22:16), but principally to the followers of Christ. A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example (Matt. 10:24; Luke 14:26, 27, 33; John 6:69).^[1]

I like that definition, so let’s take the four points one at a time. First, discipleship is characterized by faith, a belief in something that has been taught by and about Christ. Specifically, the doctrine for Christian discipleship is that Jesus is the son of God who lived in flesh on the earth, bore mankind’s sins when he died on the cross, and was resurrected by God to demonstrate his power over life and death. Now that’s a belief system that reaches way beyond ordinary life.

Second, discipleship leads a person beyond a dependence on his own ability to solve problems and atone for sins. To say that a disciple of Christ is one who “rests on his sacrifice” is to say that he/she is willing to say out loud, “the sacrifice of Jesus Christ defines my existence.”

The third part of the definition makes things a little more serious because it reaches inside us. It suggests that something of self has to be replaced with something of Christ. Maybe that’s why Paul told the Corinthian disciples that they needed to put away sexual immorality in recognition of the fact that their bodies were temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). We no longer under self-ownership because we belong to Christ; the proof of ownership is his Spirit living within us.

It’s the fourth part of this description of discipleship that really digs into us. Discipleship means imitation. A disciple has taken hold of an obligation to do more than merely repeat his teacher’s words; he has committed himself to imitate the life and lifestyle of that teacher. A Christian is obligated, therefore, to imitation of the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ attitudes must become the disciple’s attitudes. Jesus’ approach to people must become the disciple’s approach. What Jesus did, the disciple must do.

Most of us are not really very good disciples. Jesus denied himself, served others and died on a cross, but we are always looking for ways to wear his name without really imitating his life. The problem with that approach is that it will keep us from ultimately going where he went – home to His Father.

Can you be called a disciple?

Bobby Wheat

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^[1]Easton, M.G.: Easton's Bible Dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996, c1897

God Provides

God will provide for himself…

Genesis 22:8

Have you ever taken notice, as you were reading through the Bible, of how God makes use of people? God used Noah to preserve humanity and demonstrate his concern for right living. He used Abraham to build a nation and establish a covenant relationship that would bless all mankind. He used Moses to lead that nation out of captivity and toward the land of promise. In the New Testament period, he used Paul to carry to the Gentiles the message of that “covenant relationship” and “blessing,” available universally in Jesus Christ. Impressive men. Impressive work in God’s kingdom.

I’m also impressed also with the way God used some other people. Have you ever taken note of Bezalel and Oholiab? If you haven’t spent much time reading about the Exodus from Egypt and the Wilderness Period in Israel’s history, you might have missed those two names. But their work was significant and outstanding. They fashioned the tabernacle and all the items of worship that went with it. They made the garments worn by the priests with all their gold and jeweled adornments. According to Exodus 35, Bezalel was able to “make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stone, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship” (Exodus 35:32-33 - NIV).

You might also take note of the fact, as the ESV translates Exodus 35:30, that God “called by name Bezalel.” God did not just tell Moses to build a tabernacle and leave him to figure out himself how it was to be done. God gave Moses a pattern (Hebrews 8:5) and detailed instructions concerning materials (Exodus 31 & 35). He made it possible for the Israelites to leave Egypt with an abundance of gold, silver and other materials (Exodus 12:35-36) and he helped the Israelites in turn to be generous in giving their possessions for building the tabernacle and all its furnishings (Exodus 35:20-29). And God provided for Moses the skilled craftsman, filled with “the spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship” (Exodus 35:31).

While it is possible to draw a number of conclusions from these few bits of scripture, the one to which I am drawn needs to be emphasized for our good. It seems to me that, when God gives his people a job to do, he always supplies what they need to do the job. Another case in point can be seen in the Luke’s record of the early church’s work. As you read the book of Acts, take note of how the apostles and others engaged in the work were constantly supplied with strength, encouragement and opportunity by God through his Holy Spirit. Add to the argument also Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 9:10: “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (NIV).

Do we need physical strength for our work of saving souls? God will provide what is needed. Do we need clearer sight to see those who are waiting to be taught? God will provide what is needed. Do we need physical resources to accomplish our work of evangelism? God will provide what is needed. Do we need more people to do the work? God will provide what is needed.

God provides. Are you looking for his provision? Is it possible that you are being called by God to be his workman, his provision?

Bobby Wheat

Adopted for Life

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Galatians 4:4-6

In 2003, my wife’s sister and her family traveled to China and returned with an addition to their family – a delightful little boy. His Chinese name is Feng (pronounced fong), but at his adoption this little fellow was given three family names – his new parents’ surname, his new grandfather’s first name, and the name of a long-deceased maternal uncle as a middle name. I marvel at the deliberate expression of love and commitment such an action requires.

Tolbert Fanning, a greatly respected 19^th century preacher, once wrote concerning the church that “becoming a member of this highly favored and honorable family…is…by adoption alone.” Paul the apostle reminded his Ephesian audience that God made a choice, that he deliberately purposed our adoption as his own children (Ephesians 1:5). And God gave us a family name, allowing us to be called “Christians” (Acts 11:26) after the name of his own son, Jesus the Christ. What marvelous love!

Taking a child born to another and making him your own is not an easy thing! As young as he was at the time, little Loy Earl Feng Redd had already developed some habits and attitudes that his parents had to help him put aside. They began immediately to teach him, to train him to act according to the rules of their household. As you might expect, he rebelled a little at a new regimen pressed on him by total strangers. But because the teaching was done firmly and with love, he soon began to conform to the family’s shape.

God’s church is a family. We are added to it through a process of adoption, an adoption about which we do have a choice. Once the choice is made, though, once the name is accepted, the family’s rules apply. But we tend to be like little Loy – because of undesirable habits and attitudes, because of worldly influence, because of ordinary human self-will, we sometimes rebel against the family rules. What response should the family make when rebellion occurs? The same response you would expect in any human family – firm and loving discipline, teaching and admonition!

Scripture speaks plainly about the blessings and obligations that our adoption as God’s children brings. The blessings are limitless, and include fellowship with God, his son Jesus and his holy spirit. Salvation from sin, hope that transcends this life, and fellowship with God’s children are the adoption gifts lavished on us by a loving Father.

The obligations are not difficult, but they are important. We are called to love one another and bear each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). We have the duty to encourage and exhort one another and to meet together for worship, study and fellowship (Hebrews 10:23-25). And we share the responsibility to tell the world the good news of our adoption, calling others to choose the same family (Mark 16:15).

Are you part of the family? If so, are you holding high your new name?

Bobby Wheat

Another Drink?

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 20:1

He stumbled, lurched left, lurched right, and then, just as the light was about to turn red, he wandered into the crossing and on across the busy street. At first, as I watched him move, seemingly without purpose as he stumbled and shuffled slowly across, I thought he was suffering the effects of old age or perhaps a physical deformity that caused him to move so. But then I saw it – not even disguised in a brown paper sack – an aluminum can with one of those much-advertised labels indicating that the contents came from some famous brewery. No wonder he couldn’t walk straight; he was drunk.

For centuries, people have pushed and touted alcoholic beverages. In our own age of bright and flashy electronic media and slick magazine presentations, beer, wine and hard liquor all get dressed up and presented as society’s best citizens. “Drink this one,” says the upscale magazine ad for some “velvet” liquor, “and you’ll be sophisticated and prosperous.” “Looking for a companion with a perfect body?” asks the very large billboard, as it presents the newest “light” beer, certain that you’ll make the connection between its product and “sexual” satisfaction. And who could miss the implied promises of prowess and accomplishment in the sponsorship of television sports broadcasts by every beer maker in (and out of) the country. But I can’t get out of my mind the picture of the drunk trying to cross the street; you know, he barely made it without being run over by an impatient driver.

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. "They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink."

Proverbs 23:29-35

The Wise Man, king of Israel and writer of many proverbs, paints a picture that all the clever advertising in the world can’t cover over – alcoholic beverages make a mess of peoples’ lives. Check the police reports, the court dockets, the autopsy records, the shelters for battered women and children, the emergency rooms and any other place where humans reveal their suffering and you’ll find a common thread – much of it was caused by alcohol consumption. It’s not pretty, it’s not flashy, and it’s not slick. And it is all the product of one of Satan’s best lies.

Don’t believe the lie. Don’t spread it around. Don’t reach for that drink. And don’t help anyone else reach for it, either.

Bobby Wheat

Influence

You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

It is a fairly common observation that, after several years of marriage, a husband and wife will tend to act and think like one another. It’s even possible for one or both to abandon radically different points of view in favor of a shift toward “middle ground” in political, economic or moral thinking. That’s not really surprising. In fact, it would be more surprising if, after twenty or thirty years of intimate association, neither partner had made any changes in thought, attitude or speech. We expect for one partner to have some influence on the other, for each person to be influenced by that intimate relationship.

Christianity is about influence. Those who are in Christ have been influenced by him to bring thoughts, actions and speech into conformity with his lifestyle. In turn, each Christian expects to somehow influence the lives of those living around him, anticipating a change for the better in his circle of influence. To be involved in the process of influencing others is, for the Christian, both a privilege and an obligation.

When Jesus spoke of salt and light during the “Sermon on the Mount,” he was drawing his listeners’ thoughts to the process of influence. Salt affects flavor, purges undesirable things from the system, and even acts as a preservative. Light radiates into the night, pushing away darkness and providing information and direction; without it, ignorance prevails and people are left to stumble along, never finding their way through life. That is influence! And Jesus, speaking to his followers, said, “You are the salt of the earth … you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). Jesus expects his followers to be involved in the process of positive influence, giving flavor to the world and providing light to drive away ignorance of him and his word.

Interestingly, Jesus also warned about negative influence that would affect his followers and drive them off course, ruining their own influence. Matthew tells us about Jesus warning his disciples concerning the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Leaven provides influence, causing bread to rise before it is baked, lightening the texture and changing the flavor of that most basic of foods. Jesus’ disciples at first misunderstood his words about leaven, thinking that he spoke literally about bread. They finally came to understand that, by speaking of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Jesus spoke about their teaching, a negative influence that should be avoided (Matthew 16:6-12). Paul, the Apostle, also using the image of leaven in a lump of dough, warned the Corinthian and Galatian Christians not to be influenced by false teaching that would certainly lead them astray (1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:9).

The kind of positive influence of which we speak doesn’t occur by accident. It is the product of hours, days, weeks and years spent in developing the mindset of Christ (Philippians 2:5). It is the result of a decision to influence rather than be influenced. It comes to those who have truly died to themselves and allowed Christ to live in their place (Galatians 2:20).

So, how are you influencing the people in your world?

Bobby Wheat

Something Different...

My sister and her family live in Shanghai, China. She works for a very large electronics manufacturer (the one based in the wonderful state mentioned in previous posts), and she occassionally sends us these "pictures" of life in China. Here's one she just sent - a wonderful reminder that we take so many things for granted in our very comfortable USA. ("Ash" is short for Ashley, my neice; Nick is my brother-in-law...)

Oh, got another scooter story.... This weekend (on the way home from buying Ash some reading glasses) we saw a guy pass us on a scooter much like Nick's. He had 3 crates on the back that had to be holding about 30 live ducks and on his little "floor board" (for lack of better term) he had 10 live ones corralled between his legs with nothing holding them in place. ~ 40 ducks on a scooter - I'm sure he was smelling nice! Unbelievable - they must have been on their way to slaughter. And we wonder why avian flu is spreading.....

Speaking of Texas...

I can't help it -- regardless of the fact that I haven't lived there in decades, "Texas" still oozes out of my pores. When we crossed the Red River last Friday, I threatened to make everyone get out of the car and kiss the ground (their lips were saved only by the fact that it was over 100 degrees outside). I boldly stated that the Red River existed to protect Texas from the rest of the country, whereupon Steve (who had been my friend until last Friday) suggested that the Red River existed to protect the rest of the country from Texas. Such ignorance!
To add insult to injury, Steve recounted the conversation before the church when he made the announcements before worship service on Sunday... whereupon Terry, when he came up to lead the first prayer, muttered something like, "let's pray the river continues to run." Such ignorance! But what can you expect when you get this far north...?

Oh, the word for the day is: whereupon... (further proof that Texans are not ignorant rednecks...)

Have a good 'un, ya'll!

Marriage Enrichment

Last weekend we travelled to Texas with another couple from the church here to attend a Marriage Enrichment Seminar. Carl Brecheen and Paul Faulkner have been doing these seminars several times a year for over 3 decades, and all the while they have continued to teach university classes, preach, lead churches, counsel thousands of people, and raise families. This is the last year they will do these seminars, so I'm glad we were able to attend this one.
It's hard to objectively evaluate the influence these two men have exercised in my life. Paul taught Freshman Bible (New Testament Survey), and I sat "at his feet" for two semesters. I suspect that his approach to teaching and his own philosophy of Christian living have been an unrecognized framework for my own. Carl Brecheen taught (and still teaches) Family Relations. That course helped me gel a philosophy of marriage and relationships that permeates all my own teaching today. I guess that listening to the two of them this past weekend reminded me again just how much I - and probably thousands of others - owe to the work of these two men.
Lord, help me to imitate their commitment to excellence in teaching and living the faith.
Thank you, Paul. Thank you, Carl.

Through the Church

…that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known…

Ephesians 3:10

Our secularized society has little use for the church. “Church” is seen by many as little more than a social organization, a club where older folks get together and visit, go through some strange rituals, and maybe help out a few needy persons. Even some who claim to believe in Jesus see the church as irrelevant, arguing that their faith is a personal matter to be lived out without involvement (read “interference”) from others. “Give me Jesus,” they say, “but you can keep your church.”

The same New Testament that tells us about Jesus also tells us about the church – his church. Jesus said that he would build his church (Matthew 16:18). In the Ephesian letter, Paul speaks repeatedly of the church, which is Christ’s body. The message is pretty clear – there is no association with Christ unless there is association with the church. Consider, for example this statement in Ephesians 5:29-30: “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.” The underlining points out the connection – anyone who is a member of Christ is a member of the church.

It must also be observed that the church is important to God. It was part of his design from the beginning (see Ephesians 3:11) because he intended the church to be the agency through which the world would learn about salvation. Did you see it in the passage quoted at the beginning of this article? “Through the church”, it says, the world will see “the manifold wisdom of God”. To be part of the church is to participate in revealing God’s nature and will to all mankind.

Who then could think that the church is unimportant? Perhaps the more significant question is this: What is your attitude toward the church that God designed and Jesus purchased?

Bobby Wheat