Its dangers in last days
DISCIPLESHIP
It’s dangers in the last days
One of the best axioms in teaching can be expressed in this way, “Define your terms, then stick to your definitions.”
In considering the subject DISCIPLESHIP AND ITS DANGERS IN THE LAST DAYS, we must first define the term “discipleship”. What do we mean by discipleship? Here we are faced with a problem inasmuch as the term is not employed in any of the epistles of the New Testament. The 272 instances in which the word occurs are to be found in the Gospels and Acts- 240 in the former, 32 in the latter.
Examining these references we are impressed with the fact that discipleship in a peculiar sense was connected with Christ’s earthly life, when it had a two/old significance. First, there was the literal, physical following of Christ to learn from His personal teaching. That is the reason for His demanding that those who would follow Him as disciples must forsake all.
“So, likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33
If they were to actually follow Him in His itinerant ministry, then they must leave home, loved ones, possessions and occupations.
But there was a deeper spiritual following of Him in heart’s affection and loyalty. Judas could be called a disciple in the outward sense. but certainly was not in the inward. This would seem to be the explanation of an otherwise difficult passage in John 6:60-66.
In verse 60 some of Christ’s disciples murmur at His teaching. In verse 64 they are charged with unbelief. In verse 66 many of them permanently forsake Him. These were, undoubtedly, the outward followers who did not possess the inward reality.
When Christ died, arose and ascended to the Father’s right hand, the personal aspect of His ministry ended. Now we learn through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Christ said to the Twelve, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come He will guide you into all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear that shall He speak and He will show you things to come. John 16:12-13
There is no literal, physical following of Christ now, it is a spiritual exercise. Consequently we are under no obligation to leave home, loved ones, occupation and possessions to become His disciple. These are to be recognized as belonging to Him, and held in trust for Him, to be used as He directs for the furtherance of His interests. The hardworking Christian wife and mother can be as true a disciple in the kitchen as the missionary worker in a foreign field. The important question is, Is each where God would have them?
I believe the hymn writer caught the true meaning of discipleship, as it applies today, when he wrote,
Naught that I have mine own I’ll call,
I’ll hold it for the Giver,
My heart, my strength, my life, my all
Are His and His forever.
These facts would seem to throw us back on the popular use of the term “discipleship”. Consulting the American Collegc Dictionary, it is interesting to note that the meaning assigned to the word “discipleship” is
I. One of the twelve personal followers of Jesus Christ.
2. Any follower of Christ.
3. An adherent of the doctrines of another; a follower.
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