Discipleship Beyond the Classroom
In the institutional church, “discipleship” is a process only performed by professionals in the confines of the church program. Listener Judy Gale (who impresses us with her knowledge of the Chinese language during the intro) asked a question on the Facebook page about discipleship outside the institutional church. For those of us not in the institutional church, what happens when someone comes to faith and crosses our path? Do we encourage them to get “plugged in” to a local church so that they can be discipled? Or is there some other method or process that we should be embracing?
Ray and Steve discuss this question and the need for real-life relationships to be a part of anything taking place in the kingdom. Your thoughts in response are welcome either here or on the Facebook page.
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December 28th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Well “surprise, surprise,” to me! I’m half way through the podcast for the second time and just wanted to say “Thanks” for addressing the topic and to also say how ‘right on’ you are in all your comments about the nuts-n-bolts (literally) o…f the whole “discipleship” mentality that’s woven within institutional Christianity. Raborn’s comments about the pressures the institution places on “missionaries” were exactly what I experienced, and could be why I consider replacing the whole “D” mentality all together; replacing it with something less intentional but just as relational, relying more on the spirit of God to work in the individual’s heart and life, and not being consumed with either time or numbers – as I’ve heard it said elsewhere, “Living loved and letting life unfold.” ; )
December 29th, 2011 at 7:36 am
A few more thoughts after listening through the podcast: In reference to the Eph 4 discussion where Raborn says, “We have taken these gifts and turned them in to static roles…instead of God gifting someone in a certain moment of time…,” I would add “and on top of that, we throw in a salary and/or the mentality of “raising support” as a way of life!”
In reference to Steve’s thoughts on how the whole notion of (overseas) “missions” has gotten misguided – the process – which includes years of training, raising support, language learning, etc., …. “why can’t you just go to a place…get a job, and start making friends? Why does it have to be this formal approach…?” Steve, if you only knew how often I had these exact thoughts before, during and after my 10+ yrs of “training to be a missionary” out of my local church. When I initially shared that I had a heart “to go to China,” I was told that, first and foremost, I had to get my theology straight, and, second, because I was both single AND female, I should wait and get married so I would “go under the physical and emotional protection and spiritual covering of a husband.” After ten years of this “training,” (initiated and planned out myself), I found myself having fulfilled the first part of this arrangement, but I was still single. Finally, I said, “enough of this waiting…I’m not getting any younger and language acquisition is more difficult the older you get,” so I announced that I was going! I ended up in China in my mid 30’s, and by then, I was now more like a “big auntie” to my Chinese student friends, instead of being closer in age and seen as a fellow classmate. After several fruitful years of language and culture acquisition, I came home to “raise more support,” and it was then that my “leadership” inquired as to how many had I “led to the Lord,” and, “Oh, by the way, we, as a church, are not really in China, but we have alot of things going on in Romania, so why don’t you just transition on over to Romania…and we’ll support you in that….” That was the beginning of the end of my involvement in institutional Christianity (that and the myriad of things I encountered living in a non-western society) ….
January 11th, 2012 at 1:18 am
Hey guys, great podcast. I’ve listened to 5 or 6 episodes and have enjoyed them and been enriched.
I would like to hear some more thoughts on missions. As a full time “out of the box” missionary, I’d like to hear others take on this.
We actually do raise support and work full time on orphan-care and other relief efforts to the impoverished and sick folks in the community. Without the financial help of folks back in the U.S. there is no way we could do this.
Personally I can’t imagine actually doing what we do now and holding a full time job as well, or running a business. There’s simply not enough time in the day nor energy in me to handle that.
Though it could work out well for a short term mission/project.
January 11th, 2012 at 6:12 am
Hi Johnny,
I guess I’m seeing a distinction between “relief efforts,” “humanitarian aid,” “disaster relief,” etc. versus just living somewhere and setting up shop to “share the gospel and plant (institutional) churches.” I totally get (and support) what you are involved in and even have a good friend who is living abroad and caring for abandoned children in her home – she could not do the 24/7 care without the financial support of others. Thanks for sharing here. Shalom, ~Judy