When we survey the evangelical world we come to the conclusion that discipleship must be learned, for we have teachings on discipleship, discipleship training, discipleship seminars and so on. And if peradventure someone fails to reach the desired end we direct him to a school specialized in discipleship. But where in the Scriptures do we read that one needs to study to become a disciple?
About the conditions of discipleship
As far as Christianity is concerned the word “disciple” can be defined as follows: A person who has met the conditions of discipleship. And the first thing to notice is that these conditions cannot be learned, they can only be accepted.
It can be compared to someone who wants to learn how to swim. In that realm some conditions will also be required. For instance, if a person lives in a desert he will have to accept to get to a place where there is sufficient water to swim. He will have to accept also to get wet and to put himself in a horizontal position in the water. As we all understand these conditions cannot be learned, they can only be accepted. Only after these conditions have been accepted can the person begin to learn how to swim.
When it comes to discipleship the principle is the same. Actually the word “disciple” means, “someone who learns from a teacher”, and obviously a person doesn’t need to study to become a learner. He just needs to accept the conditions, such as, to be where the teacher is, to follow him, to listen to him and so on. Only after he has met the conditions can he begin to learn something.
The idea that a person must learn something to become a disciple has become a hideout, a ground for procrastination, an excuse to postpone consecration and commitment.
The nature of the requirements
Another thing to realize is that the conditions of discipleship are not arbitrary but necessary. Let me explain.
As we have seen previously, the person who wants to learn how to swim must meet some necessary conditions, one of them being his acceptance to get wet, for as we all understand, nobody could ever learn how to swim if he refuses to meet that basic condition. But what if the teacher would require money? Could this condition be regarded as necessary? Obviously not, for surely one can learn how to swim without paying a dime.
This observation is highly important because it reveals that the one who refuses to meet the conditions of discipleship will get nowhere as far as Christian learning is concerned. He is doomed to remain on the shore of Christianity and play with the empty shells of Christian information.
Disciple or disciple indeed?
Jesus told His disciples, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31,32).
These words attest that the person who has not met the conditions of discipleship will not be able to abide in Jesus’ words. Sooner or later he will swerve out of the Scriptures to rescue his cherished self, and if you observe him long enough you will find him reinterpreting some scriptures to make them harmonize with his compromising mind, an harmonization quite popular nowadays.
If a person could follow Jesus without accepting the conditions of discipleship it would mean they would be arbitrary, and if this would be the case Jesus would become a sort of ruthless tyrant demanding unnecessary sacrifices just to satisfy his abusive mind.
Two examples
When we read the gospel of Luke we realize how essential the conditions of discipleship are. Jesus expresses the logic of their necessity by mentioning two examples.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace” (Luke 14:28–32).
In the first example the man began to build a tower but was not able to finish it because he missed something needed. The same reality is seen in the second example. The king must consider the potential of his army because if he would launch out while lacking something needed he would not be able to overcome the twenty thousand coming against him.
Jesus stated the conditions of discipleship just to let us know what is necessary to become a learner, for as far as genuine Christianity is concerned a learner is a follower, and no one will follow Him very far if he refuses to meet the requirements of discipleship.
In brief, a person becomes a disciple or a Christian as the result of a decision, not as a sequel of much learning.
Two misconceptions about discipleship (part 1)
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