On Making Disciples
As the only Christian in my immediate family, I am on a mission to disciple my parents and siblings to move them closer to truth by extending forgiveness, engaging in heartfelt conversations, and modeling a Christ-like life. Unfortunately, we are not a close-knit unit, having swept plenty of dysfunction under the rug over the years. We do not freely share feelings, hopes, dreams, desires, and topics of real substance such as those, yet forgiveness may be the hammer that breaks down those walls and opens the door to an exploration of meaning and truth, which are exemplified by Jesus. As a ten-year-old Christian, I still wrestle with whether my attitude and behavior can inspire change in others, yet I try to live as though my life is influencing someone who may be watching. And while I would love to see conversions to Christianity occur quickly, discipleship can be a long process of steering the minds and hearts of others.
A solid first step for my clearing the air with my family has and continues to be forgiveness. We have hurt one another - some more than others. While forgiveness is difficult and can take a long time to process, I find that we must settle our human hurts both as a basis and a prerequisite to entertaining the divine. Forgiveness itself, in the words of Emily Dickinson, is divine and can break down the barriers that keep us from trusting in the counsel of those who have hurt us. Once the doors are opened to receive advice and guidance, we can, as Christians, make a deeper impact through the sharing of the Gospel and meeting others where they are with wisdom that is centered on the biblical worldview, which can be an influential anchor and organizing force behind conversations that we intend to guide unbelievers closer to the truth.
Engaging in dialogue based on a biblical worldview is not the same as “preaching a sermon.” Christians must seek inroads into minds and hearts that can ultimately lead to discussions regarding the purpose and sanctity of life; the eternal consequences of our actions here on earth; the difference between a superficial, works-based morality and the change of behavior that desires to honor God after fully surrendering to Him; and other such broad topics that can later be refined toward specific biblical teachings and admonitions to the disciple to fully open his mind and trust in God’s word, a catalyst which I know through my own salvation opened the door for me to repent and cry out to Him. Beyond the words we speak – and the incredible life that can be found in the power of the tongue - people need to see the attributes of God reflected to them by humans in whose hearts the Spirit of God dwells.
As Christians are conformed more into the image of Christ throughout life, modeling Christ-like behavior is not a static endeavor. We must constantly recalibrate and reassess how our actions affect others throughout our earthly ministries. Because Christ came to give us freedom and not put a yoke around our necks, walking in that freedom opens a pathway for a Christian to disciple through action as we become more of who God intended us to be. The beauty of the Christian life is not just that we discover more of Christ, but that we discover the increasing joys of who we are in him. As our disciples notice this change in behavior, the hope is that their curiosity is piqued to know more about the source of our joy, which proliferates into additional opportunities of the sort previously mentioned – moments to counsel heavy hearts by speaking life and sharing knowledge of God and the Gospel.
At a past job, when I told my boss that I was going through some hard times, he handed me a little slip of paper (like the ones in fortune cookies) with an oft-cited Bible verse. But I didn’t need a Bible verse; I needed an older and wiser person to talk to me with care and concern. Sometimes, we think that discipleship is just that easy, like handing out Bible verses, but it’s usually a long process of walking with others in community; breaking down barriers by expressing forgiveness, love, wisdom, and other attributes of God; engaging in meaningful conversation that is built on the foundation of a biblical worldview; and showing our truest selves that we were made to be through Christ and in living in the freedom he gives us. Through practicing those gifts and applying them to the hearts of other humans, you can be a light that shines in a dark world and the salt that preserves God’s goodness on earth. And who knows, if you’re like me, you may have a shot at mending your family in the process.
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