Discipleship
I have not taken the time to do much personal writing in about a year. After I moved to Memphis and started my MDiv I all my creative writing was pretty focussed on my research. Now that I am transitioning back into being a full-time minister, I think it is a good time to start writing to help me process what I have been learning and possibly share that with others.
I have been asked by several people why I went back to school for my masters. That is a complicated question with a complicated answer that I really cannot cover in one post. I can say, however, that the primary driving force was to seek discipleship.
After being away from school for several years, I found myself desiring to be in that learning environment again. As much as I loved and still love working in ministry, I could tell that it was beginning to feel too mechanical. I wanted to take a couple of years to deepen my theology mostly because I desire to know more about God, but also because I wanted to make sure that any ministry I participated in was rooted in good theology. It was such a privilege to get to take the time to dive into more school. I learned so much from my professors and spiritual directors at seminary, and at the same time I learned so much from the leaders at Sycamore View where I am served as an apprentice. Now that I am back in full time ministry I am finding exciting ways to connect the world of everyday life and ministry to a deeper theology in ways I struggled to before.
“Christianity without discipleship is always Chrisitiantiy without Christ.”
Bonhoeffer said that Christianity without discipleship is Christianity without Christ, and I think he is right. I once heard Tim Mackie describe early disciples. He said that what defined them is that they were both learners and doers. That is the opportunity I am having now.
I could just be sitting in a classroom learning about how to serve God and His Church, but what would be the point of that if I never did anything? On the other hand, I could be doing a lot in service to God and the Church, but I think I would be missing serious opportunities to grow my faith if I never tried to gain a deeper understanding of why we do what we do.
Discipleship is a pairing of education and action. We experience God in both. Education and action are great on their own, but when they are put together, they are made more powerful than they could ever be on their own. Disciples are called to continually develop their understanding of who they are called to be and why. At the same time, disciples are called to action. To serve.
I do not think this means that everyone should go to seminary (but you should, cause it’s awesome), but I do think everyone needs to seek to learn more about the God they serve. I do not think everyone needs to have an office in a church-building either (but that is pretty awesome too), but everyone should be working for God as they go wherever God is taking them. If you are only learning but not doing anything, you are not a disciple. If you are only doing but not learning anything, you are not a disciple. Holy Spirit uses both everyday experience and a deeper theology to transform us into the restored image of God we were created to be.