What Ever Happened to Discipling?
Back in the day, when I was much younger, there was a push in the Christian Church to disciple individuals. It involved someone who was older discipling someone who was younger in the spirit of the following verse:
2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB)
[2] The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Notice in the epilogue from Matthew to go into all the world there is the requirement to teach them to observe what Jesus commanded. How often do we do that now?
Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB)
[19] “*Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,[20] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you *always, even to the end of the age.”
We are starting to experience a falling away of the younger generation. Most of the time it is due to not answering the "tough questions" that the more mature believer "should" be able to answer. Is it because we ourselves are not that "deep into it?" Is it because we would rather give a shallow answer than admit that we don't know? Well, why don't we not know? I submit to you that it is because we "more mature" believers have fallen away ourselves, we have never taken the time to really know the Lord ourselves. Notice this passage from the book of Hebrews:
Hebrews 5:12-14 (NASB)
[12] For though *by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the *elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. [13] For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. [14] But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
We have allowed an entire generation to be "partakers of milk only" and that is a travesty. The more mature believers should have been putting themselves into the mix and take it upon themselves to disciple younger individuals so that they in turn can tach others. It is to be honest and display the desire to make sure that others are built up in the Lord like we have been. It is to work to the end that the disciple is complete in Christ. It involves the leading of the Holy Spirit, but many do not know how to listen.
Colossians 1:28 (NASB)
[28] We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man *with all wisdom, so that we may present every man *complete in Christ.
Notice this passage from Titus which urges that young men have purity of doctrine and to be examples. You can't be an example without exercising your knowledge of the Word of God. Older and more mature believers can help in that process.
Titus 2:6-8 (NASB)
[6] Likewise urge the young men to be *sensible; [7] in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with *purity in doctrine, dignified, [8] sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
It tells us in the book of Proverbs to take pains to ensure that our children follow the right path. Why can't we do the same for young believers around us?
2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB)
[2] The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Notice in the epilogue from Matthew to go into all the world there is the requirement to teach them to observe what Jesus commanded. How often do we do that now?
Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB)
[19] “*Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,[20] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you *always, even to the end of the age.”
We are starting to experience a falling away of the younger generation. Most of the time it is due to not answering the "tough questions" that the more mature believer "should" be able to answer. Is it because we ourselves are not that "deep into it?" Is it because we would rather give a shallow answer than admit that we don't know? Well, why don't we not know? I submit to you that it is because we "more mature" believers have fallen away ourselves, we have never taken the time to really know the Lord ourselves. Notice this passage from the book of Hebrews:
Hebrews 5:12-14 (NASB)
[12] For though *by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the *elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. [13] For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. [14] But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
We have allowed an entire generation to be "partakers of milk only" and that is a travesty. The more mature believers should have been putting themselves into the mix and take it upon themselves to disciple younger individuals so that they in turn can tach others. It is to be honest and display the desire to make sure that others are built up in the Lord like we have been. It is to work to the end that the disciple is complete in Christ. It involves the leading of the Holy Spirit, but many do not know how to listen.
Colossians 1:28 (NASB)
[28] We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man *with all wisdom, so that we may present every man *complete in Christ.
Notice this passage from Titus which urges that young men have purity of doctrine and to be examples. You can't be an example without exercising your knowledge of the Word of God. Older and more mature believers can help in that process.
Titus 2:6-8 (NASB)
[6] Likewise urge the young men to be *sensible; [7] in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with *purity in doctrine, dignified, [8] sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
It tells us in the book of Proverbs to take pains to ensure that our children follow the right path. Why can't we do the same for young believers around us?