The conversation about the meaning of
discipleship, about being disciples and making disciples is taking place in
many churches. It seems that
Christianity is awakening that we must go to the roots of the Great Commission
of Jesus. And in the process of rediscovering the meaning of what it means to
be a “disciple” we are challenged to admit that our cultures have changed our
perspectives on this Biblical term.
The word “disciple” is pre-Christian
Latin sense of "scholar, pupil, student." It appeared in English in 14th century,
replacing common Old English words “leorningcniht” and “þegn”. Language changes, and with these changes meaning. The original Greek of the Gospels used word
“mathetes” and as Christianity spread every language had to come up with their
own term to translate it. Today
Christian believers in different parts of the world perceive this word
differently. In some cultures this word
is reserved to the Twelve Apostles. And
the moment some one says “disciple” people literally thing of the Twelve
Apostles, and dismiss that it applies to them, that those who followed the
Apostles also were disciples, and they made other disciples. In West African Igbo language for example the
word “onyeozi” literally means “mailman.”
In Slavic cultures the word “uchen” means only a “student.”
Just take a look at possible meaning
of this word: student, learner, schoolboy, scholar, pupil, apprentice, trainee,
journeyman, adept, successor, fosterling, son, child, youth, member of the
household, citizen, votary, mailman, herald, follower, chaser, pursuer,
tracker, pursuivant, squire, persecutor, prophet, devotee, concomitant,
partisan, sectary, adherent, cohort, sympathizer, vassal, assistant, adjutant,
acolyte, satellite, imitator, impersonator, henchman, initiate, armor
bearer. And this list is not exhausted
here!
What does discipleship means to
you? Is it learning more? Is it imitating Jesus? Is it being a member of the particular
church, belonging to this or that religious sect/party? Is it following certain guru? Is it belonging to the new adopted family in
faith? As I look over these terms I can
see why in different cultures these terms were chosen, because they all apply
in certain sense to what Jesus invited us to become in His Kingdom. We are Christ’s successors in this work of
continuing His Kingdom of Grace. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom,
representing values of heaven on earth.
When you think now of discipleship,
ask yourself – am I being a spiritual parent to someone? Am I mentoring someone to be my successor in
my ministry? Am I teaching someone what I learned? Am I delivering the Gospel message as a
herald and mailman to others? Be a Disciple, and Make Disciples for Jesus!
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