A conversation has always existed during my ministry between evangelism and discipleship. The conversation often pits ministers on different sides: those who evangelize and those who disciple.
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The scope of the New Testament teaches that evangelism is proof of discipleship and discipleship is proof of evangelism. Those who are truly evangelized will have a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), and those who are truly discipled will “seek and save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10).
‘Rampant’ in the Church
Unfortunately, there are at least three false concepts of discipleship that are rampant in the American church. They are examples of what discipleship is not.
Transactional. Discipleship is not simply transacting information for cognitive development.
Some exert effort to only advance in head knowledge. Biblical knowledge does not and cannot stop in the brain with the exchange of good and bad ideas. Rather, discipleship is transformational (Romans 12).
True discipleship is measured by love. Paul stated, “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge.
Knowledge makes us arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him” (I Corinthians 8:1-3).
Love manifests itself by loving God first and then loving others. If you love others, then you will be evangelistic.
Consumeristic. American Christians tend to be consumeristic. They have the resources to be shoppers, preferential, entitled, picky and comfortable. If they do not like a community of believers, then they can drive to another community. This is atypical in historical Christianity.
A problem arises when the consumerism outpaces the discipleship. Discipleship involves conflict resolution, struggle and sacrifice.
Many ministers have heard from departing church members, “I am not being fed, so I am leaving.” That and similar statements reveal spiritual immaturity, selfishness and that the departing churchgoer is missing the point of community. Mature Christians learn how to feed themselves, sacrifice for others and grow together as they do life together.
Entitled. Discipleship is not preferential. A disciple that needs a particular type of music, style of preaching, color of carpet or many other secondary needs struggles with entitlement. Paul tells Timothy about people who need their ears tickled (II Timothy 4).
The church is full of people with the expectation that their wants should be fulfilled by the leadership of the church.
Conversely, Paul offers clear instruction that destroys an entitlement mentality. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
False dichotomy disappears
The false dichotomy between evangelism and discipleship disappears when Christians embrace authentic biblical discipleship. True disciples naturally evangelize because they love God and love others, while genuine evangelism produces disciples hungry for righteousness and spiritual growth.
Churches must reject transactional, consumeristic and entitled models of discipleship that undermine community and mission.
When believers pursue transformational discipleship marked by humility, sacrifice and love, they will simultaneously fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by David Evans and originally published by the Baptist and Reflector.
