While we wrestle with deep divisions about much in The United Methodist Church these days, we are in strong agreement that our collective mission is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Such a great grand mission erupts from the Great Commission of Christ given in the closing paragraph of St. Matthew’s sweeping Gospel (Good News!). “Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
As I have shared in Episcopal Addresses both to the Central Texas Conference and to the South Central Jurisdiction, “Jesus doesn’t want fans. He wants committed disciplined followers.” The dilemma for us is that over the last ½ century plus we have been a low demand church with a high commitment theology. The two don’t mix well. Now we find ourselves struggling to move from cultural attachment to the church to deep discipleship to Jesus.
In my recent readings, I’ve been working through Deep Church Rising by Andrew G. Walker and Robin A. Parry. In chapter 8, “Deep Transformation: Recovering Catechesis” (which is worth the price of the book alone) the authors note, “living as a Christian in modernity and post-modernity is quite different from living as a Christian before the Reformation. The sacred canopy of a Christian culture is now virtually gone and the social structures that made Christian belief and lifestyle plausible are no longer in place. It is harder to believe than it used to be – not because there are better arguments against Christianity than there used to be but simply because the plausibility structures are not in place. If we want to be conformed to the image of Christ, if we are serious about spiritual formation and discipleship and the plausibility of Christianity in the modern West, then going to a church meeting for a couple of hours a week and having a five-minute ‘quiet time ‘ each day is hardly going to do the trick” (Andrew G. Walker and Robin A. Parry, Deep Church Rising, p.132).
A part of what fascinates me about Walker & Parry’s detailed insistence on the recovery of catechesis (religious instruction for baptism, confirmation, and life-long discipleship) is the way it dove tails with so many other writings on discipleship. The importance of deep discipleship training is strongly emphasized in Kenda Creasy Dean’s marvelous book Almost Christian. It is echoed in the writing of people like Mike Slaughter. And the list could continue to include many solid authors and Christian leaders across the theological spectrum. Taken together they point us in the direction of a serious recovery of adult discipleship and training. This is no small task but rather one that necessitates great commitment and a move away from a simple 6-week curriculum approach. Walker and Parry note that “According to the Apostolic Tradition, catechesis was a journey that lasted for three years.” They added: “catechesis functioned as a kind of decompression chamber that took those seeking entry into the church on a transformative journey, climaxing in baptism and full entry into the Christian Community” (Andrew G. Walker and Robin A. Parry, Deep Church Rising, pp. 133-134).
Such deep discipleship formation training (catechesis) is a far cry from an invitation to come down and commit or recommit your life to Christ at the close of the worship service and possibly take a one to four hour class on Methodism and the church. [As an aside, one can make a case for coming forward and making a public commitment/ recommitment to Christ and His Church which includes a follow-on commitment to join an extensive class in Christian formation and discipleship after such a public commitment.]
I am reminded of two quotes that Dr. Dean carefully places in the forefront of her book:
“An almost Christian … [chiefly] is one that … is fond of the form, but never experiences the power of godliness in his heart.” -- George Whitefield, “The Almost Christian” (1739)
“The Church is full of almost Christians who have not gone all the way with Christ.” -- John Wesley, “The Almost Christian” (1741)
Reflecting on all this and the concomitant need for small groups (ala the Class Meeting) in deep discipleship formation, the Holy Spirit guides me to one of the towering challenges facing the church of today. Put bluntly, no matter where one is on the spectrum of church dividing issues (holding fast to current Disciplinary language with regard to LGBTQI questions all the way to being in favor of completely opening the Discipline up with regard to ordination & same gender marriage; or for that matter any other divisive issues – abortion, war, racism, theology, Bible, the role/power of the laity, etc. etc.) deep discipleship is desperately needed. Casual Christians cannot meet the cry of our divided, terror driven world. Almost Christians will not answer the Great Commission of Christ to go to “all the nations.” (The Greek word translated in Matthew 28:19 is the root for our word “ethnicities” or ethnic.) Fans for Christ will not suffice to heed the challenge of advancing the Kingdom of God in love, justice and mercy. We need committed disciplined followers.
The Lord calls for deep discipleship from ourselves and others. A new and deeper form of discipleship formation or catechesis is a requirement. Together we need to recreate the deep discipleship training which the early Christian movement so instinctively embraced.