Discipleship-Apologetics: Churches Are Lost Without It
Socrates stated, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Likewise, I would add, the unexamined faith is not worth having, and surely not worth sharing. When expressing our testimony, do our words and knowledge have authority and power due to an experiential relationship with Christ? Or are we conveying empty platitudes borne of dutiful pretense?
Nothing in the world has impacted me as much as the simplicity and power contained in Jesus’ words. His revolutionary way of thinking taught me to think for myself in light of His truth, thus setting me free from the intellectual and spiritual prisons that formerly held me. The chaos of the world suddenly made sense as I realized that nothing was truly out of control while also realizing exactly Who is in control. And nothing in the world has awed me as much as the wonder of being a friend of God. The revelatory ventures I have been granted in this life only hint at the unimaginable glory and fellowship that await in the next. Eternal life in Christ begins at one’s salvation, but He longs to share with everyone the riches of His Kingdom now!
Miracles still occur in the world and in our lives, but we have lost the capacity to be amazed. Jesus said that anyone who believes in Him will do greater works than even He has done (John 14:12). So why is this not the present status of the church when the book of Acts remains the context of our day? The Holy Spirit still directs true disciples into all truth (John 16:13), so let us not grieve Him. But let us instead invite Him to empower us through the words of the apostle Peter:
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 1:19).
What does it mean to “gird up the loins of your mind”? We can answer this by first asking and then answering another question…
What Is Discipleship-Apologetics?
Discipleship-Apologetics describes the Christian way of life and its worldview. It does not mean apologizing for being a disciple! A term perhaps unfamiliar to some, “apologetics” derives from the Greek term apologia which means “to answer, or give a defense toward understanding.”
The word “apology” is likewise rooted in this Greek word. Apologetics, however, simply indicates “a reasoned argument or defense of the Christian faith.” Of course, the Christian faith needs no defense; the idea here is that both Scripture and Christianity welcome scrutiny and contemplation in that they are established on the truth of Jesus Christ. As such, Discipleship-Apologetics marks the disciple of Christ who exemplifies Christlike boldness in studying, proclaiming, and articulating His Word, knows what they believe and why they believe it, and effectively engages in worship and spiritual warfare through prayer and fasting.[1]
In our culture of information inundation it has become effortless to stock up on soundbites while abstaining from the hard work of actual research and rumination, commonly resulting in a very broad but very shallow knowledge base devoid of wisdom. Social media, though a great tool when utilized effectively, is too often exploited toward aggravated discourse that is routinely rooted in ignorance, emotionalism, and hubris. Regrettably, Christians are repeatedly the worst offenders! Add to this the fact that we live in a hateful and complicated world that loves darkness more than light. But alas! There is hope!
A New Hope Brings New Life
In my lifetime I have learned that countless people (even Christians) see the world’s chaos but do not see God, for to them the alleged chaos is bigger than God as they are weighed down by the cares of the world (Matthew 13:22). This is due in part to the fallen human condition and in part to willful rebellion against the Creator. However, the core issue for Christians who “trend negative” is always a lack of resilient intimacy with Christ.
The hope rests in the fact that this plight is only remedied by an understanding and application of discipleship as a way of life, and not as an addendum to be compartmentalized into a few hours of study or musical praise each week (2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Corinthians 15:31). A richer grasp of proactive discipleship is certainly not an easy fix, but it is indeed a simple one if we are humble, hungry for truth, and deliberate in our pursuit of God.
The How and Why of Apologetics
Born with an appetite for insight, I have ever sought “the wizard behind the curtain.” And amidst my lifelong pursuit of the how and why of things, I have indeed found many wizards! Some good, some bad, some odd, all interesting. As a result, I began to value profoundly the simplicity to be discovered within the perceived and, at times, actual complexities round about us. Consequently, I set out to mine the rich veins of truth, logic, and reason.
For example, what is truth? What is morality? What is the meaning of life? Is there meaning to life? Why is there evil and suffering in the world? If God is good and all-powerful, why does He not stop the evil and suffering? How does the world and universe operate? How are the laws of physics, quantum physics, metaphysics, and logic interconnected and understood? How do we know what we know? Do science and the Bible complement each other, or are they at odds? Is the Bible truly God’s Word? How does it hold up against all other religions and cults? What is the church supposed to look like–locally and universally? Why is the church so divided? What is spiritual warfare and what does it look like? What is the difference and relationship between doctrine and discipleship? Who is God? How can I know God? Who am I? Where did I/we come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?
When I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, I began to tackle all of these questions and thousands more. The Holy Spirit taught me how to examine Scripture, the world, humanity, and myself (2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 Corinthians 11:28). For over twenty years my life sojourn has been rigorously shaped, corrected, and defined by the instruction and experiential revelation of Jesus Christ via His Spirit, allowing for the acquisition of strong answers and theological reason in response to tough questions and tougher circumstances (2 Timothy 2:15).
Yet it is not enough to merely possess answers. We must ask questions and then question our answers, ultimately possessing the how and why to those answers, for no prophecy or truth of Scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). This allows us to genuinely own our faith by receiving wisdom granted by God, progressing beyond belief to core convictions that determine how we both reason and live out a Christlike ethic, i.e. Discipleship-Apologetics.
Authentic Discipleship
The most effective Christians are not just “good people,” for no one is good (Roman 3:23). Rather, true Christians are individuals who sanctify the Lord God in their hearts while always being ready to patiently and lovingly explain the Christian worldview along with being able to confidently cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (1 Peter 3:15; 2 Corinthians 10:5). This level of discipleship and evangelism is possible solely to the humble servant who worships Jesus Christ as God, patiently and prayerfully walks in-step with the Holy Spirit, seeks to love and serve others, and continuously seeks Christlikeness through self-examination and immersion in Holy Scripture. Of course, the degree of rigor required to actually follow Jesus has its naysayers and counterfeit disciples who often scoff for reasons as trite as laziness or as serious as apostasy.
Biblical and churchhouse soundbites will never suffice for authentic followers of Jesus. Altruistic self-servitude and unfulfilled noble intentions that misapply God’s grace are likewise prohibited. Real discipleship cannot only be in the mind. It must be lived. For we must diligently study[2] to show ourselves approved to God without being ashamed of our work and ministry (as it should be absent of guile and sloth), rightly discerning the word of truth from fallacy (2 Timothy 2:15).
We also must not believe every spirit, but test whether the spirits and their motives are of God (1 John 4:1). In this we vouchsafe our view of God as God which keeps our flesh in check. Recall when Jesus cursed the enticingly leafy fig tree for not bearing any figs (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21). Our biblical intimacy, spiritual fruit, and relationship with Christ must deepen and mature over time, or eventually our pretentious fig leaves will wither and our shame be exposed (Matthew 7:15-23).
Yet fear not, the Holy Spirit is our abiding Counselor, Comforter, and Friend who equips and empowers us to prevail (John 14:16, 26). We need only invite Him to take up the vanguard of our lives. His presence in the life of a believer is not nebulous or talismanic, nor does He coerce us to do the right thing. Via our free will and human responsibility, the Spirit may persuade us, but He will never violate our liberty of choice. Accordingly, the more reign we give Him, the more Christ will live through us (John 3:30).
As we shall see, Discipleship-Apologetics and an active Holy Spirit in our lives is countercultural not only to the world, but to the sad state of the Western Church.
Churches Without Christ
Western Christendom has experienced a deadly shift toward spiritual consumerism (Revelation 3:1). A push for bigger churches, broader impact, popular branding, and larger-than-life personalities is fed by the desire to be ever more “relevant” in our postmodern culture. Yet, in part due to neglecting historical awareness and in part due to lessening emphasis on true discipleship, the Western Church has drifted from a brazen faith to one of dithering mediocrity.
Relying more upon non-biblical tradition than on Scripture, establishing “churches” on trends and not on Christ, and building audiences rather than Kingdom armies has caused the West to witness a dangerous increase in spiritual apathy and cynicism. This has occurred because many Christians today do not effectively study the Word of God, resulting in biblical illiteracy and the inability to cogently engage worldly knowledge with the hammer of godly wisdom. And where there is no visionary understanding, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18).
Indeed, there is no excuse for the fractured state of the Western Church and its insufferable disregard for scriptural inerrancy. My book The Morning Star & the Melon: Pursuing Truth Through Scripture, Science, Philosophy, and Logic is a treatise on Discipleship-Apologetics and addresses this failure of the church while serving to equip the reader with a lucid awareness that the Bible is the foundation upon which to anchor all thought concerning salvation and every province of education or interest.
When our identity is in Christ alone our confidence in both Him and the missions He has given us is unshakable. Upon truly knowing our Savior as God and Friend we discover that we ultimately answer to no one but Him. Others may object to our confidence or find fault in our ministry, but such responses are often due to insecurities, envy, and personal convictions of spiritual immaturity, illiteracy, fear, and pride. Indeed, those who are swiftest to assert unsought counsel and criticism are usually the least informed and farthest removed from the circumstance. Truly it is most unfortunate when such souls are fellow believers, but the edification of self has become the fig leaf of choice for those with bullhorns and fragile egos. And it is these very personalities that can harm a church or individual as they project fear and hyper-criticism from their preferred bully pulpits, serving only to grieve the Holy Spirit and extinguish His local ministry.
Then there are the honey-mouthed false teachers who spin worldliness into tinseled tenets of virtue, selfishly leading the sheeple down wretched roads paved in pyrite.[3] Scripture warns of this. Jesus scolded the church at Sardis for having a lively reputation but possessing no spiritual life, even remarking that there were only a few who had not soiled themselves(!), having chosen Him over the lustful lure of celebrity and self-satisfaction (Rev. 3:1-4). Jesus said this! The Western Church is no better and has proudly advanced to the sorry state of the Laodicean assembly where Christ stands outside the church knocking on the door while fools in their folly carry on within. The Laodicean congregation was offered only condemnation by Christ (Rev. 3:14-22).
For Christians, the Church is who we are; it is not what we do or where we go. But we cannot in fact be the Church if we do not walk in genuine Christlikeness. Praise God for today’s ministries that are established by the Holy Spirit through authentic disciples rather than by the human spirit through force of will or cult of personality!
Disciples Without Discipline
Too many Christian leaders with too much pride and too little discernment are ignoring too many battles in the war of the worldviews, choosing instead to join and promote ever-popular socio-emotional pep rallies. But eventually the surface wears thin and if spiritual depth is absent within a church, assembly, or individual, then spiritual growth will also be absent.
Entertaining the masses is not raising up disciples. Adopting secular practices and emulating the world in order to appeal to truth-seekers is not evangelizing. Deifying doctrine and tradition as a “code toward sanctity” misses the relational reality of knowing Christ and His Word. Some would argue that such applications are “a lure to get them in the door,” but then it would not be the Holy Spirit drawing them (which is why so many new attendees eventually leave shallow rallies). And hosting Bible studies and classes devoid of frequent real-life one-on-one face-to-face interaction is not discipleship, it is simply a Bible study where one’s knowledge and awareness may increase only to be mistaken for spiritual maturity. Therefore, leaders of enduring valor are needed within the church to purposefully confront the world’s hollow vanities and church culture’s corruption while seeking out those individuals who need the personal touch of Christ and transforming power of the Spirit.
Even within established church culture there is a tendency to cling more tightly to doctrine than to Christ. In fact, this was the sin of the Ephesian church that had lost its “first love,” which was Christ Himself (Revelation 2:4-5). Consider that a sound discipleship will never violate biblical doctrine, but an edified doctrine can become a stumbling block to one’s discipleship. For example, some volumes on biblical doctrine alone far exceed Scripture itself in extent! We must be careful in our Bible exegesis, not conceited.
Also, it is one thing to become a church member and then “hide and abide” with little to no accountability or maturity. It is another thing entirely to “know and grow,” proactively engaging in relational endeavors wherever Christ leads (church member or not). And recall that the majority will forever seek man’s favor before God’s, so beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (Colossians 2:8).
These words from the apostle Paul to the church in Colosse still carry their original urgency; and to clarify, his teaching here does not oppose the careful reasoning of philosophy in general, but directly challenges the flawed reasoning used to deceive and govern minds that are ill-equipped to demolish untruth with truth. Accordingly, the obedient disciple labors toward completeness in Christ, no longer tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and deceived by devilry or the trickery of men (Ephesians 4:13-14). In the same way, Christlikeness and deep joy do not develop in the character of the spiritually passive, for they are cultivated and brought to fruition by spiritual disciplines that invite the Holy Spirit’s active involvement in one’s life.[4]
Be One of the Few
Some mistakenly believe that discipleship should be easy in reference to Jesus’ “easy yoke” and “light burden” (Matthew 11:30).[5] But this reveals the biblical illiteracy I previously mentioned. Jesus Himself said, “Enter by the narrow gate… because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
And Peter assures us that while there are some things in Scripture that are hard to understand, continued growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ empowers us to remain steadfast in our faith and convictions (2 Peter 3:16-18). For though we live in a hardened, corrupt, and complicated culture, simplification and comprehension are indeed possible for the determined disciple willing to work hard and learn much, be shrewd and honorable, and above all to glorify Jesus Christ!
Notes:
1. Joshua 1:9; 1 Peter 3:13-16; Isaiah 54:17; John 3:16; Galatians 5:24; Ephesians 6:11-18
2. A disciple’s studies and contemplation should include Scripture, world history, apologetics, logic, ethics, philosophy, and as many sciences as desired.
3. Pyrite is a brassy yellowish mineral known as Fool’s Gold.
4. Spiritual disciplines include prayer, worship, Bible study, various extra-biblical studies, contemplation, self-examination, teaching, evangelizing, counseling, loving and serving others, etc.
5. For a deep plunge into the heart of true discipleship, follow the link to my article The “Easy Yoke” & “Light Burden” of Discipleship.