Pastor’s Perspective
Since our congregation has started the RENEW process, we should talk about discipleship. Why? RENEW is about “Renewing Peace Lutheran in Disciple-Making.” I am excited about our congregation as we begin this adventure of trusting in God’s faithfulness.
What is discipleship? American Christianity often portrays discipleship as an extra layer of faith, suggesting a divide between “Christians” and “disciples.” This mirrors the medieval view that monks were more spiritual than the laity. But this overlooks that we are justified by faith alone, in Christ alone, not by anything we add or bring to the table before God.
We should begin with a solid biblical understanding of what a disciple is. The word “disciple” means a learner, a scholar, or one who receives instruction from another. In other words, disciples are followers of Jesus. The key passage for both making and being a disciple is the Great Commission (Matt 28:19‑20a): “Go therefore 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 observe all that I have commanded you.” Thus, disciples are made by baptism and by being taught the faith, which is to be lived.
Learning the faith and baptism are intertwined. At baptism—whether we or our parents made the promises—we pledged to attend divine service, learn the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, and to read and study Scripture. (See pages 121-122, rubrics 6 and 7 in the LBW.) In other words, keep the third commandment by attending the service, by learning the holy Scriptures, and by studying the Small Catechism.
In confirmation, you took these activities upon yourself. (See pages 201, rubric 14 in the LBW.) Confirmation is not a graduation ceremony! You are not done with the days of your baptism. Confirmation is a handing over: this is the worship of the church–keep worshiping with the saints, this is the catechism–remain its student, this is the Bible–continue to hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it. Until your confirmation, your parents and sponsors vouchsafed for you; with confirmation, you take these vows upon yourself. You commit to assuming your places of responsibility to serve all people.
Dr. Martin Luther wrote even he needs to study continually these basics of the faith. In the preface of the Large Catechism, he wrote, “I must still read and study the catechism daily, and yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the catechism—and I also do so gladly.” And also, “Nothing is so powerfully effective against the devil, the world, the flesh, and all evil thoughts as to occupy one’s self with God’s Word, to speak about it and meditate upon it.”
Luther concludes, “Let all Christians drill themselves in the catechism daily and constantly put it into practice, guarding themselves with the greatest care and diligence against the poisonous infection of such security or arrogance. Let them constantly read and teach, learn and meditate and ponder. Let them never stop until they have proved by experience and are certain that they have taught the devil to death and have become more learned than God himself and all his saints.”
Discipleship is living out your baptism in communion with the Church, bearing witness to your faith, and beginning to lead a godly life until the day of Jesus Christ.
Soon I will write about disciple-making, but in truth, much of that article is hidden between the lines of this one.
© Patrick K Welton