Disciple and Discipline

7/31/2010


I’ve been praying and thinking of some words used often but wonder if I really know the meanings of them, or have they simply become another “Christianese” phrase used?
Disciple and discipline; what do these words really mean to me. To study this out I first apply the scripture to itself, as we know scripture will verify itself. My thoughts are first in the natural then in the spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.) We are shown many things but first understanding them in the natural, then can apply to the spiritual. But we cannot understand the spiritual things unless our eyes are opened to them by God. In saying that, these words I will first look at in the natural setting.

Disciple: (from Websters): one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: as a : one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers according to the Gospel accounts b : a convinced adherent of a school or individual

Disciple as we know is in the word discipline.

Discipline: (from Websters): training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character

Those are pretty straight forward. A disciple is someone who accepts AND assists in spreading a doctrine of another; a convinced individual. If you claim to be a Christian, are you first convinced? Do you accept the doctrine of Jesus Christ the way we hear in the Bible or do you add to the scripture to justify your lifestyle? Do you take away from scripture what offends, or isn’t “politically correct”? Do you add your own teaching/opinions? Do you assist in spreading or do you simply know for yourself that you are saved and that’s good enough? I was talking to my Christian doctor the other day while I was there for an appt. and we were discussing ministry and being Christians. I stated/posed the question, that if someone were to hang out with me w/o knowing me would they leave knowing I was a Christian? He then posed/stated that what would be worse is if someone who knows you found out you were Christian and were surprised.

I think we have become so pushed into having to accept everyone/everybody mindset that we have compromised the Word of God, the teachings of the scripture. We have become so afraid to be seen as a narrow minded Christian that we curb anything that might offend someone. Do you realize it’s not YOUR teachings that bring salvation? The Word of God, the truth of the blood of Jesus being accepted is. We are to be convinced ourselves of the teaching, accept them and then assist in spreading the doctrine. I suppose now I can see a difference in simply being a “believer” and being a disciple of Christ. What are you?

In understanding now what a disciple is, we can see that there must be a discipline; “a training that corrects and molds!” When we come to Christ we come with all our ideas of how something needs to be. We see a broad spectrum of thoughts; from the legalistic/judgmental condemning, afraid God’s ready to whack you if you mess up mindset, to the everything is acceptable, just love, love, love and accept mindset. The balanced mindset is realizing that God is a God of order, righteoueness, and is Holy. We ourselves are made clean by the blood of the lamb and as we are called to love, being compassionate we have never been called to close our eyes to sin and being compassionate of the sin, thus compromising the Word of God.

We see people in the world, and non-believers beginning to use the WWJD question to apply to excusing sin. It’s an almost mocking phrase when they use it. Well the answer is that Jesus absolutely showed compassion and mercy. He dined with the “scum” tax collectors, he defended the woman caught in the act of adultery, but He also said to them “Go and sin no more.” That’s the balance we need. So how does that fit in with discipline?

Prov 3:11-12 (NIV) My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Prov 15:5 (NIV) A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

Heb 12:5-8 (NIV) And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

Heb 12:9-11 (NIV) Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Job 5:17-18 (NIV) "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal."

1 Cor 11:32 (Phi) But when God does judge us, he disciplines us as his own sons, that we may not be involved in the general condemnation of the world.

Rev 3:19 (NIV) [Jesus] "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent."

So we can see from these verses that discipline is from God, He does it because He loves us, we should see it as a blessing, and that we may share in His holiness. It’s not pleasant, but painful but produces righteousness and peace FOR THOSE TRAINED BY IT. This means that the two-fold or “if then” implied statement is, IF we are disciplined THEN we will produce righteousness, peace, and be His sons. Do you accept the discipline, or do you find yourself in correction only to plant your feet in deeper, trying to be right in your own eyes; justifying why you do what you do? It is possible to be corrected and not take the correction. I have witnessed many lives (including my own), where God has pointed His finger on an area in that person’s life that He wants to correct and mold, and the person rejects it. What happens is they may find an escape route, weasel out of another situation, only to find themselves once again in the same situation; only different people, different job, different setting, SAME PROBLEM!

Here’s how that might look in a practical scenario:
1. Why do I always end up with all the bad guys/girls/relationships?
2. Why can’t I hold a job down or lose a job?
3. Why am I in debt, to recover only to be in debt again?
4. Why do I have constant conflict with others?
5. Why do I struggle in feeling rejected all the time?

These are only SOME of the questions people ask themselves. They find themselves constantly in cycles of these questions. They search and think they found the answer in some new job, some new person, some new scenario, only to have some time go by and they are asking themselves that same question. Do you not recognize the finger pointing in that area? Get rid of the “victim mentality” and repent and become a victor by overcoming; accepting the unpleasant discipline and lining up with what the Word of God truly says.

Now in closing I would like to say a disclaimer. We endure times of testing our faith that might bring about situations that are unpleasant (read James chapter 1) but as we grow and mature we won’t continue to see the exact same testing. But if it is an area that God is putting His finger on you will see that scenario over and over again. And if you have questions, ask, email, comment, call.

I pray today that your hearts are not hardened, that you are not stiff-necked, that instead you get before the Lord and ask honestly if there is an area in your life that the Lord has been putting His finger on to bring healing and discipline. I pray that you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal that to you and that the Lord would give you wisdom, that you’d feel the love of the Lord even in His discipline! In Jesus name, Amen.

“Change my heart oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart oh God,
May I be like You.
You are the potter,
I am the clay,
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.”