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In The Gathered AND Scattered Church, the authors write of the time Jesus spent with his disciples saying, “Their process of conversion was simultaneous to their process of discipleship.” They point this out as an example of the missionary flow functioning in the discipleship process, as contrasted with a traditional ministry flow that moves from evangelism to conversion to discipleship. Similarly, Rob told us a story one day in class of a person, not a believer, who began attending the church he pastored. They joined a small group, took part in ministry, and became involved in the life of the church. And one day, after some time, they remarked, “Oh, I guess I’m a Christian now.” For this individual, like the first disciples, they gradually came to a place of full and real conversion – belief in the Gospel – as they lived out the life of one who believes. The discipleship they experienced was the catalyst for their conversion, perhaps providing the structure and sense that enabled them, with the work of the Spirit, as well, to believe. Such an understanding of the relationship between discipleship and conversion is helpful for me personally. Furthermore, I think that it offers something valuable to the greater church. For many who were raised within the church, myself included, our experiences of coming to faith are not something that can be clearly demarcated or dated. To be sure, there are various points in my journey of faith that are distinct and memorable, seismic shifts in my understanding of our God. But, looking back on it, I have realized that I cannot remember a time when I did not believe…it is so distant in my past, so ambiguously defined. Once I was unsure and a bit uncomfortable with this, in the face of a culture that values personal testimonies and dramatic conversions. However, it now seems natural and normal, especially for one whose process of discipleship began almost as soon as I was born. Halter and Smay’s words affirms my experience of coming to faith in Christ, alongside the testimony of others with different experiences. Certainly God does bring individuals to faith in any manner or within any timeframe. Perhaps, however, the paradigm in which they two are seen as simultaneous and linked is more reflective of actual human experience and nature. – AdrienneLike this:
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I think there’s certainly danger inherent to both approaches. If we are looking for a specific conversion point in all non-believers, we’re likely to fall into the trap that revivals so often fall into: a change without enough substance to keep going. Even so, there is still something powerful about hearing stories of a radical conversion experience.
There is a book entitled, The Masterplan of Evangelism, by a guy named Robert Coleman (I think it’s Robert but I may be mistaken on the first name) in which the process of discipleship the way Jesus did it is laid out. I think the problem we face is trying to instruct people into becoming disciples instead of showing them. Your story and the one Rob told in class are stories of people who learned to be disciples because people stepped into their lives and lived out discipleship with them.
I like it Adrienne! It makes me wonder how we can tangibly do discipleship as evangelism.
This is where our American churches are struggling, methinks. We need more disciples, not just sheep, but leaders, shepherds and seekers, seekers of other sheep. I like what you.
Yes, I absolutely agree that we should be seeking relationships with others who are non-believers in a way that is intentional and oriented towards proclaiming the name of Jesus.
I think that we need to be discerning about how to go about doing this, as well as being sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. Depending on who we are, to whom we are speaking, the context and the work that God has already been up to, different kinds of witnessing or discipleship could possibly be called for. Sometimes we need to be bold and expect the Spirit to move powerfully, and sometimes we will have to invest much before seeing any fruit.
Adrienne, how do we apply this to people who don’t believe? Like you said, most Christians come from a culture where the big conversion was the main way of coming to Christ. Do you think Allie has a point that we should be looking for more from people who don’t believe, rather than just being their friends?
To be sure, discipleship is the strongest vehicle for drawing people into real, substantial faith, but we are also called to evangelize with the kind of boldness exemplified by the disciple Philip, or Paul.
Most texts in our vein of misseology prefer a more gradual evangelistic process, but I think there is a risk of lowering our expectations when it comes to the Holy Spirit’s capacity to intervene radically. Honestly, I think we tend to err on the side of being weenies rather than overdoing it.