“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27
DIY discipleship?
I’m not scared to admit that I am hopeless at DIY tasks. Whether it’s the assembling of a bookcase, the repairing of a fence or the putting up of a shelf, I feel ill-equipped practically and drained emotionally. I’m not good at being left to do it on my own.
One of the effects of the last 18 months has been the reduction of opportunities to be together as the church, whether for gathered worship, shared fellowship or small group discipleship. While there have been creative responses and positive stories, there has also been the reality of increased isolation. Our spiritual patterns became less predictable and regular. Church was experienced on our sofas or screens and often discipleship became a digital download rather than an up-close, personal experience. Can we now do it ourselves when it comes to our faith?
Not according to this statement from recent book Faith for Exiles by David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock which explores the area of resilient discipleship for the upcoming generation.
“Solo discipleship may as well be an oxymoron, because those two words are completely antithetical. If you can do it on your own, it probably isn’t church. We have to confront the myth of the do-it-yourself discipleship.”
If the experiences of the pandemic have taught us anything, it’s that we need to walk with others to help us follow Jesus. Our lives need to be rooted in the context of a church community where we can be known and loved, as well as inspired, encouraged, and even corrected along the way. Christian faith is not a DIY task.
Another look at worship
Our experiences of lockdown and the reality of social distancing have given us another look at some crucial aspects of church, reminding us of the importance of withdrawing from the world, gathering with other believers and resetting our attention on God.
The environment of worship should bring us face-to-face with how our hearts get captivated by other stories that compete with a biblical vision of life and help us catch a glimpse once again of who God is, who we ought to be, and his story for the world in which he calls us to play our part. We sense more of the Spirit as he breathes through the opened pages of Scripture. We see more of God’s grace as we sing about it with others. We experience more of his love through the communion of saints who spur us on in our faith. We glimpse more of Christ’s humility as we observe leaders serving behind the scenes.
Another look at fellowship
But our experiences have also given us another look at the fellowship of the church. We can see the helpfulness of sharing our struggles with others and discussing what it means to follow Jesus in our present circumstances. Our faith grows as we learn from the wisdom and insight of older saints, watch how others respond to trials, are challenged by those who serve those in need and witness people encounter God in new ways. These things simply won’t be found in a crowd or on a screen but will only be discovered within the community of the church.
As we read the gospels, we see that Jesus was very intentional about identifying opportunities to be with others. Whether it was on boats or mountainsides with his disciples, reclining at the table with his friends or walking on the road with doubting disciples, Jesus regularly took time to be with people in the ordinary moments of life.
Stepping out of our individualised culture to take our place within a diverse body of people helps reveal more of who God is. Setting time aside to gather with God’s people will remind us that we are part of something much bigger. While I’ve had walks enjoying God’s creation, quiet times reading God’s Word and listened to great podcast sermons, the reality is that I have grown most in my faith when I’ve been together in community with God’s people.
Convenient or costly?
Society has conditioned us to think that it is good to have it just the way we like it. Burger King says you can have it your way. Hyundai says you can drive it your way. Lady Gaga says you were born this way. I can take my four year old son into a shop where he can build his own bear and then I can go and build my own burger which means we’ll both be happy. We’re encouraged to browse the options, compare the market and make the choice that suits us.
While that might sound harmless when it comes to soft bears and stuffed burgers, there is a danger that this mindset creeps into how we act on Sundays as believers. If we view church as a commodity, then we will act as consumers who seek things that are most convenient and least costly. We’ll want to have it just the way we like it.
However, the full reality of belonging to Christ isn’t simply about receiving the benefits, but about counting the cost. Let’s face it, committing to the church can be costly and hard. It requires time, effort and sacrifice. It means laying aside our preferences for the advancement of God’s purposes. It means not being consumers or complainers, but contributors. Are we willing to count those costs?
Are we willing to have awkward conversations and continue showing up even when we aren’t as fussed about what’s on the menu? Are we prepared to prioritise time with people when we would much rather slip back into the corner? Will we, cautiously but honestly, reveal things about ourselves to others and carry one another’s burdens?
Better version or bigger vision?
Even though our rhythms have been disrupted and our patterns for church engagement have shifted, there is no replacement for gathering together as the church. Perhaps the single-most formative, regular and radical choice we can make in our discipleship is to place
ourselves in an environment with other believers on a weekly basis where we can be taught from God’s Word, find hope in truths we sing and be surrounded by others seeking to follow Jesus.
If you’re useless at DIY Christianity then be encouraged that you were never designed to follow Jesus alone! Perhaps it’s less about acquiring a better version of church and more about attaining a bigger vision of Jesus and his call upon our lives that comes through immersing ourselves deeply in the life of our congregation. In the words of Hebrews 10:24-25, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
A prayer:
God help me to better see and appreciate your invitation to be a part of the church as my spiritual family and to play my part in its life.
Amen
Rick Hill is PCI's Discipleship Development Officer.
ANOTHER LOOK
As we emerge from our personal experience of the period of the pandemic and living through lockdown, it’s good to take another look at how we see things now and how that might have changed as we go forward into the future.
Purchase Another look? in booklet format to use and share with others here.