Who, me?

Here's a verse that should be seriously considered in our discussion of postmodern discipleship:

"A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." (Luke 6:40 NIV)

Note that this verse doesn't say that "they'll know what their teacher knows" or "they'll be able to do what their teacher does".

It says that a fully-trained person (a disciple) will be like us.

This is not exclusive to people who are in (the "L-word" -- thanks, Len for the shorthand; it means "leadership" for those who don't cringe when they read that word). In a community of faith, built on mutual-ministry relationships, where everyone's gifts are free to be expressed, this applies to all of us. People who are hanging out with us, listening to us, worshipping with us, praying with us, sharing a meal with us -- will become like us.

Then the question for us becomes, "what kind of person will they become as a result of hanging out with me?" I don't mean this in a guilt-inducing, legalistic sense. Rather, in a "let's take an honest look in the mirror" kind of way. If people become more like us, will we need to ask their forgiveness?

When teenagers have mentioned to me that they are really hoping to have a spiritually on-fire spouse someday, I have always encouraged them to become the kind of Christian that would attract an on-fire Christian spouse. Many of them hadn't considered it that way before -- "oh yeah, if I'm not on fire, why would an on-fire person want to date me?"

If we're wanting to be in community with people who are open, accepting, patient, and loving, then maybe we need to invite the Holy Spirit to cultivate those same qualities in us. Our communities -- house church or cell group in a larger church -- need to be known for what they are "for", rather than what they're reacting against. These are the kind of groups that are attractive to others who are seeking a "safe place" to belong and mature as followers of Jesus.

It may even affect the way we "blog". :)