Diluted Discipleship

 The search is on…the search is vital.  It is a quest to understand the diluted status of discipleship in our culture today.  This article will uncover this distorted view of discipleship in our postmodern culture.

   As a starting point we have an immediate challenge when it comes to positioning.  Discipleship always places Christ first in one’s life.  This is certainly counter-cultural as the positioning here is self-centered.

   Then we confront the “Three S’s” of discipleship -- Submission…Sacrifice…and, Suffering.  Each is a part of Christ’s calling to faithful followers, to “deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).  These “Three S’s” are defied in our culture.

   Related to this we have the concept of “passionate commitment?”  Who today makes such a discipleship pledge, where “comfort” and “convenience” reign? 

   And then we have the dilemma over leadership.  Christ was the epitome of “servant”-leadership, living-out humility and meekness.  Where does that concept fit in our “take-charge-at-all-costs” leadership model in our culture?  All too many in our culture would describe Jesus as a “wimp.”

   Then we get to the really big one - dying for a cau ...