During my entire ministry, a conversation has always existed between evangelism and discipleship. The conversation has “pitted” ministers on two different sides: those who evangelize and those who disciple. The scope of the New Testament teaches that evangelism is proof of discipleship and discipleship is proof of evangelism. Those that are truly evangelized will have a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and those that are truly discipled will truly seek and save that which is lost (Luke 19: 10).

In this article, let us look at three false concepts of discipleship that are ramped in the American church. Discipleship is not …

Transactional. Discipleship is not simply transacting information for cognitive development. Discipleship is transformative. Some people go to church exerting effort to only advance in their head knowledge. Biblical knowledge does not and cannot stop in the brain with the exchange of good and bad ideas. Biblical knowledge is transformational (Romans 12). True discipleship is measured by love. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 8: 1, “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him” (1 Corinthians 8: 1-3, NASB95). Love manifests itself by loving God first and then loving your neighbor. If you love your neighbor then you will be evangelistic.
Consumeristic. The American Christian tends to be highly consumeristic. They are shoppers, preferential, entitled, picky, comfortable, etc. The American Christian has the resources to be such a type of Christian. If they do not like a community of believers then they can drive to another community. This is atypical for the historical Christian. The problem arises when the consumer outpaces the disciple. Discipleship involves conflict resolution, struggle, sacrifice, etc. Many a minister have heard it said from departing church members, “I am not being fed, so I am leaving.” Let me reveal a couple things about this consumeristic statement: (1) It shows the departing church goer is a baby in Christ. Baby’s need someone to feed them. Mature Christians learn how to feed themselves and do it; (2) It shows the departing church goer is selfish and egotistic. Church community is not about self but about sacirificing for others. Consumeristic Christians tend to make church about themself; (3) It shows that the departing church goer is missing the point of community. The church is not simply a restaurant where you pay someone to eat, but a home where family grow together and do life together.
Entitled. Discipleship is not preferential. A disciple that is need of a particular instrument, genre, style of preaching, color of carpet, etc. is struggling with entitlement. Paul tells Timothy about people that need their ears tickled (2 Timothy 4). The church is full of people with the expectation that their wants should be fulfilled by the leadership of the church. They are entitled because they are consumers and they are consumers because they are entitled. The prevalent mindset is that when I give money, time or talents then I should get something back for my gift. That is consumerism. The Bible calls us not to consumerism but to sacrifice. I am to give with nothing in return. The sacrificial gift should go toward Great Commission efforts, not pleasure, comfort or preference of the believer. Believers in other countries may not have the opportunity to be entitled because there may not be a church on every corner, YouTube preaching availability and Spotify worship music to choose from. Entitled and consumeristic behaviors seem to be at the epicenter of the American church.

david evans is the Senior Pastor of Springfield Baptist Church in Springfield, TN. He has pastored for more than 25 years and has earned degrees (M.Div, Th.M, Th.M and Ph.D) in the areas of Christian Education, Leadership, Church Growth, Evangelism, Missiology and Apologetics. Check the church out at www.Springfield-Baptist.com. Feel free to contact david via e-mail DavidEvans@Springfield-Baptist.com.