Disciple? What’s that?
The life of a disciple… what does it mean? This morning, as I was preparing to get to work in the office I took up a copy of Fisher Humphreys’ new book, I Have Called You Friends. In that book, he discusses several NT images for following Christ. The first is “Disciple” – a term that seems to have been so overburdened with baggage that it carries little meaning anymore.
Humphreys suggests using the term “Apprentice” instead, one who follows a master around watching him closely, learning from him what to do. An apprentice to a plumber follows an experienced plumber around, all the while watching and listening to what the master does and says, so that one day this apprentice can one day be a master plumber as well.
For some reason, when I looked at that statement, all the baggage fell off the term “disciple” for me. I could suddenly see myself as one of those disciples, following Jesus around, watching his every action and listening to every word. I was standing there by the seaside, when he came to me and called me to follow him. Like the others, I looked around and wondered whether he had really meant ME. But, sensing that there was more to this than just a simple decision, I stood and followed him.
For some reason, I feel this has revitalized me… has the potential to transform me even. But I don’t feel like this can be done alone. I feel as if this has to be a community thing. I’ve long felt that it would be easier to live the life of a disciple in a community of believers who are encouraging each other and lifting each other up in prayer.
But does such a community exist? Can I find such a place? Can I help CREATE such aa place?
