DISCIPLESHIP IS A VERB
SCRIPTURE: John 1:43-51
For years now I have favored the hyphenated words “believer-follower” to describe what it is to be a Christian. For the use of the single word “believer,” as “believer in Christ” may not go far enough to reach the complete understanding for persons who claim to be Christian.
For the understanding of ‘belief’ that makes one a ‘believer’ may be comprehended in a variety of ways. It can mean “trust,” as one who is able to trust Jesus as the Christ. It could be thought of as “understanding,” as the one who understands mentally who Jesus is. Or, it could represent “faith,” as the one who has been able to take a leap across the chasm of the unknown to accept Jesus even though there may be rational skepticism.
None of these understandings to the words ‘believer’ or ‘belief’ is wrong. They each hold merit. And to belief is necessary to be a Christian. But is there a right kind of belief?
Our John-text gives us a beautiful view of a new believer. There is the example of Nathanael, a friend to Philip. The Gospel of John does not specifically designate the Twelve disciples as the Synoptic ones of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, to include Nathanael as one of that inner circle. Nevertheless, what a picturesque view of one coming to believe--the right kind of belief..
First, upon hearing about Jesus from his friend Philip, Nathanael comes across as being a skeptic--a nonbeliever. He comments, “What good can come out of Nazareth?” But upon meeting Jesus face to face he comes to believe. Nathanael was impressed by one of the few examples of Jesus holding omniscience--that is, knowing what is occurring in a place where Jesus was not physically present.
Nathaniel was amazed as anyone would be. For Jesus had earlier spotted him under a tree conversing with Philip.
It reminds me of a time in college when as a freshman I attended a psychic’s show on campus. It was a rather entertaining show. And a portion of it was at my expense. One of the acts involved everyone in the audience being instructed to write in pencil on a piece of paper a question for this psychic. Then following the collection of these several hundred slips of paper, having been blindfolded, the psychic would read a few to then answer.
I actually wrote two questions on my slip, one of which was “Will I ever see a UFO?” Yes, I was and continue to be fascinated by the prospect of life outside of that known only of earth. It so happened that my slip of paper was chosen along with several others and he did respond to that question, making me the object of his humor, as we had to sign our names; if he were really psychic he should have had no need for my signature. Anyway, he said, “Kelly Pearson, raise your hand.” Then to my question he responded, “Yes, if you continue drinking to excess each weekend you will see many UFOs.” I was most embarrassed.
Of course, the psychic used magic. He was not omniscient as was Jesus on the encounter of Nathaniel.
But what a marvelous story. Nathanael was quickly convinced and Jesus poked a bit of skepticism back his way by questioned if his belief was only because of Jesus having known or seen him under a fig tree when Philip sometime earlier conversed with him.
Becoming a believer from unbelief. So each of our earlier understandings to being a believer has merit--faith, trust, a head-understanding, a heart-acceptance, but do they go far enough in describing a true Christian?
To see the complete package of being a Christian is to see Philip. Philip, perhaps a friend to Simon and Andrew, all from Bethsaida. Previously, before Jesus met Nathanael he had called Philip to follow him. Philip had believed.
However, Philip demonstrates that he had become more than just an intellectual believer or even a believer within his heart, or was it because he was a believer in his heart--the core of his being--that he, too, becomes a follower? We know he became a follower because he took action--he witnessed to his friend Nathanael about Jesus. And he met Nathanael’s doubt with “come and see.” He literally-physically took Nathanael to Jesus it appears. Discipleship translated to action, doing what it took to convince his friend to the authenticity of Jesus. Discipleship was a verb. Discipleship is a verb.
And so, being a believer-follower, the hyphenated words, more accurately captures what it means to be a Christian--a disciple of Christ. Belief is followed by action or belief must be understood to include action. One seeks, comes, sees, and follows in obedience.
Few if any of us have been blessed to come and see Jesus with anything like the mysterious evidence Jesus produced with Nathanael. Nathanael had not approached Jesus desiring or anticipating such either. But the point for us is, by whatever route we come to meet and believe from the heart and head in Jesus Christ, it is not the summation--the end point--of being a Christian or disciple. It is only the beginning, a very important part, as is the part to living-out discipleship as a verb.
To now throw a mix-up pitch about discipleship being a verb. Our mind-set to this point has created in our minds a sense of action in speaking of a verb. But there is another verb-tense or sense which is important to the Christian’s life--of being a believer-follower. This is the tense or sense of passive action. The active voice has subject and verb being or doing in a straightforward manner. But there is the passive voice of the verb where the subject is being acted upon. In fact, is this not the beginning for all in a relationship with Christ, to be acted upon by Christ through Holy Spirit?
This may not sound authentic when applied to being a disciple-follower. Yet, is it not true that in our Christian walk there are times when our busyness overwhelms the relationship with Christ? Just as in a marriage when the activities of jobs or with children and their activities that the marriage-relationship may suffer. It is as if a time-out needs to be called or the bell of the boxing match needs to be rung to go sit in the corner, to regroup, be attended to, or acted upon.
So it is with the believer-follower’s journey. It cannot be only active-verb usage, lest the action overwhelm, deplete, and demoralize. There should be passive-verb times in following--to be acted upon by Christ’s merciful hand, Holy Spirit’s tender voice of encouraging guidance.
Grant you, all of our discipleship is not to be of the passive-verb variety. But passive-verb moments, hours, or days, must accompany our faith walks with Christ. Otherwise, we may run hither and yon doing our own thing to think we are being obedient to Christ.
Definitely there is to be an obedient journey of actions to follow Jesus as one seeks, compels, shares, witnesses, or accompanies others to their encounter with Jesus. Perhaps this is the most joyful and Christ-gratifying actions one can take. But Holy Spirit is not only to go with us, but be with us, as Holy Spirit, as well, goes before us to stir the hearts of those we meet.
Nathanael is a perfect example of one who comes to believe. From the record we do not know Nathanael’s later responses, though I suspect he also became obedient in following Christ. However, we do see Philip as a perfect example of a believer-follower, a disciple of Christ.
Philip without doubt actively spread the gospel of Jesus in other instances than just with Nathanael. But as well he was acted upon to be molded and formed by Jesus and Holy Spirit to be the believer-follower Christ desired of him.
For a believer-follower, discipleship is a verb--of both varieties: active and passive.
Amen.