Journey Corps

Everything will change. A Ministry of WorldVenture.

Discipleship as a Posture of Receiving

I have been reflecting some on this idea of discipleship as reception, given my own walk and given the future potential of living as a follower of Jesus overseas these are some of the thoughts that have come to mind in the process. It seems that from the beginning of this walk, we are born into this notion of receiving, because we receive grace, so that we can enter into this journey. The walk of faith is born in, continued on, and sustained by grace. But this entails receiving it. I find this to be one of the hardest things to do, to receive grace. It is kind of like going out to eat with my parents. I am of culpable age (25) to provide for myself for dinner, and they decide to pay for the meal, but in my attempts to feel like I am able in the relationship, I say, "Fine, well, I got the tip." And this is how it goes, and I think this is how it looks in our relationship with God. We want to have some say in our lives and some sense of worth on our own before him and we try to somehow appease him in the various ways that we do, and it is like telling God, after he has sent his son to die and rise again for us, that we will just add to his work by offering a cheap tip in his name. But in this we fail to receive this grace and let it wash over us, so that we can then live IN it, rather than trying to offer up some cheap tip so as to attain it.

So discipleship begins with receiving, but I see it also continuing in receiving, for it is in the presence of the Spirit that we are given a gift(s) to be used for the furthering of God's saving purposes. The word gift is charitos, which has at its roots, the word charis, the word for grace. Thus, this notion of gift, is a grace gift, a gift that entails receiving. It is upon receiving the Spirit in grace and upon receiving this gift(s) that we then live empowered lives by the Spirit to exist for the sake of the world. But this entails living in step with the Spirit and letting the Spirit work itself out in our lives as we receive the gift that we have been given. Therefore, this lays claim on our discipleship, for in receiving this gift, it entails using it for its intended purpose. To neglect to use the gift that you have been graced with is to neglect to receive it. Or to wish for a gift other than the one you have been graced with is to neglect to receive it rightly.

Further, I think that discipleship entails receiving people into your life. It is far too easy to live life without others, but that would neglect the call to be involved in one another's life. Hence, why it is essential to letting others into your life. Meaningful relationships are essential for discipleship, and there are multiple kinds of those relationships that need to be present for faithful reception to be at work in your life. First, it is important that one has people in their lives that they are ministering to and pouring themselves out for, as evidenced in the working out of your gift(s). But there is also a group of those around you for your sharpening, who are in step with you for the journey, and are holding one another up in prayer, accountability, and encouragement. Lastly, the oft neglected group is the people that we receive into our lives to speak prophetically into our souls. These three kinds of relationships need to be at work in our lives for faithful discipleship, or else, discipleship is not occurring. But this entails receiving people into your life and welcoming them to get in your business so that they can aid you in your pursuit of Christ.

Lastly, as it pertains to following Christ in a cross-cultural context, I find that discipleship as a posture of reception to be most essential. Too often we enter missionary settings with the goal of giving, and rob those of whom we are visiting or living with the opportunity to give. When we neglect to receive their ministry to us, then we rob them of the blessing that Christ stated, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." If we fail to receive, then we fail to let others have the blessing of giving. Thus, as I think about Journey Corps and the way that it is set up, I just smile, for I see this concept at work. I see the global church helping the global church. I see a posture of reception on the parts of both the African Church and the Western Church. I see the African church coming alongside the Western church, and offering up a gift to it, by enabling it to flourish in the mission of God through discipleship, leader development, and gift discovery. And I see the Western Church offering the gift of resources to be used on the terms set forth by the African church, so as to enable the flourishing of God's people in Africa.

There is a posture of reception deeply at work in the process of discipleship. From beginning to end, one cannot help but see the deeply laden reality and necessity of receiving, and how such practices will enable the furthering of God's saving purposes for the advancement of God's mission in this world and the fruitfulness in the lives of those who partake in such a great commission. So may we take up this task of following Christ by having the humility before the Triune God and His people to receive all that is to be had in relationship with them.

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