Thursday, September 07, 2006

Williard-Great Omission: Discipleship

Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.

Dallas Willard’s new book, The Great Omission, opens with this observation: “The word ‘disciple’ occurs 269 times in the New Testament.  ‘Christian’ is found three times and was first introduced to refer precisely to disciples of Jesus….The New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, and for disciples.”  Part of Willard’s point in this book is to rejoin two concepts that are often pulled apart.  To be a Christian is to be a disciple.

Discipleship is not reserved for the super spiritual.  In fact, the act of being a follower of Christ is the first and most fundamental request made of believers in the New Testament.  As far as the early church was concerned being a disciple was not optional if you wanted to become a Christian. Their point of view was that their entire lives belonged to Christ.

Have I become stuck in a rut where I am a Christian in name but not lifestyle?  Do I try to follow Christ’s example with every breath?

This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church.  For more information, please visit quaillake.org.

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