What is Discipleship?

What does following Jesus actually mean? Is Jesus actually God Incarnate, a divinely-inspired rebel, a beneficent teacher, or just misunderstood?

If being a Christian means accepting Jesus into their hearts one time, then there’s no need for discipleship. Being a Christian is reduced to pushing the up button at the elevator, and actually having our hearts and lives changed into something that resembles God’s character (what is often called “sanctification”) has no purpose.

But if becoming Christlike is the goal, then a single decision or moment is not sufficient. Christ’s death and resurrection has been understood in the Bible and throughout Christian history to redeem our entire lives — body, mind, spirit, relationships, experiences — and that doesn’t happen in an instant. The cause of sin might be rooted out, but there are patterns and habits to break, mindsets to be upended, desires to be reordered and repurposed. Change your hearts and lives…repent…these seem like easy words to say but nearly impossible to accomplish.

Yet nothing is impossible with God, the angel tells Mary. So too the message comes to each of us. Christian discipleship needs simply a desire for God to begin, no matter where you are. Hear God’s invitation.

Begin again.

Today.