Empty-nesters
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; Matthew 28:19-20a NASB
Go – Yesterday we discovered that this verse is really about conformity to the ways of God. It describes that kind of person who has experienced the effect of Yeshua’s authority, and as a result of that experience (in the past), is now discipling. Of course, that isn’t quite the same as inviting someone to church or handing out tracts or even sharing a testimony. Discipling is also related to “Go,” a word that should have been translated, “having been caused to walk (according to Torah).” So if I am going to “Go,” I will need to be the kind of person who exhibits a Torah-observant life and allow that demonstration to govern my witness to others. Then I will be in a position to disciple because then I will have something worthy of copying.
In the past, we have noticed that discipling comes before baptizing. That’s because discipling is instruction in how to walk – how to “go.” But there is another element of discipling that is unique to rabbinic thinking. Discipling is about equipping my talmidim so that they can leave me and repeat the process for themselves. In other words, the goal of the rabbi is to send his students away. He is only truly successful if he ends up with an empty nest.
The purpose of discipling is to reproduce the teacher, not simply in information but in the whole manner of life. Once that goal is accomplished, the student becomes the rabbi and is sent off to create his own community of talmidim. The goal of discipleship is never to accumulate sycophants. It is to make new rabbis. This goal is aligned with the deeper foundation principle of God’s world; the principle of distribution rather than accumulation. This means that the stated biblical purpose of the Church is to pursue being empty. The most successful church will be the one that no longer has anyone attending because everyone has been equipped to start his or her own circle of disciples.
If this is really a biblical principle, and if this is really the true biblical goal of discipleship, then we must question the preoccupation for growth that permeates Christianity. We must raise objections about bigger buildings. We must be wary of organizations that determine success by size. If the biblical principle is to move toward empty, then anything that leads us toward accumulation must be very carefully evaluated. The world’s way is bigger barns. God’s way is empty vessels.
Typical evangelism, based on a mistranslation of this verse, is accumulation oriented. Even the idea that we must tell the world of the salvation message in order to “get everyone into heaven” needs to be analyzed. Maybe walking in the way isn’t quite the same as more square footage or more souls saved. If someone were to ask you, “What are you doing to reach the lost?” would you have an Hebraic answer?
Topic Index: evangelism, Matthew 28:19, halak
Amein and Amein! All glory to our Father and King for causing us to repent and to return to His heart of love! May we open our hearts fully to be able to receive His Torah and commands written on it personally by His finger.
Stay blessed!
There is a ‘simplicity’ to be found in Christ. He is our Rabbi. He (through) the Ruach HaKosdesh (the HOLY BREATH) is our personal trainer. He is the ONE we (all-both Jew and Gentile) need to follow and look to for instruction. When the student (the disciple,- the learner) is ready, the Teacher will show up.
It is written: – “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14.26)
We (who are His) have been given a Gift. That ‘gift’ was given unto us the moment we believed. But that gift is daily being discovered. Our task is to learn to “shema”, to listen and obey the ONE, the Teacher, who now resides within. To listen to His voice, the voice that tells each of us- “this is the WAY, walk ye in it.” “What would Jesus do?”, is not too far off the mark.
Yes, the life of Christ is being reproduced in each of us, and in all of us who are followers of the Way. “Here am I LORD”- send me.
And let us not forget our “textbook” either. G-d has given unto us the Lamb’s Book of life- our Bible. From Genesis through Revelation, every word of G-d is pure. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of G-d may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3.16,17) We do err, not knowing the scriptures or the power of G-d. “The words I speak unto you- they are spirit and they are life”- Who said this? -Are we listening?
Awesome Skip! BTW, going through your ‘Grammer of Love’. Helping with the movement toward empty. Thanks.
PRAYER REQUEST:
My friends, Bob and Michael, will be in China next week, ministering and teaching The Kingdom of God. They are TORAH observant believers, walking in the Spirit. These men exhibit the greatness of our God with abundant grace.
Please lift them up, that the LORD would be glorified, that their work might be fruitful, and that they and those to whom they minister, would be kept in perfect peace.
I was blessed by your comment Carl, and would like to say a sincere Amen. What came to my mind also, was Jesus said, that they will know we are His disciples by our love because His love is more powerful then ours and when it manifests through us it draws others to Him.
Blessings and peace,
Kay
The teachings the last two days are very exciting. Funny, when I think about this “model” Chabad comes to mind, from a practical point of view. Their talmidim sit at the feet of their rabbi and learn. Then they send them out in pairs to reach Jewish people who are not Torah observant. They go around the world with Tefillin and mezzuzahs looking for Jewish people throughout the world. Sometimes they find Jewish people in very remote places. They have established Chabad centers everywhere (remember the Mumbai massacre?) to have places where people can go and be welcomed. The young rabbis are sent out to the world to teach their message to Jews. They are extremely effective and they do all of this without the power and presence of Yeshua! I don’t agree with many of their teachings and I certainly know they follow the wrong Messiah, but we can learn from what they do.
If you want to read something interesting, then check out the Roving Rabbis blog on the chabad website. During the summer, pairs of young rabbis are sent throughout the world looking for Jewish people to reach and restore to the Torah and Jewish practices. Some of the divine appointments are amazing.
Now can you imagine what we could accomplish if the followers of Yeshua did what they do? Further, I pray that these zealous Jews would come to know Yeshua and that Adonai would use them for His purposes.
I am learning – don’t stop … keep discipling me.
I really need this discussion in my life right now. This is significant in my road ahead.
Thank you for your obedience.
Where there is no Torah there is no purpose, other than fill the pews with people who sing repetitiously “Jesus loves me”. And while that may be true, the idea of “making disciples” which requires the third imperative in this passage — “teaching them to observe all that Yeshua commanded” (See Matt 5:17ff) — is an impossibility until they are willing to not just read Torah but apply it. And they are unlikely to do that while they maintain the idea that “New Testament” belief in the Messiah replaces Old Testament belief in the Messiah.
Meanwhile, throughout the world, the financial systems are a disaster because no one will apply Torah principles to money and finance; the public education system cannot educate because there is no Torah informing and instructing the minds of the teachers and the students; the political systems continue the onward march towards totalitarianism because they have rejected Christ as King (a king is someone who makes law) and therefore believe they can make up their laws as a way to overcome the problems of society. In other words, they offer an alternative plan of salvation.
Meanwhile, concerned people sit in their homes and churches wringing their hands in despair. “What can I do?” they think to themselves. They can learn to “make disciples”. That’s what they can — and should — do. Because this portion of Scripture does not appear to be intended only for clergymen and missionaries.
I so agree – churches should be empty & homes should be having agape meetings – every disciple should be working him/her self out of a job!!! Imitate me because I imitate HIM was what Paul said & then be on your way to teach others the same principal.
Any pastor who is worth anything should have the same vision – that people/flock move on to other pastures when they out grow him/the ministry he has & I have heard some preach this even in seeker friendly churches because there is an ever rotating herd of people coming/going in/out of their churches (not sure they are HIS churches) just man made institutions “trying” to do what “they” think best.
Lots of people I now know & fellowship with do not attend an organized church but we have church within ourselves with one another (does that make sense – it should). Seems the more you grow in relationship & scripture & prayer (a disciple) – you come out of such (organized church). Seems to me it is a natural progression for sure… ♥
jan
Soren Kierkegaard wrote in 1850:”Woe, woe to the Christian Church if it would triumph in this world, for then it is not the Church that triumphs, but the world.” Training in Christianity, page 218
Kierkegaard vehemently assailed the Church in almost all of his writings, including in the book, “For Self-Examination” where he wrote: ” When one considers the present state of the world and the whole of life, he is obliged Christianly to say…: ‘It is diseased. If I were a doctor and someone asked,’what do you think must be done, is: SILENCE! Bring the silence! G*d’s Word cannot be heard. If, served by noisy mediators, it has to be heard in the hubbub and racket, it does not remain G*d’s Word.” 1851 translated by Edna and Howard Hong ( Minneapolis, 1940), pg 56f
And, finally, in “Attack Upon Christendom” he wrote: “The official worship of G*d is Christianly, a counterfeit, a forgery.” pg 59
While I am not in agreement with all he wrote, especially regarding marriage and women, as well as his later extreme teachings of the either/ or proposition which orginally was only regarding the need to choose between the aesthetic life and the ethical, but later became radicalized, which, I believe, led him into the error of living an almost cloistered life, unable and unwilling to
be ‘human’ and “reaching the lost” in the muck of mankind.
… To finish the thought: while I am not in agreement with all he wrote … I think it is imperative to realize that Yah has always had His Watchmen on the wall and those men and women throughout history have proclaimed in one united voice that Christianity has been compromised and is undone. We would be well advised to hear them again and anew.
It is noteworthy that Heschel studied the similarities between Kierkegaard’s critique and the work of the Kotzker rebbi (I noted some of this somewhere in a TW). The watchers on the wall are both in Judaism and Christianity. And we had better pay attention since in both cases the true community of God has been undermined and re-interpreted by the “professionals” of the faith. Woe to us if we do not open our eyes to the truth of our own religious history, altered by men to fit the needs of the world. Heschel’s book, The Pursuit of Truth, is a great analysis of both faiths.
Although I haven’t read Heschel or any other commentators on this particular subject, it isn’t hard to discern from a purely scriptural perspective that the “visible church” has advanced to the same level of spiritual adultry that the ancient assembly had attained when Jesus walked this earth. All of what Yeshua spoke to the people then, can (and should) be applied to us today. It’s far more than just a matter of conservative vs. liberal, it’s rather a complete withdrawal from the fundamental principles of God’s word by both adding and subtracting from it, along with maligning the intent of it. I find it interesting that it’s such an exacting replication of circumstances. Truly a tree is known by it’s fruit.
This isn’t a lament, (although maybe a grieving one) only an iteration of the circumstances. The real question that remains is what to do about it. Ian stated it quite sufficiently, “They can learn to “make disciples”. That’s what they can — and should — do. Because this portion of Scripture does not appear to be intended only for clergymen and missionaries.
Just an encouragement to all you out there,
It wasn’t a popular message then and it certainly won’t be now. I believe the degree of resistance will be comparable to those same times, only amplified by the increased population in proportion. The really good news is that the positive results can be dispensed according to the same proportions as well.
Are we as far off with our perception of the expansion of the Kingdom as the disciples were!!? I think we are!! and it’s a lot bigger than any of us can imagine!!
Thx again Skip, YHWH Bless and Keep you….
One thing is very clear. None of the instructions and direction given in the “Great commission” was intended for a professional clergy. Everything is aimed at the whole-hearted participation of the ordinary believer. The fact that Yeshua avoided interaction with the established hierarchy even in his day ought to tell us something. The Christian Church (capital C) today is far more like a multi-national corporation than it is like a movement of dedicated followers. That should also serve as a huge red flag.
“The fact that Yeshua avoided interaction with the established hierarchy even in his day ought to tell us something. The Christian Church (capital C) today is far more like a multi-national corporation than it is like a movement of dedicated followers. That should also serve as a huge red flag.”
I find this a constant challenge because although Yeshua avoided “partnership” with the established hierarchy, it seems He hung out quite a bit at the synagoge. A true picture of the prayer poured out for us, “I ask not that You take them out of the world but that You keep them FROM the evil….” Only in prayer and submission to YHWH can we walk among them yet not be “of them”.
I understand that the synagoge is much more than a religious gathering, yet that is also a large section of the makeup of that institution, and we can’t dismiss that fact. The rejection/separation has already begun, and will no doubt intensify upon rejection of “advancement” in their “corporation” 🙂 If the pattern holds true in regards to the activity of the opposition, the only interest they have is the desire to mark you as one of theirs, it’s not to discover the truth. (another parallel) My heart really does hurt for them, and my prayer is their deliverence from the deception that has blanketed us. I can’t help loving them as one coming from them. I don’t judge their salvation, only the effectiveness of the deception in warring against or for the Kingdom of God.