(This article also includes a podcast discussion. Click the play button below, or subscribe and listen on your Apple or Google podcast app.)
If there’s one thing that’s consistent about everything I’ve discussed in this series, it’s this: there’s a fundamental flaw with how we desire to have a small group of celebrities be our primary source of teaching, encouragement, and growth. When someone is looking for ways to grow, we tell them “Go read books by this person” or “Search YouTube for this name and watch whatever interests you.” We spend so much time and energy becoming disciples of someone we can only have a one-way relationship with.
Make no mistake, many well-known men and women of the faith are incredible blessings to the church. Some are gifted with words, others have wisdom or understanding of topics that we may be unable to find locally. They are great tools for our walk when we use them correctly.
However, it’s too easy for us to have a top-down view of discipleship. We want to look to well-known people to be the primary instruction and influence for thousands of Christians. We let them frame our beliefs, and without them realizing it we make them the primary caretaker of our spiritual growth. We become the disciples of someone who doesn’t even know our name. And while it makes sense with our culture, it may not be the biblical model.
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 follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Of course we’re all familiar with this verse, but we may not realize how much it goes against how we typically think about discipleship. So often, we view discipleship as one of two things: either we convert someone to Christianity, or we are disciples who are learning more about Christ.
Following pastors and teachers outside our local body of believers is a one-way relationship. They pour their wisdom and knowledge into us, and that’s the end of the transaction. They don’t have to know us, nor do we have to commit to them in any way. And if the “church” was simply the worldwide body of believers, then it would make sense for us to have a consumer mentality. However, the New Testament pattern for church shows us our responsibility to one another.
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you instruction, and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:11-14)
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13)
and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)
Others are called to invest in us, yes, but in return we are called to invest in them as well. Instead of church, or even the Christian life, being all about what we get out of it, we instead see a circular pattern in our relationships. We are called to encourage one another, share in the lives of one another, and to do so under the watchful guidance of our leaders.
In addition, we’re also called to call one another out of sin and in to holiness, for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)
In establishing the universal church, Christ also set us up to exist in a personal community. We aren’t called to be faceless students of a big-name celebrity, but instead we’re called to get our hands dirty as we live life alongside other followers of Christ. We’re called to submit to a particular pastor who is responsible for our spiritual health, and as we mature we are likewise called to disciple others.
Up until now, we’ve always assumed a top-down form of growth was natural. Using a single person as the primary source of growth and encouragement for thousands makes sense in our culture, but it’s not how we are designed to grow and flourish.
Instead, it’s important to focus our efforts on a “bottom up” view of discipleship. Those who have the ability to know us, encourage us, and even call us out of sin are meant to be our main, exterior sources of growth and teaching. Those believers God places in our lives are there for a reason, and in being faithful to Christ we should desire to encourage their growth as they do the same to us.
In short, we need to be disciples who make disciples, not fans of a particular celebrity who make other people fans as well.
Obviously, the “big names” in our Christian circles have their place. They can be a wonderful resource for a local body of believers to use as they grow together in their spiritual walk. However, the main focus for us needs to be the same as it’s always been.
It’s easy to be discontent with the people within our church. Our local pastor may not be as intelligent, entertaining, or engaging as someone who has written a dozen books. Someone teaching a Sunday-evening glass may not have studied at a prestigious Bible university. We may think we’d be stronger if only we had someone like _____ in our lives.
However, God has called us to be exactly where we are, with the imperfect people we have. It’s not about making the best of a bad situation. Rather, it’s a biblical mindset as we focus our growth, and the growth of those around us, around the people we know and who can know us in return. We aren’t called to a one-way relationship with someone we may shake hands with one time at an event, but instead into a day-to-day community with the people who can encourage and challenge us as we do the same to them.
