Dear Kingfisher family
The rabbi-disciple model that Jesus exemplified fitted perfectly within the culture, the educational system and the socio-economical setting of rural Galilee. A rabbi would gather a group of mostly teenager boys and young men together as a disciple group. They would spend most of their time together 24/7. Although there would be breaks when it was time for harvest and other seasonal chores, often the whole disciple group would be involved. The time between finishing school and marriage and taking up the responsibilities of family life was the perfect time to shape the way a group of young men would think about themselves, the community where they live and their relationship with God. They did not only learn the rabbi’s theology. They imitated the rabbi’s lifestyle.
They become like their rabbi.
They think like their rabbi. They walk like their rabbi.
They talk like their rabbi.
They worship like their rabbi.
They interpret the Scriptures like their rabbi,
That was the whole point of the rabbi-disciple model.
When Jesus sent the eleven to make disciples of all nations, that was the model that they knew how to follow.
But how shall we do it?
In the community where I live nobody has the time to do that. If we meet once a week it is seen as enough. Getting together for an occasional whole weekend is almost impossible. Busy schedules, sport, studies, family life, and a developing career comes in the way and makes it almost impossible,
We just now finished a three-week In-House training with three couples from a completely different culture from our own. We were together 24/7. We had to learn how to follow Jesus together as a group, applying what He taught as we read through the gospel of Matthew. Learning how to disciple as He did.
We experienced some of the rabbi-disciple dynamics.
But only for three weeks. Not for three years.
And in our discussions on discipleship, it was clear that although our cultures and settings different, this would be just as difficult to attain in their culture as well.
I realise we need to think outside the box, in a radical new way, true metanoia.
Please help me.
How can we do as Jesus did? I need your input.
I am convinced that we are fooling ourselves if we thank that discipleship without a lot of quality time together is going to produce the fruit that our Lord is looking for.
What do you think?
Your brother
Piet Steyn