Have you ever come across a statement in a conversation or on social media that began with, “Real Christians do…” or “Real Christians vote…”?
These statements, whether the speaker realizes it or not, construct a vision of what a genuine disciple of Christ looks like. And, considering that we live in a highly polarized society, these statements are not few and far between. In fact, we find ourselves in the midst of a political divide that includes clashing theological leanings. And, each leaning offers a different vision of a disciple. To be sure, we come to this discussion with our own images based on our own narratives. Disciples have often been defined according to church tradition, dress, appearance, “works,” salvation “score cards,” testimony, outward signs of success (God’s “blessings.”), and political party affiliation. In addition, there exists a belief that, while discipleship is offered to all, the gifts to use in the new kingdom are not available to all.
They Don’t Have To Look Like You
Last year, as I read from Luke 9, a verse struck me: “John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you” (Luke 9:49-50).
It’s an odd passage, and one that seems to open up more questions than answers. Why didn’t the disciples want this person to cast out demons in Jesus’ name? What exactly are they taking issue with anyways? Isn’t it a good thing to cast out demons? Don’t we see Jesus and the disciples casting out demons too?
The key to this passage, however, is in the disciples’ claim that this other person is not a follower of Jesus. It’s a cliquish statement, really, as the disciples reveal a good deal of pride and jealousy in their own hearts. Just a few verses earlier, in Luke 9:40, a man came to Jesus, complaining that the disciples had been unable to cast out a demon from his own son. Now, we find the disciples upset that someone else has been able to engage in a practice they had failed in. They come to Jesus, looking for affirmation that they should get rid of this man. But, instead, Jesus tells them to embrace him, because “whoever is not against you is for you.” It’s not quite clear what the disciples expected a follower of Jesus to look like. But Jesus’s response shatters their categories, and he challenges them to think more broadly on who we should consider as his disciple.
An Ecclectic Group
Ironically, in the Bible, the disciples formed an eclectic group with diverse personalities, social statuses, different professions, and scandalous reputations cultivating an engaging dynamic. The disciples we read about in the New Testament certainly did not fit the criteria of those normally chosen to follow a Rabbi in Jewish tradition. However, the choosing of these individuals was the beginning of Jesus’ process of extending discipleship beyond cultural boundaries, and more than once it raised eyebrows.
In addition to this unusual group of followers, Scripture identifies women who traveled with the disciples as well. This is astonishing when we consider that women held a marginal status in 1st century Palestinian Judaism. They were rarely allowed to learn Scripture and certainly would not have been allowed to become disciples. Yet, this doesn’t stop Jesus. Once again, he turns the ideologies of the time upside down.
For example, Luke 8:1-3 mentions that a number of women traveled with Jesus, and they even supported him with their own resources. Who were some of these women? Mary, who demonstrated a posture of learning to Jesus, as well as her sister Martha, and Joanna, who left behind an aristocratic life to follow Jesus. These women are just a few who joined the counter-cultural group that Jesus initiated with a new image of a disciple. It foreshadowed the radical characteristics of the new kingdom he was ushering in.
Revisited: What Does a Disciple Look Like?
It’s no wonder the disciples were confused about the man they saw casting out demons in Luke 9. Their ideas of what a disciple looks like were being challenged on a daily basis. On the one hand, we wonder how they felt about themselves being included in such a group. Certainly, they would have drawn reactions from those they came across in their traveling. What would cause them to take on a non-orthodox version of the culture’s view of a disciple? One that was not based on gender, intellect, age, and social status? What longing did Jesus fulfill in them that they were willing to leave their livelihood behind to have? Perhaps they realized as they looked around at their group of marginalized individuals that they were part of something that defied cultural standards of worth. However, their ability to grasp the bigger picture of who could be added to their group was still lacking.
Jesus could not have surprised them more. His response to their statement, “he does not follow us,” challenged them, because the greatest, or “most spiritual,” individual looks nothing like they expected. As Jesus would repeatedly teach them, a disciple looks like a person who, in their most vulnerable and humble state, embraces what Jesus offers them. Outward appearances and membership in certain circles are not requirements.
Embracing a More Robust Vision
In light of what Jesus has done and redefined, we all must embrace an expanded Biblical view of what a disciple looks like. Jesus offers his invitation to those willing to carry up his cause for a kingdom that seeks restoration “on earth as it is in Heaven.” So, a disciple is one centered on the scripturally-woven theme of shalom and spreading Jesus’ transformational message through the places God leads them. A disciple appears as Jesus incarnate wherever we are: in the midst of daily errands, parenting, waiting in line at the store, as a musician, as a CEO. And, like the disciples in Luke 9, we must recognize that we make up an eclectic group. One that may not always agree but still proceeds with a common mission. That lens shapes how we view and love each other. So, again, let us embrace a more robust vision of what a disciple is.
A disciple looks like a person who, in their most vulnerable and humble state, embraces what Jesus offers them. Click To Tweet
