Discipleship is Equipping
“And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.” Acts 17:14-15
It eventually reached the point where, when you looked for Paul, you found Timothy. This was part of the discipleship process. They were so closely connected that you could not tell them apart. Today, you do not often find discipleship situations like this. Instead, you find mentoring, where you are just a phone call away, but that is not biblical equipping.
“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” 1 Timothy 1:18-19
Paul and Timothy were deeply invested in one another. It was more than a business transaction; it was a way of life. Paul naturally cared for Timothy's well-being. He was engaged as a leader in Timothy’s life, which gave us an example of how discipleship equips. Timothy began to look like Paul, respond like Paul, talk like Paul, and ultimately engage like Paul. Timothy was equipped with the Word before he was equipped with the processes. Paul learned not to hold Timothy accountable for something he himself was not willing to do. This intimate friendship became discipleship through the equipping of the Word.
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17
Sadly, today we have transitioned from discipleship that biblically equips to mentorship that informs how to make leadership decisions. What has happened is that we have adopted the culture’s training process of mentoring and lost the biblical process of discipleship. We equip with the wrong thing first, and as a result, we have raised a generation that lacks a fundamental understanding of a biblical worldview. Over the past year, I’ve watched many make decisions that leave me scratching my head. It hit me—it’s discipleship. We have a generation of leaders who are social reformers, not biblical transformationalists.
They understand that they must present biblical truth at church, but when making decisions that have nothing to do with church (in their hearts and minds), they separate themselves from biblical truth. This is dualism at its core. It’s keeping Jesus within the four walls. Dualism refers to the division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being divided. This is not a result of anything but a poorly executed plan of equipping. We have failed in biblical discipleship. We have trained a generation in the importance of saving money for a rainy day, but not God’s Word for a stormy season. Here is the dualistic approach that takes place:
Church, marriage, parenting, Bible study, and tithing—these are easy decisions based on God’s Word. Social media, friends, purchasing toys, music, movies, work ethic, dating, decision-making, conflict resolution, educational decisions for children, and representing truth—these are based on how I feel, and the question asked is, “Am I feeling it?” rather than, “Is it biblical?”
“Ye shall know them by their fruits (worldview). Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Matthew 7:16
Discipleship has not been about producing biblical fruit, but rather focused on producing fruit centered on a secular model of love. The word love—secular love, not Agape love—is inserted: “I have to love my neighbor, so I need to say what they want to hear.” Truth in love doesn’t exist because if I am not saying what the person I am talking to wants to hear, it’s not considered truth. This is the difference between a discipleship process and a mentoring process. Mentoring tends to flow with societal needs, wants, and desires. Discipleship, when equipped with the Word first, responds to society’s view of love and truth biblically and does not waiver. We never see Timothy wavering from what Paul discipled him in. The reason for this is that Paul equipped him with the Word before anything else.
“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalms 119:10-11
What has occurred in our discipleship is that we have not taught, for generations, the biblical principle of hiding God’s Word in your heart. When it is hidden in your heart, it becomes so deeply implanted that you can’t find its beginning or end. Very few live this type of lifestyle. In fact, learning this approach to life takes time, and that learning cannot only occur in what is defined as “church.” It requires home, church, and school. When presented with this level of Kingdom thinking for the first time, know that it will take years to implement. However, while learning this form of biblical living, those learning will be teaching others the old form of secular living—teaching through actions because they will tell you they would never bring secular thinking into “church.” What they don’t realize is that they already do. You can’t separate your worldview.
This is the dualistic battle. Only Jesus will change our current condition. It’s like parenting or birthing more children, but this time, spiritual or biblical children, through intense discipleship. It’s teaching a new language, which, as they say, is more difficult the older you are. It’s painful, but it’s worth fighting for. It is establishing a firm foundation in biblical discipleship, equipping the future generation with a Word-based mindset, not one that waivers based on the trends of culture.
Discipleship is equipping with God’s Word first and watching that impact all other training and decisions.
Mr. Euler has over 20 years of experience working in Christian Schools, 13 as a Head of School and is currently the Head of School at Word of God Academy, Shreveport, LA., a ministry of Word of God Ministries.
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