A believer’s life should be disciplined but not ruled by
disciplines.
It is recorded that Jewish ideas of discipleship involved
submitting to the authority of the chosen Rabbi and accepting his
interpretation of Scripture. It could
even mean emulating the man’s manners and clothing. In fact disciples were recognisable.
Examination of Jesus the Rabbi shows that he expected his
followers to adopt such attitudes. Look
at the Sermon on the Mount where he repeats the phrase, “But I say unto you ...”. Also, we can see his method in his living
among his followers in a transparent way, responding to their questions and
often challenging their attitudes and actions.
Being his disciple was much more than a theological seminary. He expected them to be doers as well as
hearers of his words. Thus, the disciples of Jesus changed and could be
recognised as those who had been with him.
We can detect some conflict between disciples of Jesus and
those of John and other Rabbis of the time.
One very obvious difference is that Jesus did not teach
disciplines. He did not suggest spending
an hour a day sitting on a pole (as the Greek STYLITES). Nor did he encourage rules for the Sabbath or
rules of abstinence. What I am saying is
that Jesus encouraged disciplined life but not a life of disciplines. He did not encourage legalism of any
kind. This is why we can confidently
declare that Christ Jesus sets us free!
We are enabled to be disciples of the Lord Jesus today
through the filling and indwelling of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of our Lord
Jesus Christ – Philippians 1.19). This
discipline requires constant filling and proper recognition of the Spirit’s
fruit and gifts. We are encouraged to
put on Christ so that we will not make provision for the sinful human
nature. There are no disciplines that
will achieve this. By this I mean that
there are no rituals, special observances or special “sacrifices” that will
attain this. We cannot achieve the merit
needed to be in fellowship with God.
This is freely given through the grace of our Lord Jesus. A disciplined life develops from submitting
to Christ – believing in him, believing him and living according to his example.
