The Church: Community of Disciples

Christ Washing the Disciples' Feet

 Tintoretto c. 1575–1580

 

 

Dulles’ piece on The Church: A Community of Disciples caught my eye because of the word disciple.  As a life-long member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and now pastor, discipleship is not only a part of our denominations tittle, but it is the term that we often used to describe ourselves to others, Disciples of Christ or in church geek language, DOC. 

In my church tradition we have a heritage that is firmly rooted in the idea that all members of “the church” are ministers that are called to serve the church with their individual charisms or gifts of the Spirit.  As Ronald E. Osborn, one of our notable DOC scholars stated in his book, The Faith We Affirm, “the Disciples of Christ church affirms that within the universal church we receive the gift of ministry in which every member is called to share.  In calling us to be disciples, the living Christ entrusts to each of us a responsible role within the church’s corporate ministry.  Discipleship, itself, is a form of ministry” (78).  It means getting use to stinky feet.

In my faith tradition we use the term of discipleship quite often.  We use it to describe any effort that involves the giving of one’s time and talent to the betterment of the church or the community at large.  For instance, our “kitchen ladies” who prepare for our hospitality luncheon every Sunday are engaged in discipleship efforts.  The leaders of our church board engage in discipleship efforts when they convene to take care of the “business” of the church.  Our deacons who prepare our sanctuary with the hanging of the proper liturgical colors and dressing the Lords Table each Sunday engage in discipleship efforts and our Elders who see to the spiritual care of our members engage in discipleship efforts each time they reach out to one of our congregants to offer guidance, encouragement, or just a listening ear.  As Dulles’ wrote, “the term ‘disciples,’ may be taken as a virtual synonym for Christian or believers” (202). For my community of believers and for DOC members in general, being a Christian means being a disciple of Christ.  It’s deeply relational.  It involves getting dirty and becoming a servant to others.  It involves humility, the ability to say to others, remove your socks and shoes and let me wash your feet.

As Disciples of Christ, we understand the word disciple to have different dimensions.  Discipleship consists of being followers, learners, and in community with one another.  As for being followers, Dulles said it best, “the way of Jesus is the way of the disciple, and discipleship consists of walking the way with Jesus” (201).  Concerning learning we understand as Dulles wrote that “faith cannot be …transmitted in …the classroom or lecture hall.  It is most successfully passed on by trusted masters [members of the church] in a network of interpersonal relations resembling the community life of Jesus with the twelve” (209).  This perfectly describes disciples as learners in community.

Discipleship in my faith tradition echoes much of what Dulles wrote of in this piece.  Discipleship ranges from the mundane to the intricacies of interpersonal relationships, and to the sacraments of the church. Discipleship is everything!