Disciples Who Defend the Faith
I'll never forget my first encounter with the Black Hebrew Israelite movement. I was in Shelby park at a large christian gathering, and a group of Israelites were standing just on the park's edge. This group is a fixture in the African American community, teaching a false gospel. That day, according to their custom, a handful of young men were lined up with a microphone and amplifier, aggressively debating anyone who would talk with them. I stood and listened to them teach interesting things about the origins of black and brown people. Core to their message is a literal connection of African Americans to the biblical tribes of Israel. But the most dangerous thing I heard was that righteousness before God is earned through adherence to the law of God, a works based righteousness that is in direct opposition to what the Bible teaches about salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9) The Bible teaches that the only thing which can cleanse our sin and put us in right standing with God is belief in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This group sheds light on some important issues of race and justice in America. To be honest, issues that the church has failed to address, affirming dignity and self-worth in black and brown people. These are issues that God cares about, they burn in the hearts of minorities, including myself. It is what makes the group so attractive. But this group's message about the "gospel" has people on a path to eternal damnation apart from Christ. Somebody had to say something. I figured I'd try.
After a few rounds of back and forth, a small crowd was starting to gather. I could tell my argument was getting no place fast, and I decided to walk away before I embarrassed myself. As I went home that day thinking about my encounter, two things were very clear. First, those guys were extremely well versed in what they believed. Every one of them had been trained to defend their doctrine, even though it was false. Secondly, they were zealous. Each one of them had a passion for what they were saying unlike anything I had ever seen. Had I not been anchored with a pretty good grasp on what the Bible actually says in its entirety, I could have easily been shaken. Sadly, many are blinded by the false teaching and are lured from a traditionally Christian community into this cult. We seek to become all things to all men that by all means we might save some, When we are discipling people, we have to root them in sound theology.
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." (Ephesians 4:11-14)
We must help those we disciple have a solid understanding of what exactly Christians believe, how it is different than other teachings, and how, If we don't, we leave them vulnerable to groups like Hebrew Israelites, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Nation of Islam, Christian Science and others. To quote Tom Nelson of Denton Bible Church, cults "will eat their sack lunch and the note that their mother wrote to them." Developing theology is essential to discipleship for a few reasons.
Defend the faith - Since the early church, Christians have always had to work hard to "contend for the faith" against false teachers. (Jude 3) This is not only for protection of the sheep, but it also arms them to be on the offense in this battle for souls. Remember, Jesus said he would build his church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) That image is not of the church trying to keep the darkness out, but rather hell trying (unsuccessfully) to keep the church from surging forward in power. We want to send disciple makers into the world who have the skill set to take ground for the church. We want to see disciple makers from the urban context labor in the urban context to be apologists who can answer hard questions and rightly divide God's truth, prayerfully winning people out of false teaching into the kingdom of Christ.
Enduring uncertain times - When people go through suffering and hardships in life, one of the first things they begin to question is the character and intentions of God. A loved one dies unexpectedly, you come under financial crisis, or a horrific accident happens to an innocent and vulnerable person. These are scenarios that make people question what they actually believe. There are truths the Bible teaches us about God and his goodness that our circumstances, no matter what they are, do not change. There are things that God is up to in the world that we will never be able to fully understand, yet must be willing to trust. Disciples should know how to hang on to this theology so that when life is turbulent they remain unshaken.
Dive into an essential doctrine book with your d-group. Use it as a guide to study what the whole Bible has to say about these things. Take advantage of our resources under the "Be Grounded in Jesus" tab at highview.org/discipleship. Study the Baptist Faith and Message together while looking up all the corresponding passages of scripture. Challenge those you disciple to guard their life and their doctrine closely. (1 Timothy 4:16) Equip them to stand, but also to take ground for Jesus.
Had I not been anchored with a pretty good grasp on what the Bible actually says in its entirety, I could have easily been shaken.
The Art of Neighboring
As disciple makers we should be praying through ways to reach our neighbors during COVID-19. There are many resources to spark ideas. The folks of "The Art of Neighboring" have given some practical steps in this article that you may find helpful. If you are trying any of these ideas and finding them effective, please share them with us.
Grace & Peace, Scott