Discipline or Discipleship?

I've been pondering the difference between discipline and discipleship lately. I won't presume to have a solid grasp on the answers to any of the questions this has produced in me, but it has certainly opened my eyes to some destructive tendencies that have come out of a life overly focused on discipline alone. I find that discipline alone tends to lead toward legalism, and legalism sounds the death knell of faith.

Before I go on let me be clear about the issue of discipline. I don't believe that exercising discipline is wrong or unwise. God even expects me to be disciplined (orderly) in how I approach my faith and my life. But as I observe people, and especially take inventory of my own life, I find that many of us have crucified faith on the altar of discipline. In other words, we worship our discipline(s) rather than the Divine One. This should not be.

The more I study God's Word and engage in conversations with Him, the more I realize how deeply passionate He is about my devotion to Him. He wants (and deserves) every part of me to be in total submission and surrender to Him. He desires this, not only because He is deserving of it, but because He understands the benefits that such devotion brings to my life and relationships. Single-minded focus on God produces the fruit of abundant life.

So I believe a shift in focus must occur if we as Christians are going to experience this abundant life that Jesus' spoke of so long ago. This shift in focus must move us from seeing discipline as the "end all" of our Christian faith to embracing discipleship as our process for becoming what God designed us to be. Discipleship focuses on God in the context of relationship; first with Him, then with others. This is a forever changing, forever growing, forever exploring adventure. Discipline alone, on the other hand, tends to draw our focus toward the "task" of relationship rather than simply interacting with God and others.

As I promised, I don't have all the answers. Just some thoughts rattling around in my head about some contrasts between discipline and discipleship. Maybe they are helpful thoughts. I know they have helped me to be more aware of the moments when I have preferred to grasp onto discipline rather than grow in my relationship with God. By God's grace I will become the faithful disciple He desires me to be.

Walking by faith,

jonathan