Discipleship Letters 31-32

Discipleship Letter 31                                                            March 01, 2009

“We need testing. God tests us. The test results will show whether we are choosing the way of awe and worship and obedience (which is to say, God), or whether, without being aware of it, we are reducing God to our understanding of him so that we can use him.” [Eugene Peterson, The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways that Jesus is the Way (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007), p. 54.]

A life of discipleship is a life of testing. In testing, we start to ask tough questions about the relationship between faith possessed and faith expressed. In testing, we start to realize that our ways don’t work all the time. Even though God’s ways seem unknown and unseen, they work better in life according to His eternal perspective. In testing, we are aware of our finitude and His infinitude.

Disciples need (yet don’t ask for) testing. In testing, we can truly tell how much we desire God, follow His will, and glorify His name. Without testing, we deceitfully assume that He is the center of our lives. In testing, we are aware of many false gods in our lives that are not helpful in the time of need and difficulty. They entertain us, but don’t nurture our mind, souls, and hearts. In testing, our lives are re-oriented to the One who can penetrate into our hearts and souls.

“The test question is blunt: ‘Have I been kidding myself all along?’” (p. 53)

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Discipleship Letter 32                                                            March 08, 2009

Grace Alliance Church has been established for 20 years. In this life stage of the church, where shall we go from here? The more we discuss the Church Building Project (CBP), the more I realize that the CBP is going to be the core of our spiritual formation. Perhaps, if we want to have more dedicated servants and leaders, we must not get around this project. Rather, we must get through it.

God’s timing is perfect, and He has reasons behind all things. We start to talk about the CBP here and now. We are able to participate in discussion and preparation. God wants us to look at the overall development of the church as emerging leaders. We don’t know what we can contribute to the project in general. But we must prepare ourselves for the present as well as the future.

We need servants. We need leaders. But all we can do is to demonstrate servanthood and leadership. God will call people to work for Him and work at His church in the right time and at the right place.

May we all start to re-evaluate our roles as Christ’s disciples. Peter said, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2-3).

We lead; we demonstrate.