Torch, Summer 1983

4 Discipleship: TORCH: Mr. Hadidian, what does discipleship mean? Hadidian: Discipling is the process by which a Christian with a life worth emulating , or a life worth sharing, commits himself, over an extended period of time, to a few individuals who have been led to Christ , the purpose being to aid and guide their growth to maturity and then equip them to reproduce themselves in a third spiritual generation. This definition incorporates several things. It incorporates the mark of example. In a discipling ministry you have the role of a leader and a follower, of a guide and the guided . So it isn't necessarily two people who are spiritual peers getting together and growing , but it is someone who is the leader , and someone who is the follower - designated roles . Another aspect is guardianship. One person is the spiritual guardian, aiding , guiding , encouraging , teaching, and protecting the other individual in spiritual growth. Then there is time. Discipling is a commitment over an extended period of time, not something you take someone through in ten weeks and then , poof! He is absolutely mature , ready to reproduce his life in someone else. There ' s also the identifying mark of direction . The discipler knows where he is headed. There are clearly defined goals and a direction to achieve those goals. What is it? by Rev. Allen Hadidian Also , there ' s commitment of one ' s life . The discipler, the more mature one , commits himself to the disciple. And as you look at Christ's life , it wasn 'tjust a transfer of facts , it was a transference of a life . Then, of course, there ' s friendship. Jesus said (in essence), "You're my friends - I love you. I like what one of my college classmates said in thesis paper on discipling . He said that a discipler is no1 a part-time tutor. Rather , he is a full-time friend. T: Why is discipling important? H: I think there are four reasons a discipling ministry is important. First, it is of value to Christ. Discipling was Christ ' s method of reaching the world . He poured His life into a few men who would then reach out to others . Second , it is of value to the disciple . This is seen is several ways. It increases the rate of a disciple ' s growth . If someone has gone before and experienced temptations and passed through them victoriously, then his disciple can grow faster in the Christian life . It stops wrong behavior patterns in the disciple. The more mature discipler comes alongside and says, "What you're doing is wrong!" It protects the disciple from the acts of Satan . A mature individual coming alongside can say, "This is your problem, and this is how you can deal with it. This is what the Word of God says ." I like to say that a new Christian is somewhat defenseless, like a rookie running back with no blockers.