D17 Part 6: Discipleship of the Whole Person

Perhaps your introduction to "discipleship" was like mine - basically equated with the "spiritual disciplines" (daily Scripture reading, prayer, simplicity, fasting, etc.). How do you disciple someone? Teach them the spiritual disciplines! How am I doing as a disciple? Well, my spiritual disciplines are going well, so I'm doing well as a disciple!

I am in no way diminishing the importance of the spiritual disciplines and how they relate to discipleship. They are crucial, and disciples simply don't grow much at all without them. But they aren't the same thing as discipleship. We need them, but they aren't sufficient. They facilitate spiritual formation, but there's far more to spiritual formation.

Consider the following:

• Jesus tells the experts in the Law that disciples love the Lord their God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:28-31). Not just spiritually, but physically, emotionally, and mentally. Not just a half-hour every morning, but every bit of every part of you. Being a disciple involves every part of your life, including loving your neighbor as yourself (v. 31).
• Jesus tells the Pharisees that discipleship is far more than just the religious duties, like tithing. Rather, following Jesus involves pursuing justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matt 23:23). There's a societal element to following Jesus. Disciples are disciples in part by seeking out the societal good.
• James says that real religion is to minister to the vulnerable, such as widows and orphans (James 1:27). This is another example of societal mercy, but focuses on a heart for individuals in their distress. Following hard after Jesus cannot be accomplished while ignoring one's neighbor, especially the ones in need. In the next chapter, James chastises any religious man who would ignore those without adequate clothing and food (James 2:15-16).

That brings us to the sixth of seventeen truths of discipleship (the "D17"):

Discipleship must be holistic.*

Discipleship is not just about one's spiritual health! It's about our minds, our hearts, and even every ounce of strength. It's about our role in society, adding value to our neighborhood, working for justice, meeting the needs of those in want. If we are to love the Lord our God with all our strength, then discipleship includes things like diet and exercise! How you treat your neighbor is part of following Jesus. Holistic.

You've likely heard the Hebrew word Shalom. Often translated as "peace," it means so much more than that. Shalom includes wellness, health, sufficiency, relationships, and so on. It's holistic. There's "peace" with society, with finances, at one's borders, in each corner of life. Discipleship pursues every aspect of Shalom. Holistic.

I just heard a friend talk about the "edge." The "edge" is where Shalom and chaos are at war. Chaos in its various forms is the opposite of Shalom. Where we feel distress is at the "edge," where these two concepts do battle in the war theater of our lives. We experience chaos and then crave Shalom.

That is why discipleship must be holistic.

* This statement about discipleship is taken from the teachings of Caesar Kalinowski.