Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Approach to
Discipleship
A brief history
Robert E. Webber
Although the NT does not set forth a
systematic and linear sequence of stages in
Christian formation in any great detail we
do however catch snapshots here and there
we see hints of early practices. Acts 2
contains several of these. Most obvious is
the conversion process in Repent and be
baptized, everyone of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sins. And you shall receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
The Result
Christian Inquiry
Conversion
Discipleship
Commitment to baptism
Spiritual formation
Full membership
Active participation
Comments
All converts to Jesus are
disciples, discipleship not
optional
Inquiry
Catechumenate
Purification
Mystagogue
The Dissolution . . .
Conversion of Constantine was more a
statement on how to conquer others than on
how to be conquered by Christ . . .
By legitimizing the church, there was a
shift from the countercultural model of the
previous centuries to one that had a new
place in society.
The Dissolution . . .
Infant Baptism. Because Society was
Christianized baptism shifted from adult to
infant, and the process of Christian
formation shifted now had to occur after
baptism.
See Agustine who was received into the church
as an infant but later had to experience
conversion and discipleship
The Dissolution . . .
Medieval Christendom. Baptismal Regeneration.
Discipleship in the Medieval era became sacramental and
institutional:
Infants baptizedwhich forgave original sin and gave the infant
the Holy Spirit
At seven a first confession was made for the childs first
communion
First communion
The child was confirmedit was thought that confirmation
provided an increase in the Holy Spirit . . .
When the child/adult sinned the sacrament of penance was now
available to restore . . .
Eucharist provided right relationship with God.
Sacrament of unction, provided at the deathbed was the final
sacrament for salvation
The Result
Evangelism
Stage 2Catechism
Stage 3Confirmation
Affirmation of commitment
Stage 4Eucharist
Rite of nourishment
THE RESULT
Evangelism,
repentance and faith
Embodying the way of
salvation
Pursuit of Christian
perfection
Conclusion
The international Consultation on
Discipleship: current models of evangelism
do not make disciples.