By: Chef Dashi
With the truth of the Bible and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, discipleship – the process of becoming a true disciple of Christ – is the key to revival in Japan! However, despite the biblical mandate, discipleship is still under-emphasized in many churches and in ministry to the Japanese people.
“Discipleship”, “disciple-making”, “spiritual growth”, etc. are common concepts in the Bible-based church. So why is the concept and need for discipleship so difficult to be embraced in the Japanese Christian community?
One reason may be that the Japanese term, “ discipleship”, itself has a dictatorial image, which may be a stumbling block for Japanese Christians. Such an idea is a cause for concern, and many people naturally feel that it is irrelevant and unsuitable for Japanese people. However, we need to listen and obey the Bible without giving in to culture and language.
Another factor that may hinder the understanding of discipleship is the spiritual condition and culture of Japanese society. The Christian population in Japan is only less than 1%, and it is a society with atheist, non-Christian values and all other gods. Christians are called upon to be witnesses of Christ to all people, but many Christians are happy and content to just introduce people to Christ and accept salvation. This may be seen as a particularly big deal in a culture and society like Japan, but even when we examine the aspects of salvation (justification, sanctification, and glorification) from the Bible, we see the encounter with Christ is the start, not the goal.
It is, of course, a joyous occasion when a person is saved, but after that, often those around us are not willing to spend the time and effort to help the new Christian grow. If we don’t lead new Christians to become disciples of Christ, it’s like planting a seed in a flowerpot and not watering or caring for it. It may look like it will grow, but only for a short time, and without proper care, it will not grow well.
There are many Japanese Christians who plant seeds. They try to lead someone to Christ and then leave them to grow on their own. A new believer may attend church, read the Bible, and try to understand their new life and calling. However, they are often frustrated and disappointed for a variety of reasons. This is because they have not taken root. If there is an environment where discipleship training is available, there are grown-up Christians by their side to encourage and inspire new Christians to spiritual growth with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Such opportunities are an important part of a Christian’s life to know and walk in the will of God and Himself.
Another factor that hinders the practice of discipleship training is the lack of people who can spiritually support new Christians and help them grow, as well as the fact that they are not taught the importance of growth. I often see many Christians satisfied with just attending church and various gatherings. It can be difficult to realize this, but in order to truly grow spiritually, it is not enough to just attend fun gatherings with other Christians. Supporting someone’s faith being rooted takes a lot of time and effort on the part of those who nurture it.
However, without discipleship, which is an intentional time commitment to spiritual growth, it is difficult to produce the true fruit of the Spirit. Discipleship is a spiritual investment that strengthens the body of the church. It is all God’s will and work, but we, too, can have a significant impact through the Holy Spirit. The concept and practice of discipleship training is not something that can only be strongly promoted by church leaders. It requires not only the pastor but also each individual to take the initiative in supporting God’s family.
The best time for one-on-one (or small group) discipleship is immediately after accepting Christ, when a strong foundation of faith can be established. All of us who are saved need to know how to get to where the Lord wants us to be. Pointing new Christians in the right direction encourages a mature perspective in them so that they can share the gospel and effectively disciple others in Christ! In this way, the fruit of the Spirit will be multiplied.
Will you join us in praying for the Lord’s disciple-making to be more accepted and practiced in the Japanese church? Will you join us in the disciple making movement as well?