Discipleship by Way of the Fist!
I have been taking Indonesian Martial Arts classes for the better part of the past decade. My class meets formally each Monday evening for 90 minutes and the practitioners (students) are expected to practice on their own throughout the week. I have been diligent to work through the katas (patterns) and learn all 100 designated numbers of Indonesian stick and cane, which is our primary discipline.
As I progressed, my instructor gradually gave me opportunities to lead certain segments of the class. This progression culminated at the start of 2015 when he spoke to me before class and simply said, "From now on you teach the class and I teach you."
Although Indonesian Martial Arts is not equivalent to evangelism and proclamation of the Gospel, we can certainly learn from my instructor's model of teaching. He believes the only way to perpetuate Indonesian Martial Arts is to "pass on" the role of teacher to a younger practitioner. Otherwise, the style risks dying off with the passing of the instructor. I know that I am not the ideal student. I know that my instructor had hopes that a nephew or close friend would be there to take up the reigns. I know that he has traveled the world to accumulate and hone his skills. My instructor has taken blows that have produced blood and bruises to prove his mettle... blows I will never have to take, bruises I will never have to nurse, and blood I will never have to spill.
Now, before anyone accuse me of equating my martial arts instructor to a "Suffering Servant" (I did not mean to imply that and I will stop myself before I get too preachy), let me clarify and say that my instructor had to work much harder than I ever will. Yet, he unselfishly passes his life's work on to me.
I know that we have people in our churches who are like I was in this Martial Arts class. People who are there every week. People who have been diligent to put their faith into practice. People who are ready to move from "disciple" to "disciple-er." Pastors and ministers- we need to be unselfish, we need to "let them teach the class."
Our churches are called to be fertile ground for harvesting fruits of The Vine not greenhouses for showcasing bonsai trees.
