Making Disciples and the Modern Church

JD Walt's FARMStrong blog has an entry and request for discussion based upon a post on the Jesus Shaped Spirituality blog by Michael Spencer entitled "The Intentional Jesus Visits Your 40 Minute Worship Music Set". Mr. Spencer's intent was to make people think about worship music services as a form of discipleship in comparison to modeling our lives after Jesus.

I had a deep thought while pondering his post and my comment to JD's post. If we are to model our lives after Jesus, worship and praise are good things. Obviously we cannot claim to know Jesus's every inner thought, but we do have examples of him praying to God and quoting scripture praising God. I see no problem also using music as a method to express such praise.

However, if we are to follow the Great Commission to go and make disciples, and we want to pattern our works after Jesus, worship and praise music is not the correct form. Jesus made disciples by talking to and teaching people. Further, Jesus met people where they were, in the streets, on the shores, at dinner tables, etc. Yes, he taught in the temples at times, but that is not how he got his twelve disciples.

As I was thinking about "mega-church" styles of worship, my thought went even deeper. The massive Lakewood Church is across the street from my office (I can see it out my window). The church is known for modern, up-beat praise and worship music in its services. But I also realized that Joel Osteen's weekly television show places the emphasis on his teaching, not the music.

So Osteen has divided his ministry. He tends to his flock with worship music as a way to recharge their spirits. However, he makes new disciples through television with his words.

Regardless of what you think about his theology, in this light, Osteen's methodology seems quite appropriate.