“In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
Imagine a three-dimensional triangle, or a pyramid. Living, moving, being–these are three points of a triangle. These are the basic elements of life for every human being. What sets the disciple of Jesus apart is the “in him”–the pinnacle of our pyramid–the community of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In him we live. In him we move. In him we are.
The three practices of Christian discipleship–community, mission, formation–correspond to the living, moving, and being of life. The difference for the disciple of Jesus is that all this living, moving, and being are soaked, steeped, and rooted in the love of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
So this is how we begin to define our three practices of Christian discipleship:
COMMUNITY
God’s family: Are you daily connected, in any way, with other Christian brothers and sisters? Do you know them? Do they know you? Are you available to them? Are you vulnerable with them? Do you participate in a discipleship group? Do these Christian brothers and sisters increase your capacity to love God and neighbor? Do you help them love God and neighbor better? Do you share meals together? Do you love each other? This is our living.
MISSION
Redeeming God’s world: Are you friends with non-Christians (i.e., “normal people”)? Do they know you’re a Christian? Do you make yourself available to be hope and healing to broken and hopeless people? Do you show hospitality to strangers? Do you take advantage of cross-cultural opportunities? Do you know “invisible people”? Do you spend time in “invisible places”? Are you participating with Jesus in making “all things new”? This is our moving, our doing what we do.
FORMATION
Redeeming God’s image: How is your soul? Do you act/talk/think more like Jesus today than you did yesterday? Do you regularly practice spiritual disciplines? Do they make you love God and neighbor better? Is the image of God being renewed in you daily? Are you daily listening and responding to Jesus? This is our being.
Fiftyeight 