Being Disciples
by Rowan Williams, past Archbishop of Canterbury
Someone said to me recently that the term discipleship group might be a little off putting because it sounded too heavy. As a church made up of discipleship groups, I was a bit confused by that comment, but now that I have read Being Disciples, I am even more convinced that we are called to discipleship as Archbishop Rowan Williams explains it. Furthermore, Williams says that if we do not follow the guide of discipleship for our journey as Christians, we are missing out on the great joy of being in full relationship with Jesus. Discipleship, he says, is “about how we live; not just the decisions we make, not just the things we believe, but a state of being.”
Being a disciple, as Williams describes it, is a state of being in relationship with Jesus which requires expectancy, abiding, following and action. “Being with the Master is recognizing that who you are is finally going to be determined by your relationship with him.” Thus, Williams gives us a beautiful explanation of those difficult words from the Gospel of Luke that say you cannot be a disciple of Jesus unless you love him more than you love your mother and your father, wife, children and all the rest! Your relationship with Jesus defines you, is vital for your own well-being and thus defines all your other relationships! Great incentive to be a disciple!
One of the points Williams makes which touches me deeply has to do with the importance of being with people with whom Jesus would seek to be and recognizing what Christ gives you through people with whom you are in relationship. Those points are clear calls to discipleship. It is quite clear in the gospels that Jesus sought to be with the excluded, the disreputable, the wretched and the self- hating. And Williams says if your discipleship is a way of being, you will find yourself in the same sort of company he was in.
Williams’ chapters include titles like “Faith, Hope and Love,” “Forgiveness,” “Holiness,” and “Life in the Spirit.” Each of them opens with an exquisite passage of scripture which highlights the theme of the chapter. Each chapter ends with questions for Reflection and Discussion., making it a good book for book clubs and bible studies.
If you only skim the book, be sure to read the next to the last chapter because there lie the nuggets of living in the world today. Entitled “Faith in Society,” Williams begins by asking the question “What place does Christian discipleship have in a democratic society?” and he goes on to discuss the history of Christian discipleship in societies. The overriding passage from scripture he uses is the one from I Corinthians 12 that says “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many are one body, so it is with Christ.” We are all dependent on God and therefore on each other and therein lies the difference we can make in the world. Our Christian vision is dynamic and calls us to build up everyone’s human life and dignity.
“Being disciples means being called to see others from the perspective of an eternal, unflinching and unalterable love.”
If you think the term discipleship is off putting in any way or if you wonder what it would mean to be in a discipleship group or just to be a disciple, I recommend this beautiful gem of a book. Eighty-seven pages of pure and loving wisdom from one of our former Archbishops of Canterbury who has modeled the essence of discipleship for a long time. A quote from our current Archbishop, Justin Welby sums it up best:
“Here is quite the most beautiful writing on discipleship I know.”
Owene Courtney, reviewer
Director Christian Formation and Spirituality, St. John's Cathedral
