Since my wife and I became disciples of Jesus in 2002, we have been seeking to understand the true meaning of discipleship. According to the dictionary, a disciple is "one who follows the ideas or imitates the examples of another." For us, as followers of Christ, this means living according to His teachings and reflecting His character and works in our lives.
Where we started
Our encounter with Jesus was a transformative experience. We repented of our lives independent of God and fully surrendered the control of our lives to Him, committing to live according to His will. The church where we began our journey was simple and welcoming. What truly mattered there was the presence of Jesus and the communion among the brothers and sisters. When someone asked the name of our church, the answer was always: "We have no name because the church of Jesus has no name." And when asked where the church was located, we would say we were together wherever God wanted.
At that time, discipleship was an intimate and transformative experience. Growth went beyond knowledge; it involved faith, love, communion, and a genuine commitment to making new disciples. We lived this phase intensely, always eager to experience more of Jesus, practice His teachings, and share His love with those who did not yet know Him.
Over time, however, this vibrant experience began to become mechanical and tedious. The excess of knowledge, booklets, and obligations made our meetings exhausting. I remember hoping that some meetings would be canceled, as the gathering became a heavy obligation rather than a moment of joy. You may wonder:
The truth is that we couldn't bear it and we left. For four years, we stayed away. During that time, I took a theology course. I started preaching in different churches, which gave me an insider's view of the institutional church, and what I witnessed was, at the very least, disappointing. But that's a story for another time.
Return to where you started
After four years of discontent and weariness with the religious adventure, God gave us a clear word: "Return to where you started." When God speaks, it is essential to listen and obey.
As we returned to our original church, we were surprised to see that many things had changed. The root of religiosity was beginning to subtly sprout. Over the years, the church had become similar to many others: buildings, paid pastors and elders, programs, and leaders who, as a brother told us, were not exactly ordinary people like mere mortals.
Some who were dissatisfied with this organizational structure decided to leave. Some were hurt, while others did not believe that this was the true way to be a church. Our small group, which meets in our home, understood the message that God sent us: "Return to where you started" did not exactly refer to that congregation, but to the way the church gathered in the beginning, when we converted. Thus, we decided to return to the simple and true discipleship that we experienced at the beginning of our journey.
Simple and true discipleship
After about twenty-two years, we gathered again in an environment where the essence of relationship, communion, and the flow of the Holy Spirit is fundamental. We rediscovered the true church from the beginning: without denomination, without buildings, and without clergy. Today we gather in the living room, in the garage, under a tree, or wherever God wants.
We do not have disciplers, but everyone disciples each other. We believe that it is the church itself that builds itself up. This is the discipleship we live - a lifestyle that pleases the heart of God and impacts lives through the sincerity and love we cultivate among ourselves.
Our mission is not only to transform our lives but also to impact the lives of everyone around us, glorifying God in every step. May our discipleship journey be a continuous celebration of the love we have received and that we are called to share with the world.
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