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James Houston, evangelicalism's senior theologian of the spiritual life, expounded on the disciple's formation in the context of an accountable relationship. Houston identified the primary pressure militating against effective disciple-making: the contemporary tendency toward reductionism, which places a premium on thought, emphasizes the rational over the mysterious, and operates in a utilitarian mode. Thus we manipulate reality so we can live by methodology. The great danger of methodology, he said, is that it becomes a replacement for the Holy Spirit.

Ironically, evangelicals' penchant for methodology has both guaranteed statistical success and undermined spiritual life. "What is destroying Christianity is the marketeering of Christianity," said Houston. But disciple-making is not about replicable, transferable methods, but about the mystery of two walking together. Methods treat discipleship as a problem to be solved, but mentoring treats discipleship as a relationship to be lived. Thus, Houston said, "Christian maturity is always a social, and never an individual, reality. There is no such thing as my maturity. There is only our maturity."

Now that the consultation has placed disciple-making higher on the global evangelical agenda, it is vital that our biblical scholars, theologians, and spiritual guides develop for us a full-orbed vision of the life of the disciple. At the consultation, there were signs of reductionism as speakers emphasized prayer and Bible study but gave scant attention to other spiritual disciplines or to theological themes such as the role of the Spirit, the nature of the kingdom of God, or the believer's abiding in Christ.

We have experienced decades of enthusiastic evangelical recovery of the classic spiritual disciplines. Meditation, examination of conscience, fasting, participation in church life (including baptism and the Lord's Supper), preaching, and works of mercy received scant attention at the consultation but are vital for creating a discipling community. Nor can we ignore the role of the Spirit, who brings us to new birth, leads us into truth, and witnesses that we are children of God in the making of disciples.

Knowledge of the historic disciplines and of a biblical theology of discipleship is essential to our formation. Yet in each culture, discipleship must wear its own face. Said Appianda Arthur, former member of the Ghanian Parliament and organizer of the consultation, "In Africa, the key issues for discipleship may include bribery, corruption, and polygamy. In the West, you might want to focus on hedonism and materialism. The subjects change, but the core need is the same—discipleship."

The message of the consultation is a vital reminder for evangelicals worldwide. Ultimately, evangelism without disciple-making can only end in cheap grace, not God's grace. It would be like a wedding without a marriage, a celebration without substance.

Copyright © 1999 Christianity Today, October 25, 1999 Vol. 43, No. 12, Page 28

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