Decisive Discipleship: Why Rapid Discipleship is Preferable and How it is Possible

Abstract

One of the most common issues that mission supporters, pastors, and even missionaries have raised during my 35 years of mission involvement has to do with the speed of mission advance.   Yes, some are concerned that the gospel is not advancing quickly enough, but many also raise questions because it appears to be advancing too quickly.  These questions are usually raised in regard to the rapid planting of churches in a Church Planting Movement (CPM)[1] or the speed at which missionaries disciple new believers[2].  What appears like good missiology to missionaries sounds outrageously irresponsible 8,000 miles away.             In this article I will explore why many American Christians are skeptical of rapid discipleship due to cultural and ecclesiastical presuppositions.   I will show that rapid discipleship is not only a possibility, it is missiologically preferable.   I will explain why rapid discipleship is more likely to avoid syncretism and to result in sustainable faith in new believers.  I refer to the rapid establishment of a pattern of obedience to Christ as decisive discipling.  [1] A Church Planting Movement is a rapid multiplication of indigenous churches planting churches that sweeps through a people group or population segment. See www.churchplantingmovements.com [2] See Smith, Steve and Ying Kai.  T4T:  A Discipleship Re-Revolution.  WIGTake, 2011.