To Disciple
The Gospel of Matthew ends with words that have shaped much of Christianity for the past 2,000 years: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). This statement, attributed to Jesus and written down by Matthew about 50 to 60 years after Jesus’ death, has been the foundation of Christian evangelism and the source of the imperative that Christians must convert others.
Now, I’m not a scholar of Koine (New Testament) Greek and so the following ponderings are not based on any in-depth analysis of the Greek words, but here is what I notice: μαθητεύσατε (mathēteusate) is translated into English as “make disciples” (disciples being a noun), but in Koine Greek, it is a verb meaning “to disciple.” So “Go disciple in all nations” just might be the better translation. But we don’t use disciple as a verb in modern English. For those of you who love grammar, “to disciple” is an aorist active imperative second-person-plural verb. I can just imagine Jesus sitting in heaven, shaking his head and saying, “No, no, no—it’s a verb: to disciple, to be a disciple, not ‘to make disciples.’” Big sigh…
What if Jesus was commanding (imperative mood) his followers to go be disciples in every nation, and then, if people wanted to join in the Jesus’ Way, to offer baptism? I also have this sneaking suspicion that the whole “baptizing in the name of the Trinity” was something that evolved in the 50 to 60 years of church development between Jesus’ death and Matthew’s writing.
So what does it mean “to disciple,” or, as it could be translated, “to be a disciple”? Well, a disciple is one who listens to the teacher, who learns from the mentor, who pays attention to what is happening, and who discerns wisdom from that listening, learning, and paying attention. Imagine if that had become the approach to Christian discipleship and evangelism?
In fact, one might imagine that this was just how the first disciples approached sharing the Good News of Jesus. They were sent out by Jesus, they met with people along the way, they listened and learned about what was going on in people’s lives, they paid attention to the situation, and then they shared their passion for the Way of Jesus. Think of Paul and Timothy seeking out a place of prayer along the river in Philippi on the Sabbath (Acts 16:11–15). They sit with the group of women they find there; they listen, they pay attention, and then they share their Good News. They don’t insist that every one of the women gathered there must follow Jesus, but one woman, Lydia, is intrigued, so intrigued that she welcomes baptism and commits to following the Way of Jesus.
Unfortunately, the Roman Empire co-opted the Christian faith, and “Go make disciples” became coercion rather than invitation. Entire villages and nations were forced under threat of sword and violence to be baptized. Or the fear of being sent to hell in the afterlife was wielded to compel people to accept baptism. Baptism became the tool of colonizers, who took this one little verse in Matthew and made it their mission to make everyone Christian, even if it meant sexually, emotionally, and spiritually abusing those upon whom they forced Christianity along with British-European ways.
I can just imagine Jesus weeping, sobbing, in heaven, “No, it’s a verb, not a noun. Go be my disciples. Don’t force it on others. Please.”
What if Jesus was inviting us, commanding us, to live as disciples in every nation? What if Jesus wanted us to learn, to listen, to pay attention, and to discern how we might love our neighbours and share the love of God with compassion, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23)? What if Jesus wanted us just to be small pockets of salt and light joyfully bringing compassion and hope in every place we go, rather than forcing everyone to be like us? What if? What if disciple is really a verb and not a noun?
Susan Lukey, Editor
