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Addressing Apathy in the Church: Moving People Towards a Biblical View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Liberty University Digital Commons LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ADDRESSING APATHY IN THE CHURCH: MOVING PEOPLE TOWARDS A BIBLICAL HEALTHY DISCIPLESHIP MODEL A Thesis Project Submitted to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By Kevin Harold Brooks Lynchburg, Virginia August 8, 2014 Copyright 2014 Kevin Harold Brooks All Rights Reserved ii LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET ______________________________ Grade ______________________________ Mentor: Dr. Charlie Davidson Director, Doctor of Ministry Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary ______________________________ Reader: Dr. Rodney W. Dempsey Director of the Master of Arts in Christian Ministries Associate Professor of Educational Ministries Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary iii ADDRESSING APATHY IN THE CHURCH : MOVING PEOPLE TOWARDS A BIBLICAL HEALTHY DISCIPLESHIP MODEL Kevin H. Brooks Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014 Mentor: Dr. Charlie Davidson In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul speaks to the giving of spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit to individuals at the time of conversion. However, current statistics reveal that a large majority of church members are not actively serving their current ministry. The purpose of this project is to investigate the problem of apathy in the church, the failure of God’s people to use their spiritual gifts and also present an effective model for solving the issue. A ministry filled with servants instead of spectators will help unify the body and more effectively reach the community for Christ. Research will consist of surveys to several pastors and church members from each congregation. The project will present widespread concerns, statistics, practical advice and a model for creating a more effective and healthy church. Abstract Length: 133 words. iv This thesis is dedicated to my wonderful family, my mom and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Juanita, you have been my greatest encourager and joy. I would never have completed my education or this project without your love and support. Melinda, Michelle, Jack, Casey and Branson, your prayers, support and encouragement have meant so much to me during this time. Thank you for being so patient and loving. Mom, thank you for reminding me repeatedly about God’s call on my life. God used you and the love you showed me to bring me into a right relationship with Him. I look forward to seeing you in glory one day. I thank my Savior Jesus Christ who paid my sin debt and died for me. Only because of His death, burial and resurrection am I able to accomplish anything for the sake of the ministry. To God be the glory! v TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………...1 The Problem………………………..……………….……………………............................1 Limitations………………………..………………....……………………………………...5 Project Surveys…………………..………………….……………………………………...7 Biblical Basis……………………..………………….……………………………………..9 Historical Basis…………………..………………….…………………………………….12 Theoretical Basis……………….………………….……………………………………...14 Statement of Methodology……..………………….……………………………………...16 Review of Literature…………..………………….……………………………………….20 CHAPTER ONE: BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP……………….…………………………………………………….28 Introduction………………….…………..…………….….……………………………...28 Disciple Defined…………………….…………………….……….………..…………....29 Discipleship Defined…………………………………….………….……………...…….30 Disciple-making Defined……………………………....………………………………...31 Spiritual Formation Defined……………...…………….………………………………..33 What Discipleship is not……………………………….………………………………....35 Discipleship in the Book of Romans………………….………………………………….37 Discipleship in First Corinthians…………………….…………………………………...40 Discipleship in Colossians………………………….…………………………………….42 Discipleship in the Gospel of John………………….……………………………………43 Discipleship in the Sermon on the Mount………………………………………………..45 vi Chapter Summary………………………………………………………………………....46 CHAPTER TWO: HISTORICAL DISCIPLESHIP…………………………………..……………………………..48 Introduction………………………………………………..…………….……………….48 Clement of Rome…………………………………………..…………….……………….48 Ignatius of Antioch………………………………………..…………….………………..49 Polycarp of Smyrna………………………………………..…………….………………..50 Socrates, Plato and Aristotle……………………...………...………….…………………50 Catholic Philosophy: Monks and Mavericks………………..………….…………………52 The Benedictines, Franciscans and Dominicans……………..…………………….……..54 The Reformation and Beyond………………………………..…………………….……. 56 Dietrich Bonhoeffer…………………………………………..…………………………..59 The Ministry of Christ………………………………………..…………………….……..61 The First Century……………………………………………..…………………………..66 Chapter Summary……………………………………………..…………………....……..67 CHAPTER THREE: THEOLOGY OF DISCIPLESHIP………………………………...…………………………….69 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………....69 Christ: Redeemer and Restorer…………………………………………....……………...69 Christ: The Messiah……………………………………...………………….……………73 The Christology of Christ ..................................................................................................79 The Person of Christ………………………………………………………...……………81 What does it mean to follow Christ? .................................................................................84 Chapter Summary…………………………………………………………...……………88 vii CHAPTER FOUR: THE COMMUNITY MODEL: BIBLICAL DISCIPLESHIP……………………….…………..90 Introduction…………………………………………………………………….………...90 The Issue of Apathy…………………………………………………………….………...91 Case Study…………………………………………………………………….……….....94 Effective Models…………………………………………………………...….………...100 The Community Model………………………………………………………………….106 Steps to Transition……………………………………………………………………….115 Summary………………………………………………………………………………....118 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………….…………..121 VITA…………………………………………………………………………………………....125 APPENDIX A: IRB EXEMPTION LETTER……………………………………………….....126 viii INTRODUCTION The Problem The word “apathy” is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as: “Lack of emotion or feeling: impassivity, a lack of interest or regard: indifference.1 It is this type of attitude and mindset that is greatly hindering the church of today. By and large, the church has become unrecognizable when compared to the biblical model expressed in the pages of God’s Word. The lack of overall health in the church as a whole at this particular time is due in part to the failure of the church to practice biblical discipleship and accountability. The apathy which exists in the church is evident not only in the members of the average church body but also among the staff including the pastor. Therefore, the church is failing to make disciples, who in turn also make disciples whereby the Great Commission given us by our Lord is being fulfilled. If the church is ever going to become the biblical church God intended it to be, where the gospel is spread and people are saved, then the church must first become spiritually healthy. The body of Christ must be transformed into a picture of spiritual health. Somewhere along the line, it has become both acceptable and commonplace in our churches to simply be a part of the body but not contribute much of anything to the body or the ministry. The leadership in many churches has failed the body because of a lack of proper discipleship. Therefore, many church members simply come and sit and do not exercise their spiritual gifts or talents in the church. It is possible that many church members are not aware that they have spiritual gifts, or they have no idea what gifts they have been given. What is worse is the fact that pastors and church leaders have simply accepted this show of indifference and apathy. Instead of holding people accountable, they rely heavily on the same small percentage of church members who are not only exhausted from service but are probably serving outside of their gifts. 1 Webster’s II: New College Dictionary (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995) 52. 1 2 The apathy found in churches today concerning the use of spiritual gifts is easily linked to the church’s failure to disciple its people. The church is designed to function as a community as seen in the Book of Acts. Luke wrote: Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. 2 In fact living in community is something Jesus established as He ministered to His disciples and helped them to grow in their faith. Stephen Macchia writes, “What Jesus developed with His disciples is embodied in the word community. When the disciples first encountered Jesus, they responded to his call, “Follow me…,” and their lives were transformed. Living in community with Jesus, the disciples followed his teachings and example.”3 As one considers the Acts 2 church and the environment in which Jesus taught and mentored the disciples, this whole idea of community is clearly seen as not only biblical but effective. What hinders many churches is the lack of commitment to biblical discipleship and a lack of commitment on behalf of church members who simply do not want to devote their time to ministry. As a pastor, this writer has discovered that many church members do not understand their responsibility as a member of the body of Christ, and they fail to see the value in using their spiritual gifts consistently. This is the
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