Friday, April 4, 2014

The polarized church part 13: Discipleship and the spectrum

Our final teaching method is apprenticeship, or if you want to use the Biblical vernacular discipleship. Technically speaking they may be slightly different, but I'd say there is more similarities than differences; especially as applied by Jesus. Sometimes I think we use the term discipleship today as a catch all term for teaching Christian values. Yet forget the specific hands on, interactive, and experience based methods Jesus actually used much of the time.

Both discipleship and apprenticeship are example based forms of teaching. Like when Jesus washed the apostle’s feet, he wasn't just telling them what to do, he was showing them how to serve one another in a real world application. Just as your mentor might in an apprenticeship. Jesus also assigned tasks to his disciples, he didn't just show them what to do, but he gave them opportunity to experience it for themselves; just as a technical school might, once they show you how, they give you the opportunity to put that knowledge to work in a real world application; not merely a theoretical one. I use that example, for in a lot of ways tech schools are a larger scale form of apprenticeship.

Which is another way all these concepts are similar. They can work on a wide variety of scales. Even Jesus had his inner circle among the twelve who were being set aside for special positions in the future church, and received special instruction that the others did not. As well as hundreds of other disciples who followed Jesus around, trying to take in everything he said and did. But over all, whatever form or scale apprenticeship or discipleship takes, it is all less mental, and more hands on. Which makes it ideal for the more extroverted student, for they much rather do than think any day. It is one of the defining characteristics that makes an extrovert what they are after all. It better captures their attention, and caters to their needs and temperament. Plus it's a proven fact that we remember what we DO to a much higher degree over what we hear or read, as much as three or four times more.

Introverts can manage fine with apprenticeship and discipleship as well. For the simple fact that even in a group setting, much of the negative aspects of competition is marginalized. Since extroverts are less likely to become bored and disruptive in said environment, and nobody gets left out of demonstration or experience like in a discussion based class. It's no wonder why more hands on type technical schools are on the upswing right now. It really is a far better option for an extrovert skewed society over a traditional lecture based education. Yet doesn't totally exclude the introvert either. 

Maybe that's why Jesus used a more active example based approach himself, it's more universal. Makes you wonder why churches aren't more Christ like in there approach in teaching that way, rather than rely so much on the biased sacred cows of lecture and group study that we've used for centuries. 


someone talking up their cross in a passionate way
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