Curious Christian

Discipleship is, at its core, a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus—learning his ways, embodying his teachings, and participating in his ministry of reconciliation. It’s not something we can outsource to our church leaders, nor is it something that happens passively by osmosis. While the gathered church is an essential space for encouragement, correction, and communion, it was never intended to bear the full weight of cultivating our spiritual maturity. There’s a temptation to place our spiritual formation solely in the hands of others (pastors, leaders, or systems) but that can easily slip into a kind of codependency, especially when those systems are unhealthy or stagnant.

There are seasons when the local church may not be as vibrant or as healthy as we’d hope. We may encounter leadership that is out of touch with the lived experiences of its people, teaching that fails to challenge the powers, or a culture that confuses comfort with faithfulness. In such times, it becomes even more important to take personal responsibility for our discipleship. Not in isolation, but with intentionality. Spiritual growth doesn’t wait for ideal conditions. In fact, it often thrives in tension, in wilderness places, when we are forced to lean directly into the presence and guidance of Christ.

I’m not advocating we abandon the church, that we give up meeting with one another. But I do suggest we resist the urge to idealize or depend on it for things it cannot give. Let’s engage, but as contributors rather than consumers, discerning where we can serve, challenge, and help cultivate health. But also learn to seek Christ in ordinary rhythms, in prayer, scripture, hospitality, mutual accountability, and radical peacemaking. These are not just church activities; they are the soil of discipleship, wherever we are planted.

If the local church is thriving, give thanks and press in. If it’s struggling, pursue faithfulness without enabling dysfunction. The Spirit still speaks, still shapes us, still invites us deeper, whatever our situation. In every context, discipleship means listening, obeying, and becoming a living signpost of the kingdom of God. The responsibility is personal, but never private. It is always for the good of others, always aimed at the healing of the world.