Dysfunctional Disciples

“But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”

Acts 17:5-6, NKJV

In the above verses, God’s men had made their way to Thessalonica with the gospel. Many had accepted Christ, however, some of the Jews had become jealous.

We have come to the end of 2019 and it has become custom in our society to look ahead to the New Year with a plan or a resolution. We also reflect on the outgoing year–our successes, failures, blessings, trials, and even tragedies that we have faced and that God has brought us through. In a recent Christmas drama I saw, the main character asked why she didn’t do more for Jesus in her life. She made the statement, “If I could only go back.”

There is a term we use in our society: dysfunctional. It is defined as “abnormal or impaired functioning” on the part of an individual person, between people in any sort of relationship, or amongst members of a family. Dysfunction often involves conflict, misbehavior and even neglect or abuse.

As I reflect back on my discipleship over the past year, some things jump out at me that tempt me to label myself as a dysfunctional disciple. I sometimes question why God would want to use me for His purposes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful that He does use me. I’m thankful for His mercy and grace, but sometimes I find myself thinking that if I could have met Jesus in person, like those disciples of old, I would be a better disciple. Maybe then I could be someone who does my part to “turn the world upside down.”

Recently in my study of the Gospel of Mark, and now in my study of the Gospel of John, I have been reminded that these disciples were actually a lot like us. Even though they were physically walking with Jesus, they battled the same doubts and limitations that often make me feel dysfunctional.

So if you are like me and say things like…

I want to provide you with some places in scripture where the disciples were having the same thoughts that we have. This is to show you that you are not alone in your doubts and limitations, but that we shouldn’t allow them to quench the Spirit.

1.) “If only I had walked with Jesus, I wouldn’t feel so powerless and timid.”

Mark 9:17-18 and Matthew 17:14-16 record a father who brought his ill, tortured son to Jesus’ disciples. The disciples were surprised to find that they were powerless to do anything for him, even though power had been granted to them earlier in Matthew 10:8. They were being ridiculed by the surrounding crowd for their failure when Jesus arrived on the scene. He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me” (Mark 9:19, CSB).

In this passage, the disciples felt powerless, yet Jesus still used them to “turn the world upside down.”

2.) “If only I had walked with Jesus, I wouldn’t have such weak faith and have to deal with doubts.”

Three times in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus used the phrase, “oh you of little faith,” while speaking to His disciples. On one of these occasions He even reminded them about the miracles they had witnessed.

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:30, NKJV)

But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm (Matthew 8:26, NKJV). In the same story in Mark 4:40, Jesus asked them how they could have no faith.

But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?— but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:8-11, NKJV).

The disciples’ faith was weak at times, yet Jesus still used them to “turn the world upside down.”

3.) “If only I had walked with Jesus, I wouldn’t be so critical of others.”

I recently heard someone use the phrase, “stay in your lane.” Has the Holy Spirit ever had to tell you to stay in your lane after you’ve criticized someone? Well that happened to the disciples too.

 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.” “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me (Mark 9:38-39, CSB).

In another account, just after Peter was forgiven for denying Jesus three times and was given his mission, Peter questioned Jesus about John’s calling. Jesus basically told him to “stay in his lane.”

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” “If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow me” (John 21:21-22, CSB).

Even though the disciples were critical of others, Jesus used them to “turn the world upside down.”

4.) “If only I had walked with Jesus, I wouldn’t argue and bicker so much with other Christians.”

In three of the four gospels we find the disciples arguing among themselves. What’s worse is that they were arguing over who would be the greatest. At one point the mother of James and John even got involved on their behalf (Matthew 20:20-28). That went over really well with the other ten disciples. Even worse than that, after Jesus set them straight, the same argument started again later. Check this out.

Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them (Luke 9:46, HCSB).

Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest (Luke 22:24, HCSB).

How crazy! Their arguments weren’t nearly as important as ours: what to wear, what color carpet should be in the church, how to stripe the parking lots, who is sitting in my seat up front for the Christmas play when they never sit up front any other time. I’ve actually heard all of these arguments in church.

Let’s not even get into denominational divisions in which we sometimes act like other Christians are the enemy.

The list of our petty arguments seems endless while the world that could be “turned upside down” looks on! Yet the disciples did the same things and Jesus still used them.

Conclusion

We are not alone in lacking confidence, dealing with doubt or being weak in our faith. It is not unique to our time to disagree with each other, sometimes very strongly. All of us can take our eyes off of the mission and look in the other lane. This can make us feel unworthy to accomplish God’s mission. We feel unprepared or in fear of messing something up. Remember that even after being in His presence, these disciples felt the same way.

It wasn’t until after Jesus was physically gone that these disciples and other followers of Jesus “turned the world upside down.” That is the age that we live in now. Jesus may be physically gone, but we have the same Holy Spirit guiding us that they had while “turning the world upside down.”

Dysfunctional we may be, but the Bible shows us these are the people He chooses to use. Like those who went before us, we are a work in progress.

As we prepare for the New Year, look back on this year and ask yourselves: Could I have done more for The Kingdom?

Now is the time to prepare our hearts and minds for the new opportunities that await in the coming year.

Today you should know that God is looking for willing participants to turn someone’s world upside down through Jesus! The possibilities are as endless as the power of the God who is calling us!