One-size-fits-all discipleship programs are killing the church.
Imagine a doctors office where every patient was told, “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.” It would be fine for headache sufferers. But if my appendix had burst, when I called back the next morning, I’d be dead. A good
doctor prescribes first, and diagnoses second.
Imagine a parent saying, “My kids are blank slates that I can mold however I want. They will each be motivated by the same rewards, impacted by punishment the same way, attracted by the same activities.” what happens to obliterate these ideas in a parents mind? Reality.
The birth of actual children, all of whom come with intensely unique wiring.
Why do churches not understand this?
What would grow an orchid would drown a cactus. What would feed a mouse would starve an elephant. There are certain similarities: they all need light, food, air, water-but in different amounts and conditions. The key is not treating
every creature alike. Its finding the unique conditions that help each creature grow.
Our great model for this is God Himself. He always knows just what each person needs.
He had Abraham take a walk, Elijah take a nap, Joshua take a lap, Adam take the rap; He gave Moses a forty year time out, He gave David a harp and a dance, He gave Paul a pen and a scroll, He wrestled with Jacob, argued with Job, whispered to Elijah, warned Cain, and comforted Hagar. He gave Aaron an altar, Miriam a song, Gideon a fleece, Peter a name, and Elisha a mantle.
Jesus was stern with the rich young ruler, tender with the woman caught in adultery, patient with the disciples, blistering with the scribes, gentle with the children, and gracious with the thief on the cross.
God never grows two people the same way.
God is a hand-crafter, not a mass-producer.
