{"id":40881,"date":"2025-02-27T13:34:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T21:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=40881"},"modified":"2025-02-27T13:50:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T21:50:26","slug":"the-discipleship-dilemma-a-wicked-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/the-discipleship-dilemma-a-wicked-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"The Discipleship Dilemma: A Wicked Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have a deep passion for spiritual formation and discipleship. However, I have found that before discussing discipleship with someone, I must begin by clarifying with which of the many definitions they are most familiar.<\/span><\/p>\n

With so many interpretations of <\/span>discipleship<\/b>, there is a lot of ambiguity regarding \u201cwhat\u201d it is, \u201chow\u201d to do it, and what it might \u201clook like.\u201d Today, more than ever, we must be very clear about what it means to be a disciple or follower of Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n

In his seminal work, <\/span>The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’s Essential Teachings on Discipleship<\/span><\/i>, Dallas Willard writes,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So the greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heart-breaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as \u2018Christians\u2019 will become <\/span>disciples<\/span><\/i>\u2014students, apprentices, practitioners\u2014<\/span>of Jesus Christ<\/span><\/i>, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the heavens into every corner of human existence. [1]<\/span><\/p>\n

Willard addresses a profound issue within contemporary Christianity: the noticeable gap between, \u201con the one hand, the <\/span>hope for life expressed in Jesus<\/span><\/i>\u2014found real in the Bible and in many shining examples from among his followers\u2014and, on the other hand, the <\/span>actual day-to-day behavior, inner life, and social presence<\/span><\/i> of most of those who now profess adherence to him.\u201d [2] This gap seems even more obvious today than when Willard wrote these words.<\/span><\/p>\n

Willard calls this discrepancy the <\/span>“Great Disparity,”<\/b> attributing it to the church’s neglect of true discipleship\u2014a neglect he calls the “Great Omission.” This omission has led to a pervasive challenge in modern faith communities, one that aligns closely with what scholars identify as a “wicked problem.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding Wicked Problems<\/span><\/h2>\n

The concept of wicked problems was introduced by design theorists Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber in the 1970s. [3]<\/span><\/p>\n

Wicked problems<\/b> are complex issues characterized by ambiguity, interconnectedness, and resistance to definitive solutions. Unlike “tame” problems, which have clear parameters and solutions, wicked problems are multifaceted, with no clear endpoint, and often involve numerous stakeholders with differing perspectives. [4]<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Wicked Problem in Discipleship<\/span><\/h2>\n

Applying this framework to Willard’s observations, the challenge of authentic discipleship in the modern church could certainly be said to be a <\/span>wicked problem.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The “Great Disparity” highlights the inconsistency between the vibrant, transformative Christian life depicted in Scripture and the often lukewarm\u2014or sadly misaligned\u2014faith observed in practice. This disparity stems from the “<\/span>Great Omission<\/b>,” where the church has failed to emphasize and cultivate<\/span> true discipleship\u2014teaching believers to observe all that Jesus commanded<\/b> (John 1:23).<\/span><\/p>\n

Contributing Factors<\/span><\/h2>\n

Dallas Willard\u2019s <\/span>The Great Omission<\/span><\/i> highlights how the church\u2019s neglect of discipleship has led to a widespread gap between the life Jesus calls believers to and the lived experience of most Christians. Barna\u2019s research confirms that this failure is not simply an issue of personal neglect but a systemic problem with multiple interlocking causes.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Lack of Discipleship Engagement<\/b><\/h4>\n

According to Barna\u2019s <\/span>Growing Together<\/span><\/i> study [5], 39% of U.S. Christians are not engaged in discipleship at all, and only 28% are actively discipling others while being discipled themselves. This suggests that <\/span>discipleship is not a natural or expected part of Christian life<\/b> for many believers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Given that 56% of Christians say their spiritual life is entirely private, the communal aspect of following Jesus\u2014central to the early church\u2014has eroded, been ignored, or is deeply misunderstood.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Lack of Confidence and Feeling Ill-Equipped<\/b><\/h4>\n

The primary reason Christians do not engage in disciple-making is not outright rejection of the idea but a <\/span>crisis of<\/b> confidence<\/b>. Barna found that 37% of Christians feel unqualified or ill-equipped to disciple others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This aligns with Willard\u2019s argument that many churches have failed to teach believers <\/span>how<\/span><\/i> to live as disciples, not just <\/span>that<\/span><\/i> they should be disciples. (\u201cWe can be \u2018Christians\u2019 forever, and never become disciples.\u201d [6]) The absence of structured teaching on discipleship leaves many feeling unprepared.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Lack of External Encouragement and Accountability<\/b><\/h4>\n

One in four Christians (24%) says that discipling others has never been suggested to them, and 22% report they have never even thought about it. Even among those who are being discipled, 31% say no one has asked or encouraged them to disciple <\/span>others<\/span><\/i>. Willard calls out this <\/span>failure of intentionality<\/b> in churches; many congregations focus on converts and assume discipleship will happen naturally without actively fostering it: The emphasis on church membership,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026causes two great omissions from the Great Commission to stand out. Most important, we start by omitting the making of disciples and enrolling people as Christ\u2019s students, when we should let all else wait for that. Then we also omit, of necessity, the step of taking our converts through training that will bring them ever-increasingly to do what Jesus directed. [7]<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Lack of Meaningful Relationships for Spiritual Growth<\/b><\/h4>\n

Another major barrier is relational disconnection. Barna found that 38% of Christians who lack a discipleship relationship have simply never thought about it, and 35% report they have not found the right person for that kind of connection. This indicates that discipleship is not a widespread cultural norm within many churches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The absence of strong relational models for discipleship<\/b> means that even those who desire to grow in their faith struggle to find avenues to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Institutional and Theological Barriers<\/b><\/h4>\n

Beyond individual factors, the broader church culture plays a role in perpetuating the wicked problem of discipleship. Willard argues that <\/span>many churches focus on numerical growth and conversion over deep transformation<\/b>, leading to a model where attendance is prioritized over spiritual maturity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, some churches promote an <\/span>incomplete gospel, emphasizing belief over obedience<\/b>, which leads to a faith that does not naturally result in transformed lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reframing the Problem<\/span><\/h2>\n

In <\/span>What’s Your Problem?<\/span><\/i>, Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg emphasizes the necessity of correctly framing problems to identify effective solutions. He introduces a three-step method: Frame, Reframe, Move Forward. [8] Applying this to the issue of discipleship:<\/span><\/p>\n