Make it Transformational: A Blog for Champion Discipleship

This past month, I've been noticing people around me who are 'living brochures' - individuals who passionately support a cause and recruit others in their sphere of influence to do the same thing.  Last week, I wrote about how Florida Gators quarterback, Tim Tebow, is a great real life example of a living brochure. 

This posting by Greg Stier  - written in the form of a letter to Miley Cirus - paints a picture of a younger person taking steps both forward and backward as she hopefully continues to develop into a 'living brochure' for Christ. 

In writing about Miley's recent performance at the August 10 Teen Choice Awards - in front of millions of teens and pre-teens, by the way - Greg says:

"As the father of a four year old little girl my heart broke for all the young girls out there who look up to you, not just as a role model, but as the role model they follow. Your music goes on their ipods. Your fashion statement goes in their closets. And, on Monday night, that statement was “It’s okay to dress like a prostitute, dance like a stripper and still claim to be a follower of Christ.” Miley, short shorts and low shirts don’t become someone who “does everything for Jesus.”

Miley's performance and Greg's letter are instructive.  So I talked about this at home with my 9 and 11 year old Hannah Montanna fans.  We talked about her appearance and actual performance (which I saw on video and described to them), read Greg's letter, then I asked them what they thought. 

I appreciated their replies in light of the living brochure process which can be messy, non-linear, and full of surprises:

- 'She made a mistake.' 

As we move through the P-E-O process and disciple those around us to get more deeply involved in the cause, we need to recognize that it's easy to take one small step forward, then a step or two back, then a small step forward, etc.  It's easy to make wrong decisions.  We also need to be patient and understand that the process of refinement takes time.  I'm not talking days or months.  I'm talking years.

- 'What did she say when she got the letter?' 

Of course she probably never saw the posting so we don't know how she might respond.  I thought about the Great Commission and Christ's directive to 'go and make disciples, to teach them to obey everything commanded.'  To my daughter's question, I hope somebody close to her will help Miley see and understand that she did not reflect Christ that night in front of millions.  If it's not her family or handlers, as Greg says, who is providing her with wise correction when needed?

- Why didn't her daddy do something? 

I wondered the same thing.  Transformational relationships require mutual accountability to keep on one another on track and to best embody the cause at every stage of the journey.  Since we all make mistakes, we need discipleship by those who have knowledge, wisdom, life experiences, passion, and wisdom to share.

Can you remember a time when you made a mistake?  Did somebody correct you in love and truth?  What did you learn and how were you changed?