Is Discipleship New?

Here goes my gripe...

For the past seven years I have been reading and studying about this thing called discipleship. A break through came when I starting reading Willard (Dallas, that is) and since then I have absorbing as much I can trying to understand this topic. I trudge through theological commentaries, dictionaries, and treatises, trying to glean some insight to create movement and desire for people of faith. I read these new words from the postmodern/missional genre, and they all hail the bastion of discipleship as though they had just found the "golden ticket." Which lends me ask this all important question, "Is discipleship new?"

It is a crime against God that a vast majority of our church attenders think of discipleship as an optional program. People are asked to subscribe to be a disciple like they are being asked to upgrade their cable to get the movie channels. They may opt for a season, but soon realize that the cost is too high. Why don't we teach being a disciple of Jesus as being the most basic and fundamental part of this journey? We tout blind belief and redemption like its the entrance to the Promised Land, but soon people realize that they aren't even on the map.

I'm tired of having conversation after conversation with the overchurched who talk about how connected they feel, and over exaggerate their relational output. When I ask simple questions of Bible reading, spiritual conversation, and growth...I get blank stares?

I'm frustrated that our churches are not inspiring the long, hard journey of absolute followership of Jesus. We would much rather pray the prayer of salvation with someone than walk the pathway of discipleship with them. I am ashamed that the church has lost the call to develop radical disciples.

"Follow me as I follow Christ..." 1 Corinthians 11:1.