Sorry I kinda took a week off last week from this …
Daniel goes to a dance to see the he’s been pursuing, and somewhat failing. Daniel is encouraged to go from Mr. Miyagi, whom he has become friends with. He decides during this dance to take advantage of a situation where Johnny, his nemesis, is rolling a doobie in the bathroom. In a typical 80′s type morality play, Daniel is the instrument of saying no to by spraying Johnny with water. (In a nice piece of writing, Daniel’s costume is a shower)
Of course, this is the wrong place and time to take revenge, not to mention that revenge is the last thing that should be on his mind. Daniel thinks he’s responsible for making sure Johnny gets what’s coming to him. The response is predictable. Johnny and his Cobra Kai cohorts run Daniel down just as he reaches the apartment complex. They begin to beat him up … again. They are even close to him, relying on their teacher’s “no mercy” attitude, but Mr. Miyagi saves the day, intervening at a pivotal moment and using his karate skills to beat off the young bullies.
Daniel finds himself attended to by Miyagi. Of course the subject comes up … you know Karate? Why didn’t you tell me?
You never asked.
Will you teach me?
Miyagi attempts to discourage Daniel, but he ultimately agrees to teach him karate.
While it may not need to be this dramatic, seekers need to see some sort of testimony that shows them the power and authority in the life of a man of God. Jesus performed miracles that attested to his authority. Paul counts signs and wonders as things that commonly accompany apostles, not to mention his insistence at working for his own support as evidence of his “fatherhood” in the faith.
And the hesitancy by men of God to disciple others can be good or bad. On the one hand, the flesh knows that this is a big task and feels inadequate. The enemy manipulates this feeling of inadequacy to isolate and paralyze men of God. This would be the bad.
But the good is important, too. Discipleship requires much from the disciple as well as the teacher. And the teacher generally has more idea of what it will cost than the student. The teacher got there once. The student has no clue in many instances.
Even Jesus made it difficult to follow Him, whether by word, deed, or standard. He wasn’t being mean. This was love. Are you willing to give up your old life to have the new? Count the cost.
Miyagi explains this the next morning when they get started. Miyagi explains that karate is involved in all of life. “Karate do yes or karate do no. Karate do maybe? Squish like grape. You understand?” Then they make a covenant, a pact. Miyagi is teacher. Daniel is student. Whatever Miyagi says, Daniel will do. Daniel realizes this is important and serious. Probably not to the degree of reality, but it’s a start.
This is so huge, that I will explain and end today here.
So much of our American or Western culture assumes a lack of commitment. We “try stuff out” and then see how it goes. This is inherent in our attitude about dating, schools, jobs, careers, even marriages and family. We might speak some level of commitment, but the actual commitment is glaringly absent.
We do this with fellowships and even Christianity itself! We try to get people to “try” our fellowship or a meeting or a community. No pressure. Just “try” it. See if you like it. We do it with the relationship with God. “Taste and see that He is good.” This leads to the newest traditions of gross entertainment and activity in order to attract people to some level of commitment.
When are we going to grow up enough and become fathers enough in the faith that we treat salvation and fellowship seriously? You’re either in or out. This has to do with your WHOLE life. If you play around with this thing, you will be destroyed. This is the attitude of God, the attitude of the New Testament, but we have perverted it to cater to our own laziness and lack of maturity. We call our lack of commitment to either Christ or His people as “freedom.” This greatly disappoints God, who asks for our all and nothing less.
Jesus clearly demanded that all be given. Putting your hand to the plow and looking back disqualifies you. An unwillingness to give all you have to those in need disqualifies you. In Revelation, we have the Miyagi-esque statement, “I wish you were either cold or hot. I will spit lukewarm out of my mouth.”
Either we believe these things or the scripture is wrong. Let me be clear. Discipleship is not something that will happen once we sit back and see if we like it. We must be committed to it, be willing to rearrange our whole lives around a disciplined relationship with fathers in the faith. Anything less is dangerous, according to the Bible. And the danger is clearly rejection by Christ Himself, however that challenges your theology or doctrine, it is what is said.
Daniel is made to have this type of commitment. It will change his whole life, rearrange his whole existence. He nods his head in zeal and partial understanding. His ignorance is about to be tested.
Peace.