Rites Reimagined: Are Rituals the Missing Link in Modern Faith?

Ancient-Future Christian Culture

Introduction

In my years wrestling with discipleship within the church, I've seen both triumphs and setbacks. Over the years, one glaring truth has emerged: discipleship isn't a passive process; it demands intentionality.

The modern approach to discipleship often relies on a buffet of resources — YouTube videos, podcasts, books, conferences, and short courses. While valuable, they imply that discipleship is primarily an intellectual pursuit. While understanding the gospel is crucial, true discipleship extends beyond knowledge into belonging and action.

Robert Webber sums this up beautifully in his book Ancient-Future Evangelism, stating:

“The three aspects of discipleship that stand out in the New Testament and early Christian era is that discipleship entails believing, belonging, and behaving. To follow Jesus and be his disciple one must believe what the Bible teaches about him: ‘But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believe you may have life in his name’ (John 20:31). A disciple must belong to the community of believers: ‘They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of the bread, and prayer. . . And the Lord added to their number daily those being saved’ (Acts 2:42, 47). A disciple is also called to a new life of ethical behavior: ‘Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Rom. 12:2). The process of initial discipleship practiced by the early church is a process that initiates a new disciple into the lifelong commitment to grow in the knowledge and understanding of the faith, to take on a full, conscious, and active life in the church, and to commit to a new way of life.”

The modern "information-heavy" approach to discipleship often leads to two extremes, in my experience. Some, having consumed the available resources, feel aimless, wondering, "Is this it?" Others, mistakenly believing they've mastered the material, become prideful and prematurely declare themselves ready for ministry.

The missing ingredient in modern discipleship? It might surprise you, but I believe it's a combination of intentional process and meaningful rites.

By process, I mean a structured journey with distinct stages and seasons, allowing new disciples to focus on one aspect of their faith before moving on to the next. By rite, I mean ceremonial, ritualistic practices that mark the completion of one stage and the entrance into another.

This combination directly addresses the aimlessness and pride that can plague modern discipleship. To the aimless, it declares, "Yes, there is more. Your initial step into the church was just the beginning. There are deeper depths of God to explore before you can grasp the full picture." To the prideful, it cautions, "No, you haven't arrived. The journey has just begun. There is so much more to experience before you are truly ready for ministry."

Intentional processes and meaningful rites create a scaffolding — a regula for spiritual growth, reminding disciples that their journey is ongoing, their learning continuous, and their dependence on God's grace essential. By neglecting this, we've reduced discipleship to a series of quick fixes, producing "easy-bake disciples" who crumble under pressure. The early church, however, understood discipleship as a transformative process — a rigorous discipline, like martial arts training, not a passive lecture series.

The Ancient Path: A Model for Transformation

Early Christians, navigating a diverse and often hostile world, developed a structured path to guide new believers into mature discipleship. This multi-year process, meticulously documented by Hippolytus in his third-century work The Apostolic Tradition, was marked by distinct stages and pivotal rites of passage.

The journey began with the Inquiry stage, where seekers grappled with the implications of following Jesus, weighing the cost of discipleship and affirming their commitment to Him as the exclusive path. This period of discernment culminated in the Rite of Welcome, a formal ceremony where seekers renounced their former beliefs and religions, received the sign of the cross and were welcomed into the community of believers.

Next, the new disciples entered the Catechumenate, a period of intensive instruction spanning two to three years. In the worship of the church, these catechumens were dismissed after the sermon. While baptized Christians remained for the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper), the catechumens gathered in a place where they could reflect on the sermon. Led by a mentor, they were instructed in matters of the faith and in the development of Christian character. This stage culminated in the Rite of Enrollment, where disciples publicly declared their intent to be baptized, demonstrating their commitment to Christ and their spiritual progress.

The journey then intensified during the Purification and Enlightenment stage, a time of deep introspection and spiritual preparation in the weeks leading up to Easter. This period emphasized the ongoing struggle against evil and the importance of spiritual warfare. Through prayer, fasting, and the "scrutinies" — special prayers for protection and guidance — the disciples were equipped for the transformative Rite of Baptism. This pivotal moment, marked by immersion in water and anointing with oil, symbolized their death to their old selves and their resurrection in Christ. For the first time, they fully participated in the Eucharist, sharing in the Lord's Supper with the rest of the community.

Finally, the newly baptized entered the Mystagogue stage, a period of reflection and continued formation during the Easter season. Here, they explored the deeper mysteries of faith, particularly the significance of baptism and the Eucharist, and learned to embody Christ's teachings through acts of service to the poor and needy.

While replicating this ancient model in its entirety may not be feasible in today's context, its underlying principles offer a powerful framework for revitalizing modern discipleship. The early church understood that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey, requiring intentionality, discipline, and community support. By incorporating elements of process and rite into our own discipleship practices, we can move beyond superficial engagement and create spaces where individuals are truly transformed by the power of the Gospel.

Recovering Ancient Discipleship For The Future

The goal of revisiting the ancient pathway of discipleship is not to replicate its every detail but to recapture its essence and adapt it for a 21st-century context. Every church must foster a deliberate process of discipleship; without intentionality, we are merely scattering seeds with no guarantee of a flourishing harvest.

As Robert Webber aptly observes, "I grew up with the impression that once a person became a Christian, growth in Christ was a natural outcome of faith and there was no need for a more formal process. I may have been wrong in assuming this, but the local church communicated this conclusion by the absence of an intentional process of Christian formation."

So, how can we rediscover the spirit of the ancient path and breathe new life into modern discipleship? I propose a framework centered on four key pillars:

1. Seeker: In this initial phase, individuals encounter the Gospel of Christ and begin to grapple with its implications. They are drawn to the transformative relationship offered by Jesus, weighing the cost of discipleship while discerning their commitment to Him as the exclusive path.

2. Apprentice: Having embraced faith and undergone the rite of conversion, individuals enter the apprenticeship phase. Now integrated into the life of the church, they immerse themselves in worship, scripture, and spiritual disciplines. As their faith deepens and they express their intention to be baptized, they are recognized as apprentices, ready for the next stage of their journey.

3. Initiate: Through baptism, apprentices undergo a profound transformation and are initiated into the full life of the church, gaining access to the sacraments. As initiates, they embark on a deeper exploration of Christian ethics and values, actively cultivating a Christ-centered lifestyle.

4. Luminary: Having completed the final rite, initiates emerge as luminaries, shining forth their faith and illuminating the path for others. They delve into the profound mysteries of baptism and the Eucharist, discovering their unique gifts and calling. Empowered by their deepened understanding, they engage in meaningful work and service, impacting their community and the world.

This ancient fourfold structure, unfolding over time, recognizes the developmental nature of discipleship. The ancient model also incorporated three crucial passage rites, marking key transitions in a disciple's journey:

While evangelical churches often utilize baptism to mark conversion, the broader concept of passage rites has largely fallen by the wayside. Yet, these rituals hold immense value. In our media-saturated world, where words often dominate communication, rituals offer a different way of engaging with the divine. They speak to our intuition, imagination, and emotions, complementing the cognitive and verbal aspects of faith. As Peter Roche de Coppens suggests, rituals "deal with intuition, with imagination, and with emotion rather than with thinking sensations or the will."

By weaving together the profound power of scripture with the visceral experience of ritual, we forge a discipleship journey that speaks to the heart, mind, and soul. This holistic approach nourishes our entire being, cultivating a vibrant, authentic relationship with Christ that extends beyond mere intellectual understanding. In today's church, this embodied path to faith is not just desirable, it is essential.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the integration of intentional processes and meaningful rites offers more than just a superior approach to discipleship. It provides a powerful framework for shaping identity, fostering order, and promoting stability within the church and even in society as a whole.

These rites serve as transformative rituals, conferring identity in a way that transcends mere words. Just as a wedding ceremony marks the transition from singlehood to marriage, rites within the discipleship journey signify a profound shift in spiritual status and belonging. They offer a tangible, embodied experience that resonates deeply with the human spirit.

Moreover, intentional processes and rites create a sense of order and guidance. They empower church leaders to shepherd individuals along a well-defined path, addressing questions and concerns at the appropriate stages of development. They offer a safeguard against aimlessness and pride, ensuring that spiritual growth is not rushed or prematurely concluded.

The absence of such processes and rites can contribute to the instability and chaos we see in the world around us. In our pursuit of instant gratification, we have discarded the wisdom of gradual transformation. We have given young people access to adult experiences like sex, responsibility, and positions of authority before they are fully equipped to handle them. Is it any wonder that many struggle with a lack of maturity and purpose?

By reclaiming the power of process and rite, we can create a bulwark against the cultural tide of instant gratification. We can offer a pathway for spiritual formation that honors the complexities of human development and the sacredness of transformation. This approach not only benefits individuals within the church but also contributes to a more grounded and stable society.

Let us rediscover the wisdom embedded in the practices of our spiritual ancestors, and reintegrate intentional processes and meaningful rites into our approach to discipleship. Let us embrace the transformative power of these rituals, not as mere formalities, but as sacred gateways to spiritual maturity and a deeper connection with God and the profound mysteries of our faith. By doing so, we equip ourselves to cultivate vibrant communities of disciples, men and women who, like the martyrs and saints of the early church, can face the complexities and challenges of our modern world with unwavering faith, resilient hope, and steadfast love.