Jesus did not ask anyone to follow Him blindly but wanted individuals to know up front what the "Cost of Discipleship" involved:
| Quote: | Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whosever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? - Matthew 16:2-26
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Self-denial: dying to oneself was modeled by Jesus in the Garden as He prayed the cup He was facing be removed, yet not according to His will but the Father's. He got His answer after the third time - He was arrested, tried, convicted and executed - all according to God's will. How do we work this out today?
Take Up Your Cross: The shame and infamy, the cruel torturous cross was Jesus' destiny. He knew what lay before Him. He had to "die" in the Garden, however, to embrace the Cross. How do we work this out today?
Follow Me: This is not a request to line up single-file behind Him, but an invitation to join Him in the journey. To learn from His words and His ways and to emulate Him.
If you conclude this applied only to Jesus' closest, trained disciple and first century Jews, then we must contend with this passage:
| Quote: | | ...All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:18-20 |
Evangelism is necessary as is Salvation, but Salvation is not an end in itself. Salvation is a means to an end - the development and nurturing of our relationship with God our Father. But it is not Discipleship (neither is selling fire-insurance)
Christian Education is good and effective but it is not Discipleship. (However, I've been informed some churches have even abandoned Sunday School in lieu of worship services but worship services are not Discipleship).
Regarding the post of why people are leaving the church, does anyone recognize these are symptoms of an underlying problem?
Yes, the lack of Discipleship.
Why are Churches not engaging in Discipleship?
Because if the Pastor/Teacher, Preacher, Evangelist, got up and announced there is something more than the free Grace and it is Discipleship and if the hearers understand it will cost them something, then the crowds will walk away. (Read John 6).
Discipleship's cost - self-denial, take up your cross - stands in the way of following Jesus.
Self-denial and taking up one's cross flies in the face of a prosperity teaching, and any other teaching that exalts selfishness, self-centeredness at the expense of demonstrating a life of selflessness for a higher cause, a higher call.
And, let the Church that has become institutionalized, that fights for survival and the preservation of the status quo, let that Church hear again the words of our Lord:
| Quote: | | For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whosever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? |
| Quote: | | To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 25) |
_________________
The Hammer
Mi kamocah ba'elim Adonai
"Who is like you, Adonai, among the mighty?" (Exodus 15:11, CJB) |
Acts Enthusiast
Posts: 1771
1/31/16 8:51 pm
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Counting the Cost
