I am reading “Radical” by David Platt. He is talking about making disciples. We are called to go, baptize, and teach. Jesus didn't say, “Bring the people to the message.” He told us to GO. So often contemporary Christians are too concerned with numbers. How many: got saved? Joined the church? Showed up? Platt describes this as “disinfecting.” We are so focused on bringing people into the church. The church becomes confined by a building, a number, what we don't do. We should be focusing on “discipling.” That involves sending people, not bringing them. Christians are not called to safe lives. We care called to risk our lives for others. We become focused on the thousands we bring in but not on the millions who haven't even heard of Jesus. What's wrong with this picture?
We are so focused on numbers, but Jesus wasn't. He spent his 3 years of ministry discipling 12 men. That's it: twelve. He poured into these men who in turn poured into a few others and so on and so on. He wasn't trying to disciple the masses. Throughout the Word, we can see Jesus' preference for small gatherings. Discipleship should be personal, not mass-produced. There isn't a formula. It's not an overnight thing. It takes time and comes through relationships, not acquaintances. We are a microwave society. We want instant gratification. We are lazy. We don't want to take the time necessary. We want results we can see now. It's hard to accept that most of our results won't come in our own time. Everyone wants to reap but few want to sow or water.
Platt also talks about teaching. Some people are called and gifted to be great teachers in the church but we are all called to teach with our lives. When we lead others to Christ, we shouldn't have to tell these babes to sign up for a class to learn the basic components of our faith. We should be able to teach them how to pray, study the Bible, etc. Teaching others serves to strengthen our own walks. The Great Commission doesn't just apply to preachers and missionaries. It applies to all of us. The book talks about the difference between receiving and reproducing. So often we sit in church services and receive what the preacher says. We think, “What can I get out of this?” We should be taking notes so we can reproduce it. We should think, “How can I apply this so I can teach it to others?” I know I am guilty of this . I have many times just sat and listened for my own gain, but I intend to change that. I want to live in such a way that my everyday life can impact lives.
We need to change our way of thinking. Jesus' plan for discipleship is so plain, simple, and humble. Its us who have complicated it. We seem to think discipleship only comes through programs and events, but Jesus didn't plan a revival or sign up people for a seminar (not that those don;t have their place). He lived it. His life taught better than any program. He said we would do greater things than he did, let's start here.
This video is amazing. It shows how discipleship really should go. Please watch.
