The Cost of Discipleship

Books have been written, sermons have been preached, lectures have been given and yet most of us still miss the point of discipleship. Jesus call for disciples is not a call that many will respond to. He tells us that to follow Him we must... hate our families, quit our jobs, sell all we have, be ready to die and on and on. For most of us in the USA, following Jesus is an easy lifestyle with few, if any sacrifices. We show up for "church", drop a few bucks in the basket and we try not to commit the really big sins. What we call Christianity today is not found in the Bible... anywhere.

As a matter of fact, what we call Christianity today is condemned everywhere in the Word. (Check out Amos 6:4-6 and Ezekiel 16:49) To be a disciple during the time that Jesus lived meant that you did all you could to be just like your teacher. You were with him day in and day out; your talk became like his, your walk became like his, your thoughts became like his and your life became like his. For Paul, being like Jesus was the most important thing. Those he taught he gave this encouragement, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (1 Cor 11:1) As their teacher, Paul was leading them to a life that looked like Jesus. He put it this way..."My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you". (Galatians 4:19) The goal of your faith is certainly the salvation of your souls, but Paul says that we are to become like Jesus along the way. (1 Peter 1:9)

My lesson last week at the Wilkesboro church of Christ was on sin and our responsibility to change. I know we will continue to sin, we are human; but we cannot let that deter us form striving for a life that reflects Jesus' righteousness. We are called to growth and change. We are called to have Christ formed in us. In other words, the longer we are Christians, the more like Jesus we are to become.

That takes us back to His radical call. Jesus knew that if we continued to hold onto the things that were important to us before we met Him, we would never make it as His disciples. So He calls us to love our families less than Him. He tells us that if our possessions possess us, get ride of them and help the poor. He tells us that we must be ready to give up everything, even our lives for the kingdom. That is radical and few will accept His call.

A successful church today (in the world's eyes) is one that is big and has huge facilities and lots of programs that meet the "needs" of its' members. In other words, church today is about us and what we want. Unfortunately, our culture has invaded our churches and the worldly definition of success has woven it's way into the fabric of Christianity. The early church had a completely different outlook on life. Read Acts 2, all of it.

 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (Acts 2:42-45)

Does that sound like the church you attend? Does that sound like the church I attend? A total focus on God's Word, a vital and caring fellowship, continual remembrance of Jesus through communion and everyone petitioning the Father. No one in need! the church had no members in need. People sold what they had to make sure that their brothers and sisters had what they needed.

This Sunday morning, I will be examining Jesus' radical call to love our fellow man. Jesus' call to love is one that many of us struggle to deal with. His life demonstrated the kind of love that we are called to live out. It is not an easy call, but it is a call that we are to answer.

John put it this way..."By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him." (1 John 3:16-19)