GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES

In Matthew 28 v 19 Jesus said to go into the world and make Christians of all nations. That is what most churches do but it is not what Jesus said to do. He said to go into the entire world and make disciples, not Christians, of all nations bearing in mind that the word "Christian" didn't exist when he said that. Disciples are people who are committed followers of Jesus Christ. You can be a Christian without being a committed follower.

How does one become a follower of Jesus Christ? I agree that one has to be “born again” first, but that is only the beginning. What follows is the important bit and the bit that is too often missing. Once you are born again the discipling begins.

What does that entail? Simply, to find out the truth that Jesus taught and follow it. In other words carry out his instructions, which are a blueprint for his life for you. To illustrate. If I said "go down this road and you will find a pot of gold at the end. It is longer and much more difficult but the gold is there. Or go down this shorter road and you will get lost". A disciple will go down the first a follower will go down the second.

How do I find out what his instructions are for me? There are two ways. First by following the teaching and example of your discipler. You can’t be a disciple unless you have someone to disciple you. If you haven’t a discipler, get one. The reason I say this is two things.

First, Jesus discipled the 12 for three years before they were let loose on an unsuspecting world. Attending church meetings, youth programmes, prayer and bible studies and such like is not “discipling” and won’t achieve the same result that one on one discipling will.

Second, being a Christian is like wanting to be a skilled craftsman. To achieve excellence in your chosen craft, you need to be apprenticed to someone who is already a skilled craftsman. It is no different in the Christian way of life. You need someone who is already trained and taught to offer you an apprenticeship in Christian living to enable you to be “presented complete in Christ” as the scriptures say.

If you did nothing else other than learn at the feet of a skilled Christian practitioner for three years, you will achieve more than you could ever hope for. Meet with an older Christian at least once a week to talk, share, pray and learn. The older the better as they have learnt through time, experience and the heat of battle. Follow your mentor’s advice and that given by the Holy Spirit, which often will come through your mentor. One thing he should teach you is how to recognize the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit. Without that ability, you are not fully equipped to do battle against the forces of evil. If you haven’t worked it out already, Christianity is not a walk, it is warfare.

It is not easy being a disciple in this modern age because the prevailing culture in the world and the church is me, myself and I so anything that smacks of "do as your told" is resisted. However, no pain no gain. You can go your own way but your usefulness and effectiveness to God will be almost zero.