Lack of conviction
Lack of clarity
Lack of competency
Well, I think that first point about what keeps people from getting in the game of discipleship has a lot to do with it: lack of conviction. When we are convicted to do something, it’s almost as if we can’t avoid doing it. The need to obey overrides our need for comfort. Jonah might have a thing or two to say about this topic.
The churches I grew up in had classes. But the classes seemed to focus on teaching for teaching’s sake. In other words, people were learning a lot, but rarely did that translate to kingdom advancement. We learned about missionaries – I even participated in a few missions trips – but again, the focus wasn’t on making disciples as much as it was on Christian service.
As I’ve grown and talked to others, I’m realizing how common this experience is. Churches seem to focus more on kingdom education than kingdom advancement. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing – Matthew 28 does tell us to make disciples, teaching them to obey. So I’m not mad about the teaching part.
The need to obey overrides our need for comfort.
It’s the first part of the Great Commission that we miss: Go, therefore, and make disciples. The “therefore” in this part follows the truth that all authority in heaven and earth was given to Jesus. So whatever He says, we must obey. And He said go make disciples.
So why is it weird for churches to be focused on making disciples?
Because of my experience in church classes growing up, I was pretty resentful of taking them and teaching them. I didn’t want more knowledge, especially when I could get it myself from individual study. If I was going to attend a class, I needed something I couldn’t get alone. I didn’t know that my frustration stemmed from these classes missing the mark on discipleship – I didn’t have that language. But I now realize that was the source. I wasn’t interested in knowledge solely for the sake of knowledge.
So why is it weird for churches to be focused on making disciples?
So I bucked the idea of the church classes. And now I lead them. How did we get here? And why is it weird for churches to be unashamedly passionate about making disciples?
Lack of conviction. As I fell more in love with Jesus, I fell more in love with His mission. May I submit that a lack of conviction to make disciples could be an indicator of a lack of depth in our relationship with Jesus? Whether that’s on us as individuals or on the church at large. When you love someone, what’s important to them becomes important to you. And discipleship is important to Jesus.
As I fell more in love with Jesus, I fell more in love with His mission.
Lack of clarity. What is discipleship? And what isn’t it? My pastor has often said, “You can have relationship without discipleship, but you cannot have discipleship without relationship.” It’s not just teaching them. It’s walking with them. It’s being inconvenienced for the sake of the gospel. It’s speaking the truth in love. Calling sin, sin. Clearly. Scripture doesn’t mince words, so why do we? It’s living a life that constantly points to Jesus and letting others in that life with you, pointing them to Jesus.
Lack of competency. I’m not against classes. I’m just against getting fat on the word without ever exercising it. Classes are great! Classes are literally my job, and I love my job. But these classes have to be about equipping people to go make disciples. If they’re not, then what are we doing?
Scripture doesn’t mince words, so why do we?
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