Ten Days ago Pastor Phil gave a short teaching on Discipleship. He pointed clearly that in the day of Jesus it was routine only to Disciple, train those who would be in ministry, priests and scholars. The rest became tradesmen and fishermen.
When Jesus called those kinds as Disciples of the Rabbi, it was a scandal.
Then Jesus has the audacity to say, Go ye therefore and make Disciples of ALL MEN.
I have had ten days to ponder this. I am not convinced that all men are to be discipled. Let me be clear, I think all men are to be allowed to be discipled, but some are called but never follow. Rich Young Ruler for example.
In this day and age the lack of discipleship in the Church is because most people are unwilling to pursue discipleship. The responsibility is NOT on the discipler, the command is to offer freely and willingly to any who would. The responsibility is on the one being discipled.
Many are called, few are chosen is the key understanding.
When a person is saved, truly saved, how much would it be naturally expected that such a person become passionate about knowing all the ways and purposes of the one who saved him or her.
Yet, I see people who attend church, or say a sinners prayer, and then thinking the ticket has been punched never pursue the purposes of God in their life. Never dig deep. Never put themselves in a place of being discipled.
I even question if they are saved at all. I have known some great saints of God and, now I will shock you, not all were pew jumping, rolling on the floor, tongue talking Pentecostals. I'm one, but many I know were not.
They were quiet saints who sought God in the early hours, Bible in their lap, a prayer booklet, reverence, tears, seeking God, learning of HIM.
They were being discipled. And when the opportunity came to know more, they sought it out.
I believe one failing of the Church is not offering a procedural step by step plan to bring people into a significant living love relationship with the one who brought them from death to life, darkness to light.
That is Discipleship 101. Would anyone come? I don't know. But, I promise you, if it's not available no one will come.
This can't be done from the pulpit. This isn't even a Bible study. This is a working out our salvation with fear and trembling step by step process.
We don't do it in the church and our churches are full of people just punching the old clock.
I know them and so do you. They don't need this. They are right. They don't. They are like the old Joke:
Why shouldn't you try to teach a pig to sing? It wastes time for the teacher and it annoys the pig.
NOT EVERYONE can be discipled. Everyone should be allowed to be discipled. But don't annoy the swine before which cast pearls are just wasted.
Discipleship is only for believers. Others need not apply and they won't.
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