One of the great weaknesses of modern Christianity has been our devotion to making converts rather than disciples. When people are made to believe that all they have to do for salvation is raise their hand while standing in the back of a room, with every eye closed and every head bowed so as not to embarrass those who might slip up their hand, these “converts” are made to think that to be a follower of Christ will require little from them. However, true faith will require everything, including our lives. True discipleship is to no longer live for ourselves but for Him. This tragic watering down of the gospel is a deception that has left many thinking they were “saved” while their eternal lives are still in jeopardy.
Biblical conversion is different than how many present it today. Those who committed their lives to being a follower of Christ were likely marked for martyrdom. Often their possessions and property were seized, and they lived a life not knowing if every day might be their last. This was a gift of life because it brought them in touch with what is truly important like few other things could. The only way a life like this could be sustained was by growing in love for God and growing in faith.
Of course, some may have had it easier, but all were under constant threat. This focused their lives like few things could. They had to have a daily, living faith that kept away the pretenders or insincere. Certainly it is better to have Christ and lose everything in this world, but it was a hard life that required pure and total devotion. It was also a better life than anyone else could have. Faith in God is better than any treasure or any possession.
True Christianity is the greatest adventure that can be had on this earth, and it is the most fulfilling life we could ever have, but it is also the most difficult. The integrity of the One whom we represent should compel us to be straightforward about the gospel. Christianity is not for wimps. There is no place for self-pity or self-centeredness in the true faith. Yet, the more we are emptied of these things and our own ambitions, the richer and more fulfilling our lives will be. There is no freer person than the slave of Christ.
Statistics show that only about 5 percent of those who make “decisions for Christ” today go on to be added to the church. With biblical conversions, this number was 100 percent. A few would fall away later, but to walk with the faithful required a radical change of life and lifestyle. Immediately God became the center of one’s life, and learning of Him and seeking to obey Him was not only their central purpose, it was essential to survival. Those who lost everything quickly learned that Christ was more than enough.
The Gospels give us a definition of discipleship. The main focus of true disciples is to learn from their Master. The most basic goal of every Christian should be to become like Him and to do His will. True disciples will make all major decisions around the interests of the kingdom, not their own desires. Disciples of Christ take up their crosses daily, laying down their lives for Him and for others, as He gave us the example to do. It is a life of sacrifice, not devoted to gaining possessions but to gaining Christ.
Disciples of Christ are called to be “dead to this world.” This is where the greatest freedom comes. If we are dead, what can the world do to us? Those who live the life of the cross have no fear because what can a dead man fear? When the greatest fear of all is broken off us, the fear of death because we die daily, then we cannot be bound by anything in this world. Those who are dead to this world do not fear the troubles that others fear because their lives are built on another foundation.
Disciples live by the power of the age to come, not by the powers that control this present world. As this world and the powers that uphold it crumble, true disciples will not even be shaken, but will be on solid ground and able to pull others out of the quicksand.
There are biblical prophecies that declare the wealth of the nations will be brought to God’s people. Many get excited about this as if it is a sure promise that they will hit the lottery. The wealth of the nations will be brought to God’s people, but not so God’s people can use it for themselves, but rather so they can use it rightly for the nations. True disciples, who have access to kingdom resources, will not be impressed by the wealth of this world. We won’t be trustworthy enough to handle the wealth of the nations until we are not impressed with it.
It seems from the Gospels that Jesus did not even carry earthly money. He did not need to because He had access to much greater resources any time He needed them. We will not get to this stature of faith immediately after we become disciples, but “we are to grow up in all aspects into Him” (see Ephesians 4:15). This is not an unrealistic goal. He would not have called us to this if we could not attain it. What do we possibly have to do that is more important than this? For those who love Him above all things, this will be the basic devotion of their lives. This is biblical discipleship.
