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October 13, 2005
Jesus Wasn't Looking for 12 Converts
Filed under: God, Faith & Spirituality
For sometime now I have been mulling over this idea that Jesus does not care so much about making converts as much as he does about making disciples. Dallas Willard, in his book The Spirit of the Disciplines, unpacks this idea a little further. Borrowing a phrase from Jess Moody, Willard suggests our churches today are filled with "undiscipled disciples." Says Willard, "Most problems in contemporary churches can be explained by the fact that members have not yet decided to follow Christ."
When Jesus walked among humankind there was a certain simplicity to being a disciple. Primarily it meant to go with him, in an attitude of study, obedience, imitation. There were no correspondence courses. One knew what to do and what it would cost.
Yes, but the disciples had Jesus - in his physical human form - right in front of them. We obviously don't have this luxury (and luxury it certainly is) today. Playing hacky sack with Jesus seems so far away from our tangible grasp of how easy the disciples had it when it came to following. Kick it to me Jesus!
Willard describes a disciple as "one who, intent upon becoming Christlike and so dwelling in his 'faith and practice,' systematically and progressively rearranges his affairs to that end."
I want to be a disciple of Jesus. More than just a converted sinner, I want to be a follower of the One who is going places. Pick me Jesus. I'm in.