The Greatest Life Ever

You Might Be Lukewarm - Part 4

God seems to be telling me that He wants me to quit being complacent and comfortable with my version of Chrsitianity.  I am learning that I still have to room to grow when it comes to being a fully devoted disciple of Jesus.  I would like to think that I am completely sold out to Christ, that I've "arrived" so to speak.  But when I reflect on passages like the following, I realize that I am still holding back.  

"Lukewarm people are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act.  They assume such action is for "extreme" Christians, not average ones.  Lukewarm people call "radical" what Jesus expected of all His followers." (Crazy Love, Francis Chan, pg. 70-71)

I agree.  What we consider radical Christians is what Jesus had in mind for baseline for his followers.  What's the implication for you?

"You Might be lukewarm if" - Part 2

Lent is a season of the Christian calendar traditionally given to reflection on one's spiritual condition.  It's also been a time that many churches over the ages have used to prepare confirmands for baptism and reception into the church on Easter Sunday.  I thought it would be a good time therefore to reflect on just what kind of Christ follower some of us have become and whether or not this is what Christ had in mind when he died for us and when he said, "Come, follow me."  

I'll share a statement or two with you.  After you read it just ask yourself two questions.  First, "Is this true of me?"  And secondly, "What's one action I need to take in light of this?"

You might be lukewarm if...

...you give money or time to charity and the church as long as it's safe, easy and doesn't impinge on your lifestyle.

Reflect.

 

Are You a Disciple or a Complacent Christian?

I have been discovering on my journey of faith that the more I become like Jesus the better my life becomes.  This process is called discipleship.  But I don't want anyone to confuse the term discipleship with membership or officership in the life of Church.  For a person can be a member, a leader, and even a believer and still not be a disciple.  Unfortunately, over the years the term disciple has transformed to mean something less than it is.  

A disciple is someone who is intentional about growing in their ability to be like Christ.  The closest understanding we have of a disciple today is an apprentice.  An apprentice is someone who works along side a master of a certain trade to watch how he or she goes about it and then replicates what they are doing.  For example, someone who wants to be a master carpenter may become an apprentice to a master carpenter where he or she works along side and learns the trade so that one day they can become a carpenter.  The difference between an apprentice and a disciple however, is that an apprentice wants to learn the skills of the master but does not necessarily want to be like the master in character or other areas of their life.  

A disciple is someone who takes intentional steps to be like Jesus.  And that requires putting practices into place to help them do so.  A couple of practices the church has practiced for years involves growing in one's ability to pray.  Praying is similar to conversing with Jesus along the walk of life.  It is in praying that a person dialogues with Christ about becoming more like him and seeking Christ's input.  A disciple is also someone who is working to master Scripture as Jesus and his disciples did and that quite frankly that takes more than just attending a worship service.  Disciples were and are very intentional about being like Jesus, but today it's sad to say, that many Christ followers just assume that they'll become like Jesus by some form of spiritual osmosis.

If you want to experience a better life then I encourage you to make your own discipleship growth plan that puts you on a path to do just this.  And then share your plan with a trusted friend who also wants to become a disciple and together hold each other accountable in the spirit of love and growth.  That's what Jesus and his disciples did.  Why would we think it's any different for us today?  

If you'd like some counsel or guidance in this area feel free to contact me by clicking on my email address on the homepage and sending me a note.  I'd be more than happy to help.

Please know that I'm not trying to put the blame on anybody.  I just feel a conviction to help the Church of Jesus Christ reclaim what being a disciple really is and create some holy discontent with anything less. I encourage Christ followers to lean into being a disciple if that's what they really want to be, and that includes me.  

If you'd like some counsel with this or some guidance please feel free to contact me by clicking on my email address located on the lower right hand corner of this page.

Blessings and may you experience a deeper walk with the Christ that results in a better life.