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Are You A Disciple or Deserter?

 
When we think of discipleship, we often think academics. We envision a study group or being tutored by theologian, priest, or pastor. We claim to be Christ's disciples, but do we know what that really means? In a culture of convenience and cognitive dissonance; it can be difficult to convey the truth of discipleship. When we think of the First Disciples, The Apostles, what comes to mind? Do we picture men and women who's faith was on display when it was convenient? No! We picture John, Peter, and James following Christ everywhere; ministering via the Holy Spirit and dedicating their lives to imitating their Lord. How come we do not have this same view of ourselves as disciples? Why has the term evolved to mean every believer, even those who honesty put God last on their list of priorities?

Christ makes it absolutely clear. He says to be a disciple you must, "deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow him." Jesus then follows this up with further detail, "He that takes up his life (tries to save it) will loose it, but he that lays down his life for the sake of the Gospel of the Good News and for my sake with gain it. What good is it to gain the whole world, but lose your soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26)). Examine the part about trying to save or take up your life. This is the control that Christ is trying to break in every Christian. We want to have some authority or say over our own destiny. We want to stir the ship and do everything in our power to save ourselves. This can be practical ways via strict diets, heath binges, extreme exercise. This can also be spiritual in doing works to merit salvation or to ensure that we are right with God. Jesus is saying we will lose our life if we dare try to seize control, in fact this is exactly what Adam and Eve did. They believed the serpent that said, "they would be like god" and have control of their lives.

The second piece is laying down ones life for the Gospel. This is where the lukewarm like those who would not "eat Christ's flesh and drink his blood" fled. This statement by our Savior is to say that you must have such a devotion to Christ and His Message that you will risk your lfie and even give it up for His sake! For the martyrs in the Early Church this was paramount. They called it "fulfillment" to die for the Gospel. THey knew that they were fulfilling the Lord's words. However, this death could be different than simply perishing and going to Heaven. It can mean that to be aligned with Jesus Christ; to be an ambassador and disciple of our Lord you will have deaths in relationships, career opportunities, death of favor with certain people, and perhaps absolute death socially. It could mean that you will be an outcast. I believe it is both, that you must love Jesus with such devotion and steadfastness that you will be willing to perish either literally or socially.

Finally there is the verse about gaining the whole world and losing your soul. This is warning from our savior. Notice that it is twofold. On one hand you could be living in this world and your soul be dead because you sold out to Satan and the system that is against Christ. It means that you had neither the courage or conviction to stand with Christ when masses were against you or popular opinion spoke out against our Savior. It also means that those who live for this world, to gain glory and fame; who seek it's riches are riding straight into hell. Their soul will burn in the Second Death, in the flames of God's eternal wrath.

So where is your conviction? Are you a disciple or deserter? Do you desire to risk life and limb for God? Or are you only interested in the miracles, prosperity, and good life? Jesus Christ called us to be his followers and he did not mean for us to be perpetually comfortable. If we are to really become disciples it will require a devotion even unto death. "If you try to save your life you will lose it, but if you lay down your life for my sake, you will gain it."

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