The other day I was in Matthew 28, reading, “The Great
Commission”… 18 And Jesus came and spoke to
them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in
heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matt 28:18-20 (NKJ)
This is what we are to be doing—making disciples of people—before
dragging them to church.
Disciple: In the
NT it is the rendering of the GK. mathētḗs, (math-ay-tes') “learner”.
The meaning applies to one who professes to have learned certain principles
from another and maintains them on that other’s authority. It is applied
principally to the followers of Jesus. (The New Ungers Bible Dictionary)
And guess what sisters; you don’t need any type of degree in
Bible to do it either. Just be willing to take the time to share the love of
Christ through deed and word.
There are many ways to disciple people (teach them), without
making them a project. People projects are a big fat—No! No one wants to feel
like a project.
Everyone has a family member, friend or coworker who is not
a Believer—why not have a monthly potluck and game night for them? Have
fun—laugh! Don’t preach—love on them.
A lot of times family and friends run and hide from us,
because they are tired of being preached at and judged. Truth is…the Bible was
written for those who Believe, so why is that we think bombarding someone who
is not a Believer with a bunch of scripture does anything for them? Why do we
think always pointing out their sin is going to make them see the light and
come to Christ?
That is not what Jesus did. Study His life and see for
yourselves.
When we are in relationship with someone (especially if they
feel you are a safe haven) we can say most anything to them at the right time.
Suppose there is a young woman who you have befriended (her style
of dress is very inappropriate) and she starts to complain to you about the
type of guys she seems to always attracts…here is an opportunity to discuss
with her that maybe some of the outfits she wears brings this type of
attention. But have this same young woman come to Sunday service and meet up
with Sister Self-Righteous, and she tells her how she should be ashamed to come
to church looking like that—what is the outcome most likely going to be? You
are going to have an already wounded person—more wounded and offended, that more than likely may
never return.
When we disciple the lost, we create opportunities to share
God and who He really is, and explain to them what the Bible says about things
pertaining to their lives—not scripture slam them. We can help them have some
understanding about how the Kingdom really works, so that when they do visit a
church congregation they know a little something and will not be so easily
offended by others, mislead or find themselves in religious bondage.
Let me give you a prime example, (please no one be offended
if your congregation does this, because many do)…it’s time for the collection
of tithes and offerings and at the end of the collection before a prayer of
thanksgiving is said, everyone must stand and repeat a man written affirmation
concerning their tithe. It basically says what they are believing God for by
bringing this tithe to Him. So what this teaches babies and people who do not
know any better—is to put an expectation on tithing, and when things don’t turn
out the way they have been professing for months—they lose hope or faith. This
is why many fall away—for lack of understanding and traditions not of God. But
in relationship we help people to grasp that first tithing is between them and
God, and second, there should be no expectation because we cannot manipulate
God.
Special note: [I
feel that some of you might be disagreeing with me right about now and want to
fall back on Malachi…but I suggest you read and really understand who he was
talking too, why and what was going on at the time? And note that God was quiet
for 400 years after that.]
A single mother who is barely making ends meet, cannot often
bring herself to give 10% of her money to a God she is not sure of, and then
she is left feeling that because she does not bring a tithe God is going to
exclude her. In other words, “She can’t win either way”. But in relationship, we
can share our faith and God’s love for her—without judgment and condemnation. Since
God judges the heart, I believe He willingly accepts her $5.00 sacrifice (No
lunch meat and cheese for lunch, instead a week of PB&J.), versus the tithe
and offering of the adulterer, fornicator, liar, trouble maker, the one full of
unforgiveness and puffed up in pride, or the mean spirited and envious one. When we really spend time in
the Word of God, we see that there are many church traditions that are not
profitable and can be harmful.
Special Note: Do
a quick study on what God thought of Israel’s offerings and tithes? Or go over
the story of Cain and Abel. Ooops—let us not forget what Jesus says about
leaving your offering to make things right if you have ought with someone or
them with you! What you will find, is that all offerings and tithes we bring to
God are not acceptable to Him. So, how can we have any expectations from Him
when we are in a place where He doesn’t even want what we bring?
In relationships, we have the opportunity to be transparent
and share the struggles we have experienced with God. Not making Him out to be
the Wizard of Oz, waiting to grant our every wish, and that everything will
magically turn around. We all know that is not true, yet this is the bill of
goods many of us try to sell to the lost or even our own children, that they will find in church.
It’s time to stop dragging folks to church as if it were a
“Magic Kingdom” and start showing them the true “Church” which lives in us. We
are to preach the gospel of the “Kingdom of God” not church buildings and
religious ways.
When we disciple young women and help them to
realize their self-worth in Christ, and love of God—we can help them to stop
looking for love in all the wrong places—even when they come to church.
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