Trust: A Different Reason to Obey

Trust: A Different Reason to Obey. From the lesson series, Different: The Call of the Sermon on the Mount to be Different Than the World (Matthew 5 – 7)

 

 

According to George Barna, Christians believe their churches are doing well when it comes to discipleship. 52% of those who have attended church in the past six months say their church “definitely does a good job helping people grow spiritually” and another 40% say it “probably” does a good job. Is a goal of discipleship prompting people to obey God?

In addition, 66 of Christians who have attended church in the past six months consider spiritual growth important. They claim their church places a lot of emphasis on spiritual growth. Another 27% (total of the two categories, 93%) say their church places “some” emphasis.

Church leaders do not have the same high opinion. Only one percent of today’s church leadership say “today’s churches are doing very well at discipling new and young believers.” A majority – six out of ten – feels that the church is discipling “not too well.” When the leaders look at their own church, the numbers are not too much better. Only 8% say they are doing “very well” and 56% “somewhat well” at discipling new and young believers.

In his recent book, Good Faith, Barna Group president David Kinnaman says “Society is changing its mind about the Christian way of thinking and living. Christians are increasingly viewed as irrelevant and as extremists.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlines not only a way to grow spiritually, but affirms that character and example are the differences that we have that make our faith relevant to the world around us.

Trust: A Different Reason to Obey (Mt 6:19-34)

When we think about discipleship, what it takes to be a disciple and how one can be a better disciple, we usually try to measure it by certain things.

A group of staff and elders met recently to discuss their vision and to make goals and plans for the coming two years. They all passionately agreed that the vision for their church – just like the vision of Christ – was to make disciples.  More disciples … lots more.  Better disciples. Loving, serving, giving disciples. Disciples who could make more disciples.

One staff member responded, “So what does that look like? What do we have in mind when we think about making a disciple?  What is a disciple? What do we expect from people when they join our church?”

As the discussion started, it was apparent that there were as many ideas about being a disciple as there were people in the room. Everyone on the team was pulling in a slightly different direction – one reflecting either their interest in the church’s ministry, or one reflecting somewhat of their own personality as a disciple.

That pulling and tugging plagues many churches. We know that we should be making disciples, but if we are not sure what that means, we cannot be sure of what methods we need to employ to get there.  It is vital that we start defining some important words – and that all of the team can get on-board with the definitions.

If making disciples is what the church is trying to accomplish, then we should do everything we can to teach what the Bible says about being a disciple. We don’t want the definition to be any more complex than it has to be; yet we don’t want to make it any simpler than what Jesus expected it to be. The definition should be clear and concrete enough that the whole church could remember and recite it.

There are three Greek words which provide the concepts for our rendering “disciple.” Each of these words carries one simple flavor – follow. The verb AKOLOUTHEO is the answer of a man who hears a call and redirections his steps. “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  The word MATHETES has at its heart the definition “learner” or “pupil.” It was used of the students of the philosopher or the rabbi – ones who learned from their teacher literally by following them in life. The MIMETES was one who followed and tried to imitate the teacher’s teachings, behaviors or works. We get the English word “mimic” from this root.

What is a disciple? A disciple is one who follows. A disciple of Jesus is one who follows Jesus because of a call. A disciple of Jesus follows in a way that he learns who Jesus is and what he teaches. A disciple of Jesus imitates his Master.

Our command to make disciples comes from some of the last words Jesus spoke on earth before his ascension into heaven. Let’s examine Jesus’ words from the last chapter of Matthew.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Two words stand out, sometimes in contrast to current church practice. We are told in verse 19 to go. Our tendency has been to allow people to come. If we have the biggest building, the best preacher, the most innovative praise band, the most encompassing youth program, people will come to our building and become disciples.

Some scholars will point out that the verb should best be translated “as you are going,” which introduces a flavor that is even more poignant. As each member of the body of Christ is going about normal, everyday life, he should be making disciples.

The second word that stands out is “make.” When a person steps forward to accept Christ, we have no magic wand to wave that turns a person into a disciple. It is also not something that the person necessarily can do alone. We are commissioned to make them disciples – to assist, suggest, walk alongside as they follow more closely to Jesus. Becoming a Christian is their first step closer to Jesus as a disciple, as a follower. The walk will take a lifetime. How closely they want to follow – and how quickly they want to get closer – depends on many things, including their own will.

 

Even if we understand that discipleship is a process, there are a couple of things that make the concept incredibly difficult to grasp. The first problem is that we don’t all start at the same place in our journey of following Jesus. If our destination is Chicago and we all start in Indianapolis, it becomes very simple to map out the best plan for getting there. Our destination is Chicago, but we are literally starting from everywhere around the world. Some of us have cars. Some of us will have to walk.  A few have planes. A couple will ride a train. Some will need a train, a boat, and a bus. Still others will take, as Chuck Swindoll once said, three steps forward and two steps backwards.

The steps backward can affect us all. Along the way, we may face several obstacles before we get to Chicago. Cars run out of gas. The children need a bathroom break. We get hungry. A wreck closes down the bridge. Traffic snarls. The teen wants to know if we can go to Miami first. We know the destination. But sometimes life causes us not to take the quickest, most direct route.

The second problem is that some people don’t want to go all the way in to downtown Chicago, they prefer staying a little further away from the noise, population and turmoil of city living. Elgin, Illinois might be fine – a close enough drive, should we ever want to venture in for something special. Would West LaFayette, Indiana be close enough?

How close to Jesus do I want to get?  How close is “close enough?”

Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Being a better disciple can be summarized with two simple sentences.

I want to be like Jesus.

I want to be like Jesus in the way he displayed his character traits – a servant, humble, loving, compassionate, faithful, a master at overcoming temptations.  I want to be like Jesus in the way he understood God – he knew God as Father, he knew God’s words, he was able to teach God’s words with clarity and passion. I want to be like Jesus in the way He prayed. I want to be drawn to God in the way I speak to Him and understand His words to me.   I want to be like Jesus in the way he had compassion for the lost. I want to be like the old Jewish proverb – following so closely to the Rabbi that I get dusty from what is kicked up by his feet.

I cannot do it alone.

On my own I am more susceptible to fall to temptation, to wander from the path, to forget the things that are important. A strand of two or three cords is stronger than one thread alone. Iron sharpens iron. I want to be encouraged by others who are at similar places on this journey. I want to be challenged and taught by those who have walked this path before me.  In turn, someday I hope to help others follow more closely to Jesus.

Jesus says you cannot have a divided heart if you are going to be a disciple.

The present tense of the verb could easily be translated “Stop storing up treasures.” What are the treasures of this world that we tend to store up?

• Security
• Peace of mind
• Success
• Health
• Future
• Relationships
• Pleasure

It isn’t just money, is it? But money is a thread that runs through many of these “treasures.” The love of wealth is a great evil, one that is warned against often. For Christians to be consumed with riches in light of the real treasures of heaven, particularly in the last days, is incredibly short-sighted.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV).

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. ⁴ Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you (James 5:1-5 NIV).

It is not that wealth itself becomes evil. Jesus is concerned about selfishness that occurs when our values are misplaced. A disciple must honestly ask where their heart is.

If these are your treasures, it leads to another major problem. Worry.

 

 

Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Peter weaves the idea of being free from worry with the concept of submission. When we are submissive – even if there are sufferings – we feel secure, leaving us with less reason to worry.

1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

You are protected by the God of grace. If you have anxiety, cast it upon Him. You can trust Him. He cares for you. Treasure cannot be found on earth; it does nothing but deteriorate and corrupt.

The more you trust, the more you will obey.

The more you obey, the more different you will be from the world.