Make Disciples!

There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. [Hebrews 5.11-14]

There is something very different about growing in the knowledge of God and growing in the knowledge of the world.

Growing in the knowledge of the world (as we understand it today) involves schooling that advances one as far as they wish to go. It starts at the very basic elementary level and progresses up to various doctorate levels utilizing internship along the way. When, at the highest level of completion, the person awarded the prized title signifying their accomplishment is then esteemed and trusted as qualified to practice at his recognized title level.

Growing in the knowledge of God is entirely different. For some reason, society is content to "go to church" as part of their spiritual schooling with only a very few ever "doing anything with it" as in putting what they've learned into practice. The knowledge of God is not about medicine or law or business, but instead about growing God's Kingdom. And yet, people sit in church all their lives as "professional students" and never practice what the Bible teaches. Discipleship, as demanded by Jesus, is a rare find among those who should excel at it. Week after week people attend church, prayer meetings, teachings, and potlucks with no intention whatsoever of "practicing" what they are being taught (if in fact they are even being being taught to make disciples). The sad thing is, when "internship" does come up, students of discipleship (what church goers really see themselves as) more often than not, try it, don't like it (or are uncomfortable with it), and are content to just keep coming to church. Hebrews 5 cries out that this must change!

There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. [Hebrews 5.11-14]

There is no reason to candy-coat the message of Hebrews 5.11-14. To do so, is no different than Satan asking Eve, "Did God really say..." And yet, the very "school of discipleship" has allowed people to enroll and attend (all their lives) who have no intention ever of making disciples. Like Eve, they have listened to the deadly lies of Satan, "Did God really say you MUST make disciples?" and, in their human reasoning concluded that God's clear spiritual career path is not meant for everyone... And yet, they keep coming to church! Really? Why bother?

Once again, the watchman has come out in me... And, along with my cry of "foul!" here, I offer this solution: MAKE DISCIPLES!

Father, may we (the Church) break free from the lie of Satan regarding discipleship being an option. May we be found repentant for even considering it an option and proceed from there to actively engage in learning to and then making disciples. So be it.