Following Jesus

     Just last week, my wife and I started a Bible study with a group of young adults.  Interestingly; these folks were part of a small group at our house a few years ago, but they were mostly college students then.  Now they have (all but 1) graduated and are in the world of work and "adult" life.  When we began to mention the group (and the study) to some of them, they jumped at the opportunity.  I was honestly a little surprised, but really have been glad to have them come.
     I enjoy their company and fellowship.  Their perspective is fresh.  They are working out their own worldview and their own take on life and Christianity.  The study we are doing follows along with the book "Multiply" by Francis Chan.  Francis is always a challenge in the books he writes, but this one is unique.  The subtitle of the book is "disciples making disciples."  It reminds us that discipleship is the responsibility of all believers; not just the pastors, Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, etc.  In others words, it's not just a top down hierarchical situation; it's job one for every believer.  At least that's the challenge of week 2 that I was working on just this afternoon.
     I thought I might try to keep up a little with chronicling this adventure together.  I expect it to take us nearly 6 months to get through it.  It's really pretty basic, but it is also very much in line with what I have been thinking and praying about in terms of church life.
     I fear the church has fallen into a trap in many cases of emphasizing something that is contrary to what the Bible says.  We tend to equate coming to church and learning more about the Bible with discipleship and being like Christ.
     Where is that in the Bible?  Obviously we must make a lifetime commitment to studying the Bible and being sure we understand what Jesus taught if we want to be like him, but what was Jesus' challenge?  "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."  Elsewhere his emphasis was on obedience.  "Every disciple, when he is fully trained will be like his teacher."  Two things emerge in our understanding of this.  Discipleship is about character and actions more than knowledge, and discipleship involves finding other people to join us in the journey of discipleship.
     Wholehearted commitment to becoming like Jesus is what the Lord wanted.  The little graphic here has been around on the internet for some time, but it's apropos in this context.
     How can we call ourselves a follower if we are not becoming more and more like Jesus?  Doesn't it make sense that a follower would actually begin to act more and more like Jesus as they got to know him better?  Here's how Francis put it: "This would be like Jesus walking up to those first disciples and saying, "Hey, would you guys mind identifying yourselves with Me in some way? Don't worry; I don't actually care if you do anything I do or change your lifestyle at all.  I'm just looking for people who are willing to say they believe in Me and call themselves Christians."
     None of us actually believes that is what Jesus has in mind.  Nobody really would try to make the case that a follower of Jesus was someone who knew a lot about the Bible and went to church a lot.  Somehow we know in our heart that there's more to it than that.  Following Jesus means we will act like Him.  We will have compassion on people.  We will purposely look for opportunities to be with people who don't know a lot about Jesus, and will try to influence them to follow Him.  We will actually avoid the "religious" zealots who think that their knowledge of the Bible makes them more pleasing in God's eyes.  Our actions will demonstrate whether we follow...not our attendance.
     I'm encouraged this week to remember that discipleship is for everyone.  We all can be fully devoted followers of Jesus.  And we can all help others along that same path.  It's not rocket science and it doesn't require an elected position in a church.  It does require a consecrated heart that offers themselves to God, willing to learn from Jesus and strive to be like him in every way.  It's a lifelong journey.
     I'm sort of re-ignited in my passion for it again right now.  I hope our group will keep the passion I sense right now.  We want to make a difference for God in the world, not just check off our Christian "to-do" list.
     What do you think? Are you wholeheartedly following Jesus or are you attending church and listening to lessons?  Who is closer to God because of your influence in the past week...month...year...decade?  Let's get to it.  Let's be like the disciples who "dropped their nets and followed him."  There's nothing more important.