Are you missing it? The American Dream vs The Call of Christ.

In my last blog I spoke about how there is more to this life. If you are a Christian do you realize God did not actually place you on this earth to see how fast you can get all of your jobs done? He did not place you on this earth to run the wheel like a hamster. Chase through the endless maze like a little lab mouse in a great study of science.

If that is where you are at and church, faith, religion is another box to check quickly in your long list of items to accomplish each week then you have completely missed it.

I am sure many verses you hear from the pulpit may sound like empty promises then. They have become quick tag lines in Christian culture that people say, but do you believe them? Do you understand them?  Or do you toss them off as irrelevant to today’s life. After all, our world is so very different from the world that they lived in, in Biblical times.

How do you wrestle with the verses that say, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Did you think he meant chasing success at work, a bigger house, and a nicer car is the measure of life to the full?

Or what about, Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

What does that mean? Do you feel stressed and overloaded? Do you feel it’s an unfair amount of pressure to have to share Christ in a society that views you as close minded and judgmental?”

For instance when Christ gave the command Matthew 28:18-20

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Was he serious? He wants you to “go and make disciples”?  How would that look in your work place? He wasn’t just talking about making disciples of those who happen to wander through the doors of your church. He was talking about everywhere, in all aspects of our lives. 

What does that look like? Does it mean you have to start walking around speaking only in the King James language? 

“Thine work desk shall be neat and orderly as unto the Lord!”

No... definitely not. The disciples and Jesus, did not speak in the Kings James English. They spoke like most people did back then, in their own language.

I think perhaps if this is our perspective then we don’t really know all that much about Jesus. Or what he meant by making disciples.

You see Jesus spoke the truth to people. He spent time with people. He loved people. He lived among the people and when he called out to someone to be a disciple it was a simple invitation to come and follow Jesus.  

The disciples did not have it all together as they took their first steps following with Christ. They lived with him day in and day out. 

They watched him as he got up in the morning. They watched as he ate breakfast with them. They saw the ways he never turned a child away. 

How he reached out and spoke the words that brought life and healing to so many. They saw how he loved the people. How he spoke with authority over the religious groups that had lost sight of God’s plan and become self seeking in their plights. 

His followers saw him deal with all aspects of life.

He was different, and yes sometimes that drew people in and they came in droves. 

Other times when Christ spoke the truth, people left in anger, or disgust.

The disciples watched it all.

Making a disciple is asking someone if they want to come along with you as you try and follow Christ.

Paul said in Philippians 4:9, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice.”

And the kicker is this. Do you know how we learn best? 

They have studies on how we learn best. Everyone has different styles of learning that help us to retain what we have been taught. You could be a kinetic learner, an auditory learner, and there are more, but there is something they have discovered across the board...

The 2 highest rates for retention that occurs for everyone are through experiencing something and secondly by teaching it.

A person has a retention rate of 80-90% if they do one of these types of learning.

This is what the disciples did. They experienced life with Christ and later, they themselves were sent to teach and live it themselves for others. They invited others to start walking with them as they lived a life following Christ. It’s a call to come and experience life with Christ together.

So what is our standard M.O.? Most likely we just invite someone to church. Put it all on the Pastor and worship teams’ shoulders to convince them in that 1 hour or so of time to follow Christ. 

If that is what you are doing then friend, like I said earlier you have missed it. 

You are missing out on some of the greatest joys, and adventures you could ever have.

Matthew 11:29-30

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 28:18-20

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

John 10:9-10

 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Philippians 4:9

⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Please don't miss this friends...