The Cost of Deeply Believing
If you are a frequent follower of The Bonhoeffer Project and the current discipleship resurgence throughout the world, chances are likely that you have come across Bonhoeffer’s epic work, The Cost of Discipleship. Over fifty times throughout the book, Bonhoeffer describes the personal cost of deeply believing the teachings of Jesus and following Him as a disciple. Donald Miller combines these two realities of cost and deep belief when he states, “The trouble with deep belief is that it costs something. And there is something inside of me, some selfish beast…that doesn’t like the truth at all because it carries responsibility, and if I actually believe these things, I have to do something about them.”1
During these last six years, as The Bonhoeffer Project continues to expand around the globe, I have had the sacred privilege of helping leaders in a variety of cultural contexts comprehend and engage in the number-one priority God has explicitly authorized His followers to accomplish: making disciples of Jesus who make other disciples. I am humbled that He would allow me to invest in the precious lives of those serving locally and cross-culturally as we all seek to finish the task Jesus gave us.
The unfortunate reality
However, in my travels I have encountered a significant number of stumbling blocks when it comes to the Church living out her primary purpose of making and multiplying disciples of Jesus. Unfortunately, this crisis of neglecting discipleship is not only affecting our nation, but it has become a reality throughout the global Church. And while there are certainly a number of shining examples of the Great Commission being obeyed, they seem to be more of the exception than the rule. As many have reflected on this reality in recent years, they have concluded, “the Great Commission has unfortunately become the Great Omission!”
The Great Omission
What is the Great Omission? It refers to the reality that church leaders are not teaching new believers to follow and obey all that Jesus has commanded. In other words, discipleship has become optional in the global Church. You might wonder how this could happen when Jesus made this charge so clear in His final command to His followers just prior to His ascension. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)
The barriers listed below are a composite of responses I’ve received over the years from national Christians I have met around the globe. Sadly, very few of these believers are intentionally engaged in making disciples. As you read these responses, ask yourself if you and the people in your faith community can identify with any of these symptoms.
Why we are NOT making disciples
• Too Busy: Many pastors and church leaders confess they simply don’t have time to engage in making disciples. They are too busy with sharing the gospel with as many people as possible and taking care of the other priorities assigned to them.
• Confusion: Most churched people are confused as to who or what a disciple is and therefore, don’t have a clear understanding as to how to make a disciple.
• Unfamiliar Territory: Most of us have never experienced a discipling relationship with someone who has invested his or her life of faith into us for the purpose of our spiritual maturity. Therefore, we don’t know how or where to start.
• Not My Job: We have come to believe that making disciples is the sole responsibility of Christian “professionals” or experts such as pastors, missionaries, Bible and seminary professors, etc.
• Inadequacy: Many of us feel inadequate because we don’t know enough about the Bible to lead someone into a growing relationship with Jesus and move forward into spiritual maturity.
• Too Costly: Making disciples appears to take too much of a personal investment and sacrifice of time, commitment, and emotional energy.
• No Expectation: Most parishioners don’t believe their pastor and/or church leaders truly expect them to be making disciples.
• Higher Priorities: So many of us have been taught that winning someone to Christ and having him or her pray the “sinner’s prayer” is the end goal. After all, what could be more important than where one would spend his eternity?
• Distorted Focus: We, the Church, are focusing on making converts and church members instead of making disciples: offering exciting and attractive worship services instead of forming small groups of people who are growing in authentic and accountable communities of faith; focusing on church growth instead of kingdom growth; increasing people's church activities instead of developing them as disciples; and discipleship as a program of the church instead of discipleship as the primary purpose and priority of the church.
• Lack of Love: Jesus summed up all of these excuses with a simple phrase: “If you love me, you will keep (obey) my commandments…. If anyone loves me he will keep my word.” (John 14:15, 23)
Changing directions
So how do we effectively and intentionally turn Christ’s Church from living in deliberate disobedience towards fulfilling its purpose to extend God’s kingdom globally? Jesus once told those who were following Him, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46) As I have wrestled with this question, I have encountered three proven biblical approaches to initiate returning the Church to experience the transforming impact, one person at a time, that we read about in Acts and the New Testament letters.
1. Start with an honest look in the mirror.
Ask yourself, “Am I living my life of faith in such a way that others see I am seeking to follow Jesus? (1 Corinthians 11:1) Are the fruits of the Spirit evident in my life? (Galatians 5:22-23) Am I giving priority to abiding in God’s Word on a daily or regular basis? (John 8:31) Do I love other believers in a similar manner as Jesus loved me? (John 13:34-35) Am I producing much fruit in my life and therefore demonstrating I am indeed a disciple of Jesus? (John 15:8)"
2. Reflect upon The Great Commandment.
Jesus summarizes the entire Hebrew Scriptures with the commands to love God with our whole being and to love others. (Matthew 22:36-40) Jesus also told His disciples that the proof of our love for Him is to obey His commandments and follow Him. (John 14:15; Luke 9:23) Ask yourself, “Am I proving my love for God and others by investing my life of faith into the lives of those who will be able to pass the gospel on to others? (2 Timothy 2:2)"
3. Make Jesus’ last words your first priority.
Take time to read slowly the five passages that summarize the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples before returning to His Father. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8) Ask yourself, “What is God saying to me in these passages? How am I giving priority in my life to these commands of Jesus to be a witness who intentionally makes disciples of the people He has sent into my life?”
As you answer these questions with transparency, honesty and a heart to obey, God will reveal to you how you can become a catalyst in your sphere of influence where many will become disciples who extend God’s kingdom globally and for His glory. As Dallas Willard said just three months prior to his passing, “We are coming into a time when many churches and Christians who are in leadership positions will be able to say ‘it’s all about discipleship and transformation into Christlikeness.’”2
May you be among those who believe so deeply that you have resolved to follow the Lord Jesus in allegiance to His authority and in obedience to His commands, no matter the cost!
1 Miller, Don, Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
2 Willard, Dallas; Ortberg, John. Living in Christ's Presence: Final Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God
*originally published in TMS Global’s magazine, “Unfinished.”
