The Call to Discipleship

Originally published November 1, 2000

When our Lord Jesus Christ was on earth He repeatedly said to those who would listen to His Word, “Come, follow me” (Matthew:19:21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
See All...; Luke:18:22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
See All..., etc.). Large numbers of the Jews, because they or a relative or friend had been healed or fed by Christ, followed Him wherever He went: “And there followed him great multitudes of people…and he healed them all…” (Matthew:5:1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
See All...; 8:1; 12:15; 13:2, etc.). So large and eager were the crowds that He and His twelve disciples “could not so much as eat bread. And…his friends…said, He is beside himself” (Mark:3:20-21 [20] And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. [21] And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
See All...).

Christ’s call to follow Him is extended to all mankind. No hint that Jesus was not sincere in saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John:7:37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
See All...). What He still offers to all is the same “living water [of] everlasting life” which He offered to the woman at the well (John:4:10-14 [10] Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. [11] The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? [12] Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? [13] Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: [14] But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
See All...).

Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke:19:41-42 [41] And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, [42] Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
See All...) and mourned, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often would I have gathered thy children…as a hen…her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke:13:34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
See All...). He thereby identified Himself as the God of Israel who had pleaded with His people throughout their entire existence to repent and turn to Him: “Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up and early sending them…” (Jeremiah:7:25Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:
See All...; 25:4; 26:5; 29:19, etc.). “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would [have] none of me…. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me…!” (Psalm:81:11-13 [11] But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. [12] So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. [13] Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
See All...).

The multitudes who followed Him were called disciples. Some were genuine, but most had selfish motives and eventually forsook Him. Yes, even Christ himself had a very high dropout rate. Jesus said, “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (John:6:70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
See All...). He was referring to Judas, who would betray Him.

The number of supposed disciples who remained true to Christ was comparable to the low percentage of true disciples today among those professing to be Christians. If we were to add up all of the millions whom Robertson’s CBN, Crouch’s TBN, Billy Graham, Benny Hinn and other evangelists and major denominations declare they have won to Christ in the last twenty years, the total would indicate that all of America had been converted. Knowing each heart, Jesus declared, “…there are some of you that believe not…. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John:6:64-66 [64] But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. [65] And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. [66] From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
See All...).

From the multitudes, Christ “chose twelve, whom also He named apostles” (Luke:6:13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
See All...) and trained personally. They failed Him often: Peter and Andrew began to follow twice before they finally remained with the Lord. The first time was when Andrew, who had first begun to follow Jesus, introduced Peter to Him (John:1:37-42 [37] And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. [38] Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? [39] He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. [40] One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. [41] He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. [42] And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
See All...). They soon left Him; Jesus found them “casting a net into the sea” and said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew:4:18-22 [18] And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. [19] And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. [20] And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. [21] And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. [22] And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
See All...). Their partners, James and John, who were “mending their nets,” also began at that time to follow Christ. It wasn’t long until once again they all went back to the old life, but Christ persisted and found them a third time, discouraged and “washing their nets” after fishing all night and catching nothing. He got into Peter’s boat, told him where to throw his net, and so many fish were caught that the net broke. Peter fell down before the Lord, acknowledging his sinful unworthiness, and Peter, Andrew, James, and John finally “forsook all, and followed him” (Luke:5:1-11 [1] And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, [2] And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. [3] And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. [4] Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. [5] And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. [6] And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. [7] And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. [8] When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. [9] For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: [10] And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. [11] And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
See All...).

The insincere throng of signs-and-wonders seekers of Christ’s day has its modern counterpart in the huge crowds attracted by “miracle crusades” and televangelists promising prosperity for “seed faith” offerings.

The Bible calls Christ’s followers “disciples.” That plural word is found 244 times in 232 verses; “disciple,” 29 times in 27 verses. Thirty-one of these are found in the book of Acts. Quite clearly “disciple” is the biblical designation of a true believer. The word “disciple” is related to discipline and identifies one who is seriously committed to learn, obey and follow.

Today, however, the word “disciple” has fallen into disuse in favor of the word “Christian”—a rather vague designation which almost anyone can adopt and which, as a result, has become almost meaningless. Multitudes who think of themselves as “Christians” live undisciplined lives without any intention of obeying the One whom they insincerely call Lord. Even heretical cults claim to be Christian.

Many consider America to be a “Christian nation.” In contrast to the many occurrences of "disciple" and "disciples," the word “Christian” appears only twice in the Bible; the word “Christians,” once. This label was actually invented by the world as an accusatory and derogatory nickname marking Christ’s disciples for persecution and often for death.

Thus Peter wrote, “…if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter:4:16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
See All...). Knowing that choice would cost him everything, King Agrippa said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts:26:28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
See All...). In those days there were few pretenders. Churches then were not filled with hangers-on gathering for social or business reasons (that began with Constantine 200 years later) or because they liked the choir, or the pastor’s sermons were uplifting or the people were all so friendly and made one feel welcome and important.

In much of the church today, there is little fear of God, little conviction of sin, and hardly the mention of God’s holiness and His dreadful justice with which one dare not trifle. Unfortunately, salvation is frequently presented without explaining why it is needed. One cannot get saved without realizing one is lost. There must be conviction of sin, sorrow and repentance toward a holy God who hates sin but loves the sinner.

Referring to a good shepherd, Christ declared, “The sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow…for they know not the voice of strangers” (John:10:4-5 [4] And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. [5] And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
See All...). As the Good Shepherd who gives His life for His sheep, Christ said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John:10:11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
See All..., 27-28).

How can anyone claim to be one of Christ’s sheep and to have received the eternal life He gives, yet not heed His voice and follow Him? He said, “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord…. [Then I will say,] I never knew you” (Luke:6:46And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
See All...; Matthew:7:22-23 [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
See All...).

Most of what is called Christianity today has been made too popular to be genuine. Church growth is sought through surveys and worldly marketing techniques. Of course, worldly methods breed worldly people. Judging by some churches today, one would think that when someone offered to follow Him, our Lord would have called out to His disciples: “Peter, sign him up quick! John, get her into the choir! James, make him an elder, he’s got money.” To remain popular with this unregenerated crowd, many pastors offer inoffensive and pleasing sermonettes which create only Christianettes.

We entertain our youth, instead of calling them to take up the cross and follow Christ. We’re afraid that if we set the standard too high we’ll “lose” them—and thereby we lose them for eternity! Rather than those who give up their lives for Christ, the heroes and heroines held up to “attract” today’s youth are mostly professional athletes, pop musicians, or movie stars, paraded on stage as though to say, “Look who Jesus has on His side! Doesn’t that make Christ appealing?” The Christianity represented by most of the contemporary Christian entertainment industry would shock the early disciples, who would also consider today’s popular gospels of prosperity to be heresy.

In his book, True Discipleship, William MacDonald quotes an American college student, converted to communism and writing from Mexico to his fiancée to break off their engagement:

We communists have a philosophy of life which no amount of money can buy. We have a cause to fight for, a definite purpose in life. We subordinate our petty personal selves into a great movement…compensated by the thought that each of us…is contributing to something new and true and better for mankind. The communist cause is my life—my bread and meat. I work at it in the daytime and dream of it at night…. Therefore, I cannot carry on a friendship, a love affair, or even a conversation without relating to this force which both drives and guides my life. I evaluate people, books, ideas, actions, according to how they affect the communist cause…. I’ve already been in jail for communism…if necessary I’m ready to go before a firing squad.

Isn’t the cause of Christ far better and greater? Why don’t we drop entertainment and challenge our youth with something worth living for, even dying for, if need be? Dying? Yes, Christ expected that His disciples’ lives would be expendable for Him and that each take up his cross, ready if need be to die (Matthew:10:38-39 [38] And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. [39] He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
See All...; 16:24; Luke:14:26-27 [26] If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. [27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
See All...). The most repeated verse in the New Testament is “whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew:16:25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
See All...; 10:39; Mark:8:35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
See All...; Luke:9:24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
See All...; 17:33; John:12:25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
See All...).

When Christ was arrested in the Garden, “all the disciples [like many today] forsook him, and fled” (Matthew:26:56But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
See All...). Peter even denied his Lord with cursing and swearing (Matthew:26:74Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
See All...; Mark:14:71But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
See All...). But the Lord forgave and restored him (Mark:16:7But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
See All...; John:21:15-19 [15] So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. [16] He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. [17] He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. [18] Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. [19] This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
See All...; 1 Corinthians:15:5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
See All...), as He graciously does for us.

In giving up our lives in exchange for the life Christ would live through us, we find true life—a life of joy and fruitfulness. C. T. Studd wrote,

I had known about Jesus dying for me, but I never understood that if He died for me, then I didn’t belong to myself…. If I belong to Him, either I had to be a thief and keep what wasn’t mine, or else I had to give up everything to God. When I came to see that Jesus Christ had died for me, it didn’t seem hard to give up all for Him.

I was raised in a very devout family and a sound fellowship of believers. Yet discipleship was not considered to be for everyone; it was only for the more spiritual who aspired to a deeper commitment. Biblically, however, if one is not a disciple, one is not a Christian: “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts:11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
See All...). We need to return to this biblical identification and its reality.

Christ commanded the original twelve to go “into all the world, and preach the gospel…” (Mark:16:15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
See All...) and thereby to make more disciples, “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew:28:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
See All...). Obviously the “all things” new disciples were to be taught included that they also make disciples and teach them “all things” Christ had commanded the original twelve. In other words, each new disciple is responsible to make other disciples and to teach them to observe all things Christ commanded the original twelve (Matthew:28:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
See All...). One can hardly tell others to do what one neglects to do oneself.

Paul warned the Ephesian elders that some of them would teach perverse doctrines in order to “draw away disciples after them” (Acts:20:30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
See All...). The same problem confronts us today in church leaders who compete with each other to establish a following. Tragically, all too many who call themselves “Christians” are more willing to follow a popular leader than to follow Christ.

Christ didn’t promise His disciples financial prosperity or popularity, but persecution: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven…” (Matthew:5:11-12 [11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
See All...). “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke:6:26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
See All...). “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you…. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…” (John:15:18-21 [18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. [19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. [21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
See All...). Does not the absence of the persecutions that Christ promised raise serious questions concerning today’s Christianity in America?

Has Christianity become a brief game called “church” that we play on Sunday morning and then our duty is done? And unlike other more popular games (NFL, NBA, NHL, etc.) where overtime makes it all the more exciting and enjoyable, woe to the preacher who extends this game into even a brief overtime! How many churches find very few at their midweek prayer meeting because priority is given to more important matters? In a recent survey of teenagers, eight out of ten called themselves Christians. Yet, of 19 goals, they ranked highest the establishing of relationships and achieving a comfortable lifestyle! Being deeply committed to the Christian faith ranked fourteenth and being personally active in a church ranked sixteenth.

Following Christ is not a trial subscription but a commitment for eternity. Discipleship has nothing to do with joining a church but everything to do with knowing, loving, and following Christ.

Christ didn’t say, “Follow someone or some church claiming they represent Me.” He said, “Follow me…. Learn of me” (John:1:43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
See All...; Matthew:11:29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
See All...). We go to His Word to learn of Him. Each of us is expected to know it thoroughly. Yet many who think of themselves as Christians scarcely study the Bible seriously, expecting the pastor and Bible teachers to do that for them.

Along with Christ’s “follow Me” was His promise, “and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew:4:19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
See All...). Yet many who call themselves Christians have little concern for winning the lost to Christ, instead letting days and even weeks go by without telling another person about Christ and the salvation which He procured at Calvary and offers to all.

May the Lord stir each of our hearts to follow Him fully. It is our prayer that this newsletter not be mere information but that it ignite us all to devotion and action.

TBC