Making Disciples, Not Decisions
Recently I read how a church had a huge number of decisions made over a certain weekend. It seems that there was a lot of praising to the Lord over this. I held back a little. I think a little differently. Maybe a lot. This is what I was thinking.
I wonder how many disciples were made among those decisions?
The Great Commission tells us to make disciples. We are to do this by going, baptizing and teaching.
Jesus says nothing about going out making decisions.
I know that people will say that you can’t have a disciple without first having a decision. I understand that.
I just wonder how many of those decisions will result in people who are really disciples? How many made a decision to buy fire insurance and not a lifestyle of following Jesus? How many of those decisions really changed their lives?
What I’m saying is that anyone can make a decision to come to Christ. Fewer are really made into disciples.
I would rather have a much smaller number of people who have been made disciples than a large number of people who made decisions.
I didn’t voice this to down those who were excited over the decisions. I don’t want to be a killjoy. I have to wonder, though. How many of those decisions will result in true disciples? Most of us will never know.
Are you making disciples? Or are you making decisions?
Pet peeve time: “Had xxx baptisms this past weekend and that never gets old.” My thoughts: same as yours. Any disciples in the bunch? You have my resounding Yeah!
I know the response will be, “But look how many people were saved at Pentecost.” I would say it is dangerous to use Biblical events as the norm.
Doesn’t “decision” sound so dignified?? No offense to those using the term…… I just remember the day the Holy Spirit finally called me, AGAIN, after I had not surrendered time and time before, and I was not in any shape to make a “decision.” “I” did nothing but fall at His feet, acknowledge His awesome grace and mercy, beg for forgiveness and offer my life to Him. But back to your point….rejoicing, yes….intentional discipleship by another, no. However, the change brought on in my life by a genuine touch by an almighty God, gave me the desire to seek out a deeper relationship with Him. Do “decisions” create a people who thirst and hunger for our Lord God or a checkmark for the roster??
I like to think of myself ad being rescued and out of sheer joy, I follow Him.
One of the steps in recovery is that “We become willing to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. I gave my life to Christ when I was 12…but I resisted giving my will to Him until I was in my late 20′s. That’s when life change began to happen and I became willing to give him all of it!
That’s an incredible experience, Eileen.
In order to be a disciple, the decision to follow Christ’s leadership must be made frequently throughout the day. Distractions, desire, and distress are the things that open the door for a decision to be needed (Matthew 13).
Right. It’s not some solitary decision that can be counted in some numbers. It’s a minute by minute process.
Amen. I have seen churchs focus on the numbers and not discipliship. The decisions are great and needed but after that the people need to be discipled. So they can grow into mature Christains, then eventually be able to win and disciples others. Great reminder and post.