There are all kinds of problems facing Christianity. This is not news- it has been that way from the beginning. Whether it is persecution from Roman authorities, corruption and sale of indulgences in the Middle Ages, extremism from Islamists, or sexual misconduct among clergy, one thing is for sure- the Church has always faced problems.
So what is the greatest threat Christianity has ever faced? I believe that threat is something that we are facing right now and it is becoming more and more pronounced every day.
Some would say the biggest threat to Christianity is a militant homosexual agenda. I don't think that is it. Some would say the biggest threat to Christianity is growing governmental interference. Again, I don't think that is it. Some would say the biggest threat to Christianity is the persecution going on all over the world. While this is a big deal, I still don't think that is the biggest problem.
This is what I think the biggest threat to Christianity is.
We have turned the Great Commission into the "Great Option" and have moved Jesus' command to "go into all the world and make disciples" to the shoulders of professional, paid clergy.
Seriously- are you making disciples? Are you even a disciple yourself?
Why have we turned the clear words of Jesus- "MAKE DISCIPLES"- into something that is optional? When did that become the sole responsibility of pastors? Is there anyone, even serious dedicated Christians, that would say that making disciples is a priority in his or her life?
Sadly, the answer is no.
God has set up life in stages- you move from being a child to being an adult. One of the marks of adulthood- physical adulthood, that is- is the ability to reproduce. Right? As children, our bodies are incapable of reproducing. As adults, however, we gain that ability as our bodies physically mature. In fact, adults who are unable to reproduce have some kind of biological problem. The default state of mature adult human beings is reproduction.
The same is true for Christians. When we are immature in our faith, we don't have the ability to make disciples. However, as we grow in the faith, we gain that ability. Following that logic, if you are not making disciples- replicating your character and faith in another person- then one of two things is going on- you are either immature or you have a problem. The default mode for a disciple of Jesus Christ is to make disciples.
So, which is it? If you are not actively engaged in making disciples, are you immature or do you have a problem? If you are immature in your faith, that is okay. We don't criticize children for not being able to reproduce- in fact, if children could reproduce, it would be a disaster. It's actually a good thing for an immature Christian NOT to be able to make disciples. Your challenge, like the child, is to grow and mature in your faith before you can make any disciples.
However, if you have been in the faith for awhile and you are not immature in your faith, and you are not actively engaged in making disciples, you have a problem. Yes, you do. You have taken the command of Jesus and made it into something that is an option for you. Do you think Jesus takes this lightly? Do you think that He was kidding when He gave us the Great Commission, saying, "I say this to you, but you really don't have to take it seriously. I mean, it's really not that important for people to walk with Me. It's really not that important that people surrender their lives to Me. It's far more important for you to live your own life accomplishing your own goals. I get that. But if you have ANY of amount of time whatsoever, would you PLEASE at least consider maybe making a disciple, pretty please?"
This is the greatest threat facing Christianity- Christians who do not make disciples. That's it. The problem isn't out there- the problem is inside. It is inside our churches, inside the hearts of believers, and it will destroy the church. Churches that are filled with people who prioritize making disciples are great churches indeed. Churches that relegate disciple-making to professional paid clergy are awful.
So what about you? Can you honestly look at God and say, "I take making disciples as seriously as You do?" Have you been guilty of making the Great Commission the Great Option . . . . and opted out? If so, you need to repent. You need to repent of that as strongly as you would repent of the sin of adultery, or murder, or kidnapping, or embezzlement, or theft, or any other sin. You need to ask God's forgiveness for all the missed opportunities to grow His kingdom. You need to ask God's forgiveness for ignoring something that He specifically commanded us to do.
Then, you need to find someone and disciple him or her. Begin to replicate your faith in another person. Find the person who needs to grow in his or her faith and guide them. It may be that you actually win this person to Christ. Once you win him or her to Christ, teach that person the faith. Walk with him or her through the dark valleys of life. Teach that person the Scriptures.
This is the way faith is passed on. This is the way the world changes. To change the world, you have to change people. Only the gospel of Jesus can change people. Disciples are people who make other disciples. Let's not settle for playing church anymore- let's not settle for a watered-down version of the words of Jesus- "Go into all the world and make disciples"- like we have for so long. Let's take seriously His command and prioritize the making of disciples in our lives. At the end of the day, at the end of your life, it's going to be the only thing that matters.
So what is the greatest threat Christianity has ever faced? I believe that threat is something that we are facing right now and it is becoming more and more pronounced every day.
Some would say the biggest threat to Christianity is a militant homosexual agenda. I don't think that is it. Some would say the biggest threat to Christianity is growing governmental interference. Again, I don't think that is it. Some would say the biggest threat to Christianity is the persecution going on all over the world. While this is a big deal, I still don't think that is the biggest problem.
This is what I think the biggest threat to Christianity is.
We have turned the Great Commission into the "Great Option" and have moved Jesus' command to "go into all the world and make disciples" to the shoulders of professional, paid clergy.
Seriously- are you making disciples? Are you even a disciple yourself?
Why have we turned the clear words of Jesus- "MAKE DISCIPLES"- into something that is optional? When did that become the sole responsibility of pastors? Is there anyone, even serious dedicated Christians, that would say that making disciples is a priority in his or her life?
Sadly, the answer is no.
God has set up life in stages- you move from being a child to being an adult. One of the marks of adulthood- physical adulthood, that is- is the ability to reproduce. Right? As children, our bodies are incapable of reproducing. As adults, however, we gain that ability as our bodies physically mature. In fact, adults who are unable to reproduce have some kind of biological problem. The default state of mature adult human beings is reproduction.
The same is true for Christians. When we are immature in our faith, we don't have the ability to make disciples. However, as we grow in the faith, we gain that ability. Following that logic, if you are not making disciples- replicating your character and faith in another person- then one of two things is going on- you are either immature or you have a problem. The default mode for a disciple of Jesus Christ is to make disciples.
So, which is it? If you are not actively engaged in making disciples, are you immature or do you have a problem? If you are immature in your faith, that is okay. We don't criticize children for not being able to reproduce- in fact, if children could reproduce, it would be a disaster. It's actually a good thing for an immature Christian NOT to be able to make disciples. Your challenge, like the child, is to grow and mature in your faith before you can make any disciples.
However, if you have been in the faith for awhile and you are not immature in your faith, and you are not actively engaged in making disciples, you have a problem. Yes, you do. You have taken the command of Jesus and made it into something that is an option for you. Do you think Jesus takes this lightly? Do you think that He was kidding when He gave us the Great Commission, saying, "I say this to you, but you really don't have to take it seriously. I mean, it's really not that important for people to walk with Me. It's really not that important that people surrender their lives to Me. It's far more important for you to live your own life accomplishing your own goals. I get that. But if you have ANY of amount of time whatsoever, would you PLEASE at least consider maybe making a disciple, pretty please?"
This is the greatest threat facing Christianity- Christians who do not make disciples. That's it. The problem isn't out there- the problem is inside. It is inside our churches, inside the hearts of believers, and it will destroy the church. Churches that are filled with people who prioritize making disciples are great churches indeed. Churches that relegate disciple-making to professional paid clergy are awful.
So what about you? Can you honestly look at God and say, "I take making disciples as seriously as You do?" Have you been guilty of making the Great Commission the Great Option . . . . and opted out? If so, you need to repent. You need to repent of that as strongly as you would repent of the sin of adultery, or murder, or kidnapping, or embezzlement, or theft, or any other sin. You need to ask God's forgiveness for all the missed opportunities to grow His kingdom. You need to ask God's forgiveness for ignoring something that He specifically commanded us to do.
Then, you need to find someone and disciple him or her. Begin to replicate your faith in another person. Find the person who needs to grow in his or her faith and guide them. It may be that you actually win this person to Christ. Once you win him or her to Christ, teach that person the faith. Walk with him or her through the dark valleys of life. Teach that person the Scriptures.
This is the way faith is passed on. This is the way the world changes. To change the world, you have to change people. Only the gospel of Jesus can change people. Disciples are people who make other disciples. Let's not settle for playing church anymore- let's not settle for a watered-down version of the words of Jesus- "Go into all the world and make disciples"- like we have for so long. Let's take seriously His command and prioritize the making of disciples in our lives. At the end of the day, at the end of your life, it's going to be the only thing that matters.
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