Friday, March 24, 2006

Which comes first?

Question for everyone...
Which comes first - evangelism or discipleship?
Expound.
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

When Jesus healed the man, he went to the temple and told the priest what had happened-- That was evangelism in the since of proclaiming the Good News. I do believe that new (and all)believers should and are mandate in Matthew to evangelize, after all, we have an amazing story to share. This story is not just the story of our salvation, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, it is important that one who shares understands salvation and how one is saved. Though Jesus meets our every need as deemed necessary by the grace of God, he is not simply a "needs meeter" or a fluffy teddy bear that makes all of the worlds problems go away when we hold him tight. At the same time, God is a perfectly loving God, and he is wrathful and perfectly just. Do you have to know everything to evangelize, of course not. We are in the process of being sanctified which will not be complete until we go home to be with the Lord; however, One could share the Good News of Jesus Christ in simple language (as it should be shared), but do it in the way that does not create this idea of "cheap grace". Salvation is completely unmerited, it is by grace through faith, but in this unmerited gracious salvtion we are "bid to come and die."

Discipleship however is crucial as well. It is part of knowing what it means to come and die of ourselves, living lives in the Spirit under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In the early church, after one was saved, he or she would go through a year of intense discipleship before being baptized. This would allow one to understand that Christianity is more than a "safe and fun" thing for the whole family or a legalistic and moral code to live by, but a commitment to follow Christ by counting the cost. Being a believer is more than a checklist, but a personal and intimate relationship that calls us to die to ourselves and live as Christ.

Which one comes first, yes! Both are hand and hand. I will say that one must first be a believer before discipleship is even possible because discipleship is centered in knowing personally Christ and growing in his likeness. As Colossians 1 says: Christ is the visible image of the invisble God. We know Christ through the word. So it is through the Word and the work of the Holy Spirit which we grow in likeness of Christ.

Have I answered the question, probably not, but it was fun to post! Thanks for the good questions which challenge me to think through issues.

7:21 PM

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