I am always so surprised when I hand someone a tract and get into a conversation with them. I’ve talked to many people from many different religions, but what stumps me the most are people who go to church religiously, but don’t known where they will go when they die. They have no clue. If it were just a few, I might could understand. I’ve talked to dozens of people that go to a church near me, and they are lost as a goose in a blizzard.
I believe the reason for this is in part that churches today are becoming a social club for goodish people, and not the very source of truth that we are called to be. The churches today (most of them) don’t have absolute truth and they don’t believe in absolute truth. Instead, they are focused on “bodies, bucks, and buildings!” to quote a pastor I know. They are trying to make disciples, they are trying to create an empire.
Jesus never tried to build a crowd, a crowd followed him though. He often warned people that if they followed him they would have to give up everything. In this portion of Luke there is no exception.
Luke 14:25-35
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
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.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The idea here is simple. Jesus has an all or nothing requirement. In order to truly be a disciple of Jesus you have to forsake everything. Family, friends, and finances. You have to pick up your cross, this is not just a burden but a death sentences. He is saying we must die to follow him, or we must follow him to our death.
This message won’t draw a crowd, but a man willing to follow Christ like the apostle Paul did – filled and empowered by the Holy Ghost of God will flip this world on its head! The power of Christ is found in obedience to his word.
S.T.
Acts 20:24
"But none of these things move me..."
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