"Follow Me!"

Could you imagine hearing these words from a stranger and dropping your every belonging and willingly following Him?

I really do not know where to start but to say that lately I have had this one idea or thought that I just cannot seem to shake. Well, this thought has to do with commitment. I know that commitment can be a frightening word to some; actually, the idea of committing to something is very difficult for most and is a very frightening thing to encounter. However, the opposite extreme is equally frightening.

What I am referring to is the idea that instead of committing to anything, we have become a society (church) that is unwilling to commit or surrender our desires.

We justify this by "signing on" to a particular “cause” or “charity” but heaven forbid they ask for some time or commitment. I have come to a realization as to why we do not commit. We simply do not demand commitment.

It is easy to get someone to wear a fashionable bracelet and to get a few bucks for charity, because we can get the tax deduction. I have been listening to a Christian radio station on the internet, and they are a “listener supported” radio station and every time they advertise to help support them, they make a point to note that your giving is tax-deductible. Now, tax-deductions are a good thing, but I have become saddened that one of the methods to get people to “support” them is to encourage that the gift is tax-deductible. As believers, the idea of reaching the lost should be enough to give to them, whether we get a deduction or not.

Currently in the news, they have been showing the evictions of the Jews in the Gaza Strip. Now, my particular opinion is not important on that whole ordeal, but it made me think about our (Western) convictions and commitments. Many of the Jews would stay in the Synagogue or in their homes until they were physically removed.

That is commitment!

When I was a child, there was a part of the Church service called the “Invitation.” It usually followed the “Sermon” and was followed by the “Offering.” I know that immediately, the mental image is the Billy Graham Crusade that calls for masses of people to come a pray a simple prayer. Well, I understand that, but at this particular church, they changed it to be called the “Call to Commitment.” They believed, as I do now, that we have almost made it too simple to call people to come and “make a decision” to pray for salvation.

I believe that we have quenched the Spirit of God. We have followed the example of the “causes” to simply ask people to “sign-on” with what we are doing, rather than demanding a commitment, not to the church itself, but to God Himself.

I know that this sounds cynical, but it is reality.

The story that comes to mind is in Matthew 19, where Jesus is walking and a young man calls out, “Rabbi! Rabbi! What must I do to have eternal life?”

Jesus replied, “Follow the law – honor your mother & father, do not murder, do not steal, do not commit adultery, do not give false testimony and love your neighbor.”

The young man said, “I have done these.”

Jesus commanded, “Sell your possessions and come follow me.”

The young man went away saddened.

Now, how come we do not have calls to commitment in the church like this anymore? Is it because we need their tithe? Or, do we not want to make people uncomfortable?

What is it?

Also, I fear that many in the church do not have a real relationship with God through Jesus Christ as we think or even expect. We have made it based on a “Romans Road” salvation plan. Now, do not get me wrong on some of these things. There have been times of great revival in our country with Crusades and Tent Meetings, but I just think there is more to it than the preaching of the Gospel and expecting people to pray silently in their chairs.

We must, as Jesus did, demand commitment.

Jesus looked out to Peter in the boat and said, “Come Follow Me!” Peter immediately left everything and followed Him. In a similar way Jesus called Zebedee’s sons.

The response was a simple “yes” or “no,” but the commitment was enormous. All of the disciples except for John were killed because of their unyielding commitment to Jesus. My desire is that I could live like this and that I would teach this kind of surrender to my children.

Likewise, I pray that the church will decide to make disciples and followers of Jesus rather than being so focused on the show. We must demand commitment. I know that this is not an easy thing, but we must. If we do not, then we have failed in making Disciples as Christ commanded us to do.