Christ is calling the committed

In Luke Chapter 9, we have a real interesting exchange going on between Jesus and some wannabe disciples. The exchange starts on verse 57. The first person just wants to go wherever Jesus goes. The second wants to follow, but only after his father dies. The third wants to go and say goodbye to his family and then follow Jesus.

Now up front, these don’t seem to be unreasonable requests, yet Jesus rejects each one. To the first, who wants to travel, Jesus points out that there is no hotel, or apartment for him.

To the second, he says, let the dead bury the dead, you go and preach. To the third, he points out that if you must look back, you aren’t going to be able to be much of a disciple.

This whole exchange runs contrary to our modern sensibilities. If you are trying to start a movement in today’s atmosphere, there ought to be some compromise.

For instance, why not wait for the person to bury his father before you send him out? Why not let a person say goodbye? As for the first person, do you have to be so negative in describing living conditions? I mean, this is not the way to recruit people to the ministry.

And therein lies the rub. Jesus did not recruit. A long time ago, I had a visit with a recruiter. This recruiter told me everything I wanted to hear. I could be a pilot. I could get my degree while serving. I would see the world and meet new and exciting people. They would make sure my MOS would point me to where I wanted to go.

I know, in all actuality, I would have been put where I was needed. Recruiting is about compromise, and in that instance, I would have compromised much.

When you are recruited for a job, concessions are made for you by the employer. College recruiting is rife with special circumstances and benefits for the recruited.

But Christ doesn’t recruit. He calls. Not only does he call, but he calls for full commitment to the task of building the Kingdom. For Christ, you are either in or out. There is no in-between, compromise, or special treatment.

As for where you are going to live, it will be where Christ needs you. As for burying you parents in the future, you are being called for this moment, not later. As for saying goodbye, you can’t look back, you always look forward.

I have seen churches that have done whatever they could to bring people to church and fail in the process.

We are to be about making disciples. Watering down the gospel or lowering expectations just to get more people in the pews will not make disciples. The fact of the matter is, Christ is calling for committed followers, not fair-weather fans.

There is one other thing, if you have accepted Christ as your savior, then you have been called to discipleship. Not recruited, not cajoled, not forced, you have been called.

Something to think about.

See you in church.

Rev. Kent Wilfong is the pastor at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan/Neelyville.