Every member must be called to the standards of a disciple of Christ.
Luke 9:23-26
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Of course, Jesus is the most loving man to ever walk the earth, yet he is also the most hard-line about obedience to God. In the Scripture above, it is amazing how Jesus lays out the standards of being a disciple. I would like to draw our attention to two words in the Scripture above: “anyone” and “must.” When Jesus says “anyone,” to whom is he referring? Anyone means everyone! When he says “must,” what does that mean? The things we “must” do are conditions for our being disciples. What is the message? There are standards involved in being a disciple. Everyone who wants to be called a disciple of Jesus must give up their life to follow Jesus, even to the point of death. That is the standard for every disciple.
By saying “anyone” Jesus is laying down the rules of who will be in his church and who will not. Jesus is making it clear that there are no “levels” of membership, but that everyone is called to the same standards. Jesus was not interested in seeing his movement disappear in a few generations as the standard gets so watered down it disappears. He wanted disciples who are committed to the standards to make committed disciples who are committed to the standards until the end.
I remember in 2006 flying into war torn Kinshasa Congo for the first time. I had been sent to solidify a group of disciples who wished to join our movement of churches. This was before the elections that were scheduled and there was considerable insecurity throughout the city. In fact the airport itself was mainly in the control of militia groups and starving desperate employees. All of the other passengers on the airplane disembarked quickly and boarded cars and trucks to clear the area however ignorant of these dangers I entered the airport looking for a taxi. I was quickly mugged by a mishmash of armed “security” personnel, employees and hungry civilians including children. It was a terrifying experience to be so far from home and so helpless. I had the choice to get back on the plane but something told me to keep going on my mission to encourage the fledgling church there.
A man with a barely functioning jeep offered to take me to a hotel where he told me there were journalists. He charged me an extortionate sum of one hundred dollars for the short drive but I was grateful to pay it. As we headed into Kinshasa the fear in my heart was blown into flame as I saw the throngs of starving, barely clothed people crowded on both sides of the street. It was more than my senses were able to bear. We passed by a United Nations base guarded by Blue Helmeted soldiers and I ordered the jeep to stop. As a former Infantryman in the Canadian Army I knew the safety and security I would enjoy inside that camp. I looked over at the base longingly however again I chose to keep going to the hotel so that I could make contact with the church. Only God gave me the courage.
Peacekeeper in Congo
Looking at that UN Base from the chaos of the street was an epiphany for me. It became a spiritual illustration for what the church should be. The poverty and bedlam of the street outside the camp contrasted sharply with the order and security of the UN camp where people could seek refuge. This concept and image was permanently burned into my mind. The Peacekeepers who guarded the camp became an image for me of leaders guarding the church. Just and Nehemiah cried at the broken walls and gates of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1) I saw more clearly than every that the church needs men and women willing to build a wall which is the standards of discipleship to separate it, define it and protect it from the terrors that wait outside. When standards in the church are broken, the wall is broken and the enemy can enter and raise havoc.
That being said, when we start talking about standards, people may feel that they need to earn their salvation. The truth is that we do not “earn” anything by being a disciple. However, if we want to “come after” Jesus, then following Jesus’s direction on how to be a disciple is the only way to enter into his fellowship and the only acceptable response to his grace. This might still feel like “doing” something for God’s love because actions are involved. However, it is not always what we do that marks us as a disciple but rather what we stop doing. We have to stop being selfish with our time, money, energy and resources in order to be a disciple. We have to stop avoiding hardship and persecution because of our beliefs. We have to stop being lazy in our service to God. Indeed, when we have cut away all the sin involved in not following Jesus, then it could be said that discipleship to Christ is the proper state of any human being!
In Luke 17: 7-10, Jesus says: “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
The Scriptures are clear: being a disciple and even the work that is entailed in being one does not earn us anything in heaven; it is only our duty. A disciple of Jesus understands these principles. A true disciple is not only committed to following Jesus’ standards, but also calls everyone else to the same standards, too.
As leaders we know that timing is critical in bringing our ministries to the standards. There is a reason that this strategy is third, after “Focus on the Few” and “Wrestle for Miracles.” If there are no “few” and there are no “miracles,” then it is very hard to apply this strategy and teaching. When we approach those who are obviously not attaining the standards, we must have an example to call them to and accreditation as a leader of God. Abraham Lincoln once said “Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first 4 sharpening the axe.” Take your time and get it right the first time – every time.
Also, like Nehemiah we need time to “survey the wall” (Nehemiah 2:13) before we engage in the building. Proverbs 27:23 exhorts us to make sure you know the condition of our flocks. Have the information you need, have a plan, a method and a procedure before you engage in such a huge and important endeavor.
It is natural to think that if everyone in our ministry was living up to the standards, the ministry would do very well. That logic is true, but it is in achieving this situation that we make our mistakes. We must lead a ministry to greatness. We draw out a committed few, we wrestle for the miracles that accredit us and advance our ministry, and then, when a clear path is lit by our lives, we call everyone to walk down it.
Often it is the people who have been disciples the longest who have had the time to drift the furthest from the standard. Also, the older people get the more likely they are to have nervous breakdowns and start to display mental illness. We must be very wise and graceful in the way that we treat these disciples as the bible says: “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:32 This doesn’t mean that we don’t engage sin with older disciples, it means that we need to be very respectful in doing so. This is a massive issue that takes much prayer, advice, Scriptural insight and practice. We may need to talk to ourselves in the mirror or to our co-leaders before admonishing an older disciple. In 1 Timothy 5:1, the Bible says, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father.” Regardless of the truth of our cause, if we approach older disciples without the respect they deserve and expect, then our efforts will be derailed before we begin. We can actually create a rebellion by the WAY we do things as much as WHAT we are doing. We need to train ourselves to “talk up” to older disciples even if we are admonishing them and even if we are “over them in the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:12).
At the other end of the spectrum are our campus ministries. So many campus ministries have been taken down by sin (Psalm 25:7). Although campus ministries have the potential to grow dramatically because of youthful idealism, they have the potential to be taken out just as quickly because of the “evil desires of youth” (2 Timothy 2:22). Calling disciples to the standards is as important in the campus ministry as anywhere else.
Sometimes people drift from the standards simply because of a lack of fruit. When John was wavering and was questioning his commitment “Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosyare cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Matt 11:4) There is no way to overemphasize that half the battle of calling the church to the standards and winning everyone over to a unity is by wrestling for the miracles. A fruitful disciple is usually a committed and happy disciple. Half your battles will be won, not with the sword but with the plowshare and the pruning hook. Even in the world there are rarely insurgencies and rebellions in rich and productive countries.
Of course, when we are calling people to the standards, we must be certain to ensure they have convictions on the standards and have been taught to attain them. The cardinal sin of discipling is assuming. We need always to start out by teaching and inspiring people to attain the standards, then set goals for them and be ready to encourage them to “get back on the horse” if they falter. Not everyone who is falling short is rebellious or lazy; they may simply be ignorant. It is not without reason that the Bible says that the Scriptures are “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training” so that we are equipped for good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We cannot expect people to do what we have not trained them to do.
Notwithstanding, calling people to the standards of Christ is not always an issue of simply informing the ignorant. It is also about dealing decisively and effectively with those who actively oppose the standards of Christ. Some members will be bitter and critical, others deceived and deceiving others. In 2 Peter 2:1-3 the Bible says, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies…” As we begin to call people to the standards through teaching and example, we will inevitably reveal false teachers, discord and division in our midst. False teachers bury themselves and their teaching in the church like ticks, and it is only when we begin calling everyone to the standards that they start to agitate against us. Their attacks will of course not be directed against the teaching of Jesus but against us personally. A thick skin is a prerequisite for ministry.
A Canadian Peacekeeer from the Authors former unit on guard somewhere in the world.
Not only must we have a thick skin but a love for God and people so strong that we will not shy away from any fight to save a soul. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.” Matt 12:29. As we see in this Scripture… it will always be a fight. It takes a kind of spiritual “violence” (if you allow me that latitude) and commitment to save a soul. In the words of famous American author Robert A. Heinlein “Anyone who clings to the historically untrue—and thoroughly immoral—doctrine that “violence never settles anything” I would advise to conjure the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler could referee, and the jury might well be the Dodo bird, and the Passenger Pigeon. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. (Kingdoms) that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedom.” Don’t give up on someone because it’s a tough fight. Pray to God for the metal to deal with the issues He puts in your life (Heb 12:7). You may be giving up on your own life and freedom down the road.
One mistake often made in dealing with sin or opposition is “half-dealing” with the issue. For example, it may become clear that we need to engage a brother’s or sister’s heart because of symptoms that start to affect the rest of the church. However, instead of staying on task, we can drop the matter when the symptoms disappear. This can result in a much worse problem next time. In doing so, we may be creating weak points in the wall that become even harder to repair next time. It is vital to go all the way to the heart of the matter the first time, rebuilding the wall solidly, and not just engage the symptoms and actions. How do we do that? Acts 20:26 tells us that true repentance must be proven by deeds. So, all involved should see and know that repentance has occurred. We need to be sure to set up follow-up meetings, talk to the people who have been affected by the situation, and remember that where we find one issue we may find two. We may need to immunize or “fireproof” the ministry as a whole through solid biblical preaching, teaching and direction, not just the people immediately involved.
Having a healthy happy church isn’t about a periodical “house clearing” strategy. That style of leadership can actually create more disruption and disturbance than the lack of standards. Maintaining standards is about persistence and presence. Stay close and stay for good. People will usually side with the one who is closer physically and who they can spend more time around. If you can’t be that person then don’t win people over just to see them fall again. Don’t go anywhere where you will not either stay or commit yourself to leaving effective leadership behind. Otherwise people feel like a soccer ball and eventually get fatigued because of the constant to and fro. When you go into a ministry get in close to the people and let them know you will be there for them for the long haul.
The value of a refugee group is not in its size but in its quality – so it is with your ministry. Does a country get richer by printing money? Indeed it can become suddenly much poorer. Protect the “currency of membership” and its value by assuring yourself that every member of the church is indeed a true disciple. Without a “base of SoldOut disciples” the ministry cannot grow. That makes “guarding the camp” essential to dramatic growth in the ministry.
Another way to fumble in “guarding the camp” is to fail to seek advice and bring in other concerned leaders. By failing to “get our ducks in a row,” we can create blowouts in which people whom we are trying to address go “around us” and misinform other leaders as to our intentions. This can create friction between us and our peers that will be counter-productive. It might even be a good idea to allow our shepherds or mature disciples to engage the issues at hand first and involve ourselves only if it is over their heads. If you don’t have shepherds, train them and appoint them! (Titus 1)
Raja, Debs, Bandana, Johnson, Thomas, Shirley, Lianne and the author celebrating the appointment of Johnson and Thomas as Shepherds-in-Training in Chennai in 2013
In addition, sometimes the issues we will have to engage have less to do with bringing the church to the standards of Christ than with straightforward security and safety. Sexual predators love welcoming churches to lurk in, as do con artists. We have to keep our eyes peeled and our ears to the ground for these dangers to our flock. When we find genuine false brothers or sisters like this, we must bring it to the right authorities and deal with matters quickly. We are the guarantors of the safety of the church. That is to say that the flock, not to mention God, has an expectation that we will even lay our lives down for their safety if necessary.
Just from reading the epistles of Paul, we might think that a large portion of the work of a leader is to silence false teaching. This goes against the democratic flavor of this age. However, when we read Titus 1:10-16, Paul leaves little room for debate on the matter: “For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach…” False teaching destroys whole Bible talks, households and even churches of disciples. We must silence false teaching in the church.
Conversely, one of the most classic mistakes leaders can make is to “over play our cards”. When we have a powerful “few” and the accreditation of God through miracles in the ministry, in our excitement, we can sometimes be tempted then to become harsh and scornful towards those who do not attain the standards. Having a critical eye and mind can be a great benefit for a leader, but some have let their critical eye “drip down” and give them a critical heart. Bitter people can become a root that defiles many (Hebrews 12:15). “A surgeon does not hesitate to remove a limb or an organ to preserve life” and when the time comes to see someone leave the fellowship of believers we should not be hesitant. However, we should never forget that many such people can be won over. As a disciple, we must believe that anyone can change and anyone can grow. (2 Timothy 2:25). It might mean that we will need to “hug” a prickly porcupine to get him or her to get past the prickly needles… it hurts but it works. We must accept risk and pain to avoid losing those who can be won over.
Moreover, if we are harsh we can actually conjure up support for even false teachers, because people will feel sympathy for the way they are being treated. False teachers may take advantage of the situation by then positioning themselves as victims. This can cloud the issues at stake and leave us with false teaching plus division to manage. While firm and unapologetic, our raising of the church must be done by calling for imitation (1 Thessalonians 1:6) with “great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2) and with love and gentleness (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 2 Timothy 2:24-26). We need to use clear methodology such as Matthew 18:15-19 to bring everyone to the standards. It takes much prayer and seeking of advice to do this right. Do a great job building a safe and happy church, but don’t go too far and create a “police state”.
As Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:3-7 “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Bringing everyone in the ministry to the standards of Christ is not a matter of harshness but of “love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith”.
Is it time to “guard the camp” in our ministry? Do we have our few? Are we accredited by miracles? Are we armed and ready for what we might find as we set out to call our ministry to the standards? If so, then with prayerful humility and powerful resolve we need to set out on our mission of love!
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