Discipleship

Hannah and I are beginning to post our blog updates on our website, teamshowgrin.com, so please go here (http://teamshowgrin.com/blog/) to keep current with our latest thoughts on life!


I entered college feeling pretty confident in my ability to disciple. But after four years of trying to disciple guys and achieving little ‘success’, I realized that I don’t know what I thought I knew*. In my current position on the journey of being a disciple of Jesus and seeking to make more, here are a few of my thoughts:

When seeking to make disciples, remember that you are making disciples of Jesus, not of you. It’s easy to get caught up in thinking, “I’m not qualified to disciple someone because I’m not yet mature enough in my faith.” Always remember that you are equipping people to love and follow Jesus, not live the life that you lead.

I used to think that I needed to know all the answers when the guys that I discipled had questions. Now I realize that being the ‘answer man’ is possibly the worst thing I can do for their growth- because then they become dependent on me! I had guys wanting to achieve what I had ‘achieved’ in Scripture memory, Bible knowledge, etc., but I want them to be dependent on Jesus and know how to look to Him for answers.

Remember that you are making disciples who make disciples… In college I didn’t require my guys to make disciples themselves because I didn’t think they were ready. I had some invisible ‘line’ that I was hoping my guys would rise up to before I would “allow” them to try to disciple other guys. This not only hindered my guys’ growth (and was very prideful of me), it hindered the spread of Jesus followers on our campus! I have grown the most in my walk with Jesus when I am making disciples- so why would that not be true of my guys, regardless of where they are in their journey? If the early Church followed my example, we probably wouldn’t have a Church today.

In summary: make disciples of Jesus (not you) who will make more disciples of Jesus.

*I don’t want to discount the fact that God DID use me in tremendous ways in the lives of guys during my time in college. He will do whatever He wants to do through us, even when we’re not doing things ‘most effectively’. But I believe I’ve learned some more important things about discipleship in the last year that would have tremendously helped to equip the guys that I discipled in college and encouraged them to follow Jesus even more. Candirú guys, VCU XA Guys, Russell, Jeff, Cameron… you are truly some of my greatest buddies and I’m so thankful for the big things God did and is doing in your life. I thank God for you!

Religion:

I'm a bit frustrated right now.

I live in an apartment complex set in a fantastic location, with wonderful neighbors and a beautiful community. But I am frustrated because many of them are living a mostly Jesus-less life. To the best that I can see, they are missing out on the joy that I feel when I think about Him, the awe that I have when I read what He said in response to the Pharisees time and time again, and the comfort and peace that I find in the most difficult of times. Forget about heaven/hell, future atonement, etc., for a minute... they are missing out on Jesus right now.

This has become a very used (and probably abused) phrase in Christian circles over the last decade, but Jesus has been boxed into a religion. Carl Medearis says it well- Christians 'claim' Jesus as theirs and can't fathom anyone else knowing who He is or following Him... regardless of the fact that Jesus Himself never claimed to be a Christian nor called people to Christianity (but merely to follow Him and learn from Him).

I'm frustrated because most people treat 'religion' like it's described on applications. For instance, when I was recently filling out a Visa Application for going overseas, it asked what religion I am. This came right after asking how old I am and to whom I was born. In the same way that people don't think about how old they are on a daily basis, people don't think about who Jesus is on a daily basis. In the same way that people say, "oh, I am 14 years old, so I should be going to school M-F in 8th or 9th grade", they think, "since I am a Christian, I must go to church on Sundays and Wed. nights", or "since I am a Muslim, I must go to the mosque on Fridays." They treat their religion like it's found on an application: as a demographic.

Tens of millions watched Jefferson Goethke's video, "Why I hate religion, but love Jesus" and tweeted it, posted it on facebook, and blogged about it. I'm pumped that Jeff is seeking to glorify God by using the gift he's been given! I haven't had the pleasure of chatting with him, but from what I can see, it looks like he treasures Jesus. But what about the tens of millions of others that watched it and reposted it? My guess is that many were trying to say publicly, "I belong to this demographic!"... without enjoying Jesus themselves. No disrespect to Jeff, but how many people do you think watched that video and fell more in love with Jesus vs. how many people watched that video and said (probably subconsciously), 'yeah, that's a great way to put it. I agree with that! Let me tell all of my friends and acquaintances that I agree with that!' I don't know that this is what happened, but my guess is that if it is, Jeff would rather the video had not been made. He wants people to know and love Jesus.

When I was in East Africa last April, I was repeatedly asked the question, "Are you Christian?" I wasn't 100% sure how to respond. Were they asking, "Are you a part of that group that tried to exterminate all non-Christians back in the 11th-13th centuries?" No, I don't agree with that at all. Were they asking, "Are you a part of the group who tries to go places where there aren't 'Christians' and change Muslims, Hindus, and Jews to become Christians, taking them out of their culture and making them more Western?" No... I don't try to do that, either. I'm just a guy in love with Jesus that wants other people to get to know and love Jesus, as well... He's that wonderful to me! It's not for my sake or for the sake of a group/demographic... but because I love Him that much.

I admit that I fall into this trap at times, as well, living like all that being a follower of Jesus means is a demographic. I ask frequently that God would reveal Himself to me more and more each day... because I am desperately in love with what I know of Him.

Please don't read this thinking, "yeah, I agree with that!" and leave it there. I'm scared that the few people that read this will respond in the same way they watch a youtube video or read a book- recommending it without falling more in love with Jesus. Leave this blog and think more about who Jesus is to you and how you can learn to treasure Him more. I'm still chewing on Matthew 12:9-21... great stuff.

This is not a "I hate religion" post, but a "I love Jesus" post.

Jesus. That is all.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

My prayer times have been struggling the past week or so. I have either been super-tired (and prone to falling asleep) or just uber-distracted... my thoughts going from one thing to the next to the next before I rein them back in (this happens multiple times in my prayer time).

Yesterday morning was one of these times of trying to be still and wait before the Lord that turned into a battle to stay focused. However, as soon as I stepped outside and saw the unbelievable sunrise right outside my door, I was brought into a place of worship. I'm learning that, at least in this season of my life, prayer times are much better spent outside amongst His creation.

So this morning I went out by a nearby lake and just sat and waited on the Lord. I had a lovely time worshiping Him for who He is, seeing metaphors to Him and His glory in the Creation around me, and listening to some God-glorifying worship music (specifically: "Your Great Name" by Natalie Grant, "You Are My Passion" by Jesus Culture, and "Revival" by the Neverclaim). But then I felt led to just meditate on Psalm 46:10...

"Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted in all the earth."

This got me thinking: He WILL be exalted among the nations! He WILL be exalted in all the earth! No darkness will ever overcome this Light. It is going to happen- you can bet your life savings (and all your future income) on it.

If someone were to invite you to going into a battle against evil where there was guaranteed victory, whether it be a legal battle, literal battle, or any kind of battle... wouldn't you jump at that opportunity? I know I would! We love to be on the winning side, and Jesus is the winning side. This is what humbled me so much this morning: that Jesus is GOING to be exalted among the nations- including East Africa! As bleak as the situation looks right now, He WILL be exalted there... and He is inviting me and Hannah (and you?) to be a part of it.

Just like in any battle- there's no guarantee we'll see the victory happen in this life (as so many others haven't had that privilege, either), but the very fact that we are being invited into the story of the exaltation of our glorious Jesus among the nations makes me SO excited and humbled.

No 'sacrifice' or trial can compare to the glory that will be revealed to us (Romans 8:18), and none of it can compare to just being a part of the story (especially if our names won't be mentioned... only His Name).

That's what's motivating me and pumping me up this morning. He is worthy! Isn't Jesus amazing?! He lives... and He wins. He will be exalted among the nations...

Fantasy World

No, I'm not talking about "WoW"-type fantasy, but the fantasy that I create certain things to be.

Last night I was struck with the way that I make certain things in life so much bigger/better than they are in reality. Two of the main things that came to mind were these:

Relationships:

I am engaged to the most perfect person for me I can imagine. I've told Hannah before and will tell her again and again until we go Home someday that she isn't my dream girl... she's way better than my dream girl: she's God's dream girl for me. I could never have dreamed of someone as wonderful as she- someone who sharpens me, challenges me, loves me when I don't deserve to be loved, is so full of grace, and is a complement to me in numerous areas.

That being said, however, before we were engaged, I built up the idea of engagement and an emotionally intimate relationship to be something that it's not. It's not easy, but rather quite difficult. I've been hurt more deeply than I thought I ever could be. I've been discouraged and there have been times when I've thought 'is this really how it's going to be, Lord? This isn't the way I imagined it!?' You see, I have watched too much TV and too many movies without stepping back and saying "what does God say about relationships?" So when all problems and difficulties are resolved in 90 minutes time, I think 'I guess that's how it happens in real life!' Nope. We're redeemed people who still struggle with sin, learning to be more like Jesus.

But at the same time, I've felt more loved and encouraged than I ever thought I could be. I've been more humbled than ever before, recognizing that God has given me such a joy and blessing in my wife-to-be (someone I will never "deserve"). I'm so excited to live out the prayer that I prayed before: "Lord, when Your timing is right, bring a woman with whom we'll be better together than we ever could be on our own", because I know that this will be true through Hannah and me. She is one of, if not the, greatest answers to prayer I will ever receive. I can't imagine walking this journey of engagement with anyone else...

Serving Overseas:

God willing, I'll be able to write more about this from experience in a few years. But for now I'm just writing from short overseas experiences.

I used to 'dream' about how fantastic it would be to live among the bedouin tribes of the Sahara desert, not having any electronics but merely living off the land and sharing the good news of Jesus with these people. While this may still be where God calls Hannah and me, I have found that it's not quite as grand as I once thought.

I spent a month in East Africa this past year, and while I was over there spent 5 days in a desert-town with very little technology. The only wireless connection was at the university, and it was so.stinking.hot. I didn't come anywhere near bedouin-type living, but I was so relieved when we got to the more-advanced capital city at the end of five days. I found that I had built up this idea of serving Jesus overseas to something much more than it actually is...

But I also know that, in the same way that Hannah's not my dream girl, but God's dream girl for me, I know that serving Him overseas will not be like my dream, but far better. Far more satisfying. Far more joy-filled (especially during trials and difficulties). Far more sanctifying. Far more glorifying to Him. It won't live up to my expectations, it will blow so far past them that my expectations will be long-forgotten and revealed to be as small as they truly are.

You know what's most exciting, though? We can never over-estimate Jesus. We can never say, "man, Jesus is THAT Good" and He not live up to it. Yes- He won't be our 'plastic Daddy' that gives us whatever we want, but as long as we're fixing our eyes on Him as He calls us to, He will always blow so far past our expectations that whatever small picture we thought Him to be will be long forgotten.

Isaiah 55:9 says: "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

He is and always will be greater than we think Him to be. One of our main goals in life should be John 3:30: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Increase more and more in and through my life, Precious Jesus. Amen.