Converts or Disciples: Which Are We Making?

I have been thinking recently about our mission as followers of Christ. Several areas could fall under this broad topic, but what draws my attention is the expansion of the Kingdom of God. What is required? How are we to go about it?

At first blush, someone would say the answer is to concentrate on evangelism. In other words, we need to get the message of the gospel out. True, we do need to make the gospel known. After all, how will they believe unless they hear, and how will they hear unless someone is sent? However, having this as an all-encompassing focus, the model is little more than multilevel marketing wherein each person is to bring so many to Christ, then those in the next level do the same. Someone may ask, “What is wrong with this model if people are won to Christ?” The problem is that they are being converted to an individual, pastor, local church, denomination, etc. but not to Christ. Converts buy into a program or mentality that is more concerned with earning credit toward an excellent report card at the final judgment than living as a believer and letting others see and hear Christ, becoming more wedded to a program than the Bridegroom. More correct would be living like the sheep in Matthew 25 who went about their routine existence and were surprised that their good deeds were done to and for Jesus Himself.

If we look at Scripture, we see a different practice. Before Jesus was taken in a cloud, He left instructions recorded in two forms: be My witnesses (Acts 1:8) and make disciples (Mt 28:19). Witnesses are those who saw, heard, or otherwise experienced an event and can relate facts to another. In short, they talk about what happened, not themselves. Here is where we tend to insert ourselves into the story. While there is a strong urge to evaluate the experience, this needs to be avoided: the emphasis is on the objective reality. For the believer, then, this translates to being a witness of Christ and the gospel. We relate the plan of redemption that culminated in the cross of Christ for our sins. We witness to the salvific working of the Godhead. We testify to the truth of God in three persons. We witness to the sure hope of Christ’s return, our bodily resurrection, Judgment Day, and life eternal. We witness to the recorded testimony handed down from one generation to the next, corroborated by independent and sometimes antagonistic evidence. In other words, we confess the Apostle’s Creed. Notice that nothing is said of making converts, so why do we spend so much time, energy, and money doing that very thing? Constant energy is expended on learning formulaic questions and answers to convince someone to “give your heart to Jesus” or “accept Jesus into your heart.” An emphasis is always to pressure someone through closing the deal.

What about making disciples? We think that we know what this entails, but it gets relegated to part two of a process that begins with the decision. But this is not how the command is stated. The two-step process is a symptom of an improper understanding we have as to whose disciples these are that are being made. Jesus said to make disciples by baptizing and teaching. Notice there is no initial requirement for an emotional appeal from a preacher. Instead, we proclaim the good news, and when the hearer is pricked in the spirit, realizing his sin and need of repentance, he is baptized as a confession of faith imparting the Holy Spirit, new life, etc. (Rom 6; Gal 2; Col 3; 1 Pet 3); then after baptism, teaching ensues in all that Jesus commanded. Instead of drawing people to ourselves, we become examples to other believers and the world. The disciples that come of this are not ours: they are the Lord’s and His alone.

Having a proper perspective of whose disciples these are, and what our true mandate is, how should this be reflected in our local congregations? First, we should reject programs specifically geared to tell a simplistic message: Chick tracts, Four Spiritual Laws, etc. While these are well intended, they make evangelism formulaic and superficial. Second, we need to catechize believers. We need to give them the tools to share the faith, The point of this exercise is to be sharing what you purportedly trusted from the beginning. What does God require (Ten Commandments)? What has God done for me (Apostle’s Creed)? How do I now come before Him (Lord’s Prayer)? Having our hearts and minds centered on what has been gained in Christ, our worship and instruction should revolve around these core elements to the glory of God.