Discipleship (part 2)

We should only have great concern about criticisms that are justified. Our true reputation will eventually become known. Some of us are slandered in the Christian community and within the church unfairly. For some the truth may not become known until they stand before the throne of God, but it will become known.

What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. (NASB) Matt. 10:27

Nothing spoken in secret was to be hidden. What they heard from Jesus in a whisper or in the darkness, they were to declare to the world from the roofs of buildings. Instead of being fearful, they were to be bold.

Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (NASB) Matt. 10:28

The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. (NASB) Prov. 29:25

We should not fear men, but God. That is the message. Jesus’ point is that the cure for fear is to trust God and be aggressively bold. Yes, persecution will follow, but it will come anyway if we are true disciples. Our problem is that we seek the approval of others more than the approval of God. We must remember that God cares for us and loves us!

Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (NASB) Matt. 10:29-31

When we decided to believe in Him, we started following Him. We entered a spiritual war zone. Now we must fight or be defeated. What else should we expect when light and darkness collide? Christians are children of the Light. He called us to follow Him. He knows that we will be persecuted. We should expect to suffer. We should not fear nor be surprised when it comes.

Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. (NASB) Matt. 10:32-33

The point of this verse is that if we tell others about Him, Jesus will talk about us before God the Father; otherwise, He will not. Why should we expect to be treated any better? If we deny Him, then He will deny us. The Greek word translated as “deny” has the sense or meaning of “disowning, or renouncing.” 1 John 2:23 tells us that those who deny Jesus actually never belonged to Him. They were never Christians.

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. (NASB) 1 John 2:23

Today, some Christians do not out reject Jesus; they just never talk about Him. They are afraid or indifferent. Lifestyle evangelism has been encouraged by many over the years. Those who teach that Christians should practice lifestyle evangelism say a believer’s life captures the attention of non-Christians and leads them to Jesus Christ. They believe that we do not need to say anything about God to a person until that person asks about our life and our faith. They say we should “carefully” present Jesus Christ to them. But lifestyle evangelism has weaknesses. In fact, lifestyle evangelism is contrary to Jesus’ teachings in this passage. Instead of being quiet, we are supposed to shout from the house tops and tell others about what we have heard. In fact, those who continually refuse to confront the world or tell others about Jesus may not belong to God at all (1 John 2:15-16).

Do you think that evangelism should avoid all and every form of conflict and tension? If so, listen to Jesus’ next words,

Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. (NASB) Matt. 10:34-36

As we have already seen, conflict and tension were common throughout Jesus’ ministry. Jesus’ point is that if the teacher encountered conflict, tension, insults, and rejection, why should a follower think that he or she should escape? Jesus expects you to tell others about Him. He knows that conflict will come to the faithful believer who engages the world. He sends us into the world knowing that conflict will occur. Jesus did not come to bring peace. Some families will be divided. The question is, “Are you following Jesus?”

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (NASB) Matt. 10:37

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. (NASB) Matt. 10:38-39

One who takes up Jesus’ cross may encounter suffering insult, persecution, self-denial, self-abandonment, and death for Him. One who takes up the cross is one who is intentionally willing to yield his entire being to Jesus. It is the ultimate in willing, sacrificial service for Jesus. Jesus is looking for those who will call Him Master and prove He is their Master by their life. Are you willing to shout from the housetop to the world declaring the good news about Jesus? Is Jesus truly your Lord and Master? Or, are Jesus’ words just nice thoughts?

I imagine that the disciples were thinking after hearing these statements that if after being bold and suffering, many people responded positively, that Jesus would praise them for their faithful ministry. But Jesus surprised them when He said that those who responded to them had actually responded positively to Him and to God the Father,

He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. . (NASB) Matt. 10:40