The Price of Discipleship

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, a journey that he knew would end with him being crucified, and yet many of those following him thought he was on his way to establish his Kingdom in the capital city.

Sometimes I wonder if Jesus ever wanted to say:  “What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.”? 

It’s not as if he led them on and pulled a bait and switch on them, instead he had been open from the very beginning about what was involved in following him, but still I’m pretty sure that there were those in the crowd who still thought Jesus was the coming messiah who would establish his earthly kingdom and reign in glory.  And so they had decided to hitch their wagon to his star, so to speak.

From the very beginning Jesus had alluded to the fact that he hadn’t come to establish an earthly kingdom, but there were still those who didn’t get it.  They envisioned an Israel free of the Roman occupiers who had made life miserable for so many of them.  And so to clarify Jesus turns and tell them, “Salvation is free but it's not cheap, did you catch that?  Salvation is free but it's not cheap.”

Well that isn’t exactly what he said, what he said is recorded in Luke 14:33  So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. What a statement, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

We don't preach on that enough do we?  We preach on salvation that's given so free, but we don't preach on the cost of serving Christ.

We have probably read these eight verses a dozen times, maybe more but somehow this concept of giving up everything we own seems to apply to others.  “Well that's fine for them but Jesus wouldn't expect that of me, would he?”  If you are his disciple he would.

You say “But hold it Denn, what if I don't want to be a disciple, what if I just want to be a plain, ordinary, everyday, average Christian?”  Well it shouldn't take long in reading the New Testament to discover that Christ doesn't want plain ordinary, everyday, average Christians.

We have come to the place where we want to divide Christians into a couple of different categories.  “You see pastor there are your nominal Christians, they're your C & E Christians, you know what I mean pastor, and you see them on Christmas and Easter.  Then there are your Christian Christians, that's what most of us are, you know just your average, every day, semi-committed Christian, you know what I mean pastor,  then there are the disciples, you know what I mean pastor, those super saints.  They pray more, they give more they are more disciplined.”

The only problem with this theory is that disciple simply means one who follows a teacher or leader.  A communist is a disciple of Marx, a Buddhist is a disciple of Buddha and a Moslem is a disciple of Mohammed.  And so by definition if you profess to follow Christ then you are a, you ready for it, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ.

And so to make sure that everyone is on the same page Jesus makes three very clear statements About what it means to be a disciple.

Now with that out of the way let's go back to Luke 14:33  So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.  Discipleship is About Our Possessions

So Christ is saying, anyone of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be his disciple.  You ok?

You say “Yeah but pastor you don't really think that is what he meant do you?”  I don't know, how many different meanings could there be to that statement, So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.  Sure sounds like that's what he meant to me.  “But everything pastor?” well that's what the book says, and we know that we don't debate the book, right?

The problem is when we hear these words we immediately think that Jesus is talking about money, but really money is the least of what he is talking about.  Jesus is talking about everything you own and everything that owns you.  He’s talking about all you have and all you are.  You all right?  If it was just money, it would be so easy.  We could just write a cheque and get on with life.

So to find out what Jesus meant when he said “everything” we need to start at the beginning of the story.

Let's start at verse 25, these are the last days of Christ, and as he makes his way to Jerusalem and his final sacrifice the crowds push in and gather around to hear the teachings of this young influential rabbi.

And as Christ turns and sees the multitude pressing around him I wonder what thoughts crossed his mind?  Here are his followers, those who seek to learn from him and they expect great wisdom to come forth from his lips.  What will they hear, “Blessed be the peacemakers”  “Love your neighbours”, “Do unto others”  “Love God”.  What great insight would come forth from the mouth of Jesus?

But no the words of Christ were unlike any others they had ever heard from the master, in Luke 14:26  “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.  Discipleship is About Our Priorities

That must have floored them; I would suspect that for what seemed like eternity that those pressing in tight around Jesus just stood in stunned silence.  Who could believe that the one who had spoken so eloquently about love could change his tune so completely?  What an about face, he's gone from love your enemies, to hate your mother. Love those you barely know, and hate those you know best?  What could possibly, have provoked this radical shift in perspective?

I mean let's face it; he's not discussing something that's relatively insignificant; if you're going to love Whoppers with cheese you are going to hate Big Macs.  If you are going to love the Habs you will have to hate the Leafs.  If you are going to love Toyotas you will have to hate Fords.    No problem.  But he's not talking about trivial things, he's not even talking about in-laws, he's talking about flesh and blood, he's talking about, “I carried you for nine months, my feet swelled to the size of bedroom slippers, and I was in heavy labour for a week and a half.” that's what Christ was talking about.

But what he isn't saying here is that we need to consciously hate all that is dear to us.  He is not telling us to hate our parent’s and our spouse and our children.  Let’s read it again Luke 14:26  “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

We tend to focus on what Jesus tells us to hate, but that isn’t what he is getting at.  Compared to how I like a really good hamburger I hate lobster.  But I don’t actually hate lobster, I kind of like lobster but it doesn’t even come close to how much I love hamburgers.  Did I tell you that back in February I was at Wood’s Harbour and had lobster for supper and breakfast?  And it was awesome, but if for any one of those meals they had of said:  You can have lobster or a really good hamburger, I would have had the hamburger. 

This statement then is not one of affection as much as it is one of loyalty, to whom do we owe our primary allegiance, to our family or to Christ?  To our friends or to Christ?  To ourselves or to Christ?  Not an easy question to answer is it?  Now to be clear I’m not talking about your loyalty to Cornerstone.  There are churches that almost take that approach “If you want to be a member of our church, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be a member.

And if I come across that way than please forgive me.  Last week I had mentioned having a commitment to our kids spiritual health, I wasn’t implying that our kids shouldn’t be involved in things outside of Cornerstone like Hockey, cheer, baseball and ballet, I was saying let’s make sure we are as committed to the spiritual, youth group, rallies and camps, as we are to the other things in their lives.  Not because it will benefit Cornerstone but because I truly believe that it will benefit your kids, for now and for eternity.  

Jesus was clear on this premise, which is why he told those who were following him, Matthew 6:24  “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.   And for that matter the true disciple cannot serve God and his job, or God and his family, or God and himself. If God is not in first place then God is in the wrong place.

Now don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean that we neglect our family or our friends.   And it doesn't mean that we develop a negative self-image, but it does mean that God has to take first place in our life, you ok?

You say “But Preacher my family is a priority, and my job is a priority and my friendships are a priority.”  But Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

I am a better person because I follow the teachings of Christ.  Denn in his natural state isn’t all that loveable, you might think that Denn like this isn’t all that loveable, but you should have seen me before I met Jesus. 

Because of Jesus I am a better person than I would be without him, a better spouse, a better parent and a better son.  That’s part of the process, as you draw closer to God, and become more Christ like then you become a better father, or mother, a better husband or wife, a better employee or employer, and a better friend.

In a marriage situation if both partners are aiming for a common goal as they get closer to the goal they draw closer together.  Christ will reward faithfulness, but in the same breath it is up to you to be faithful.

And so as a disciple we will need to be faithful with all that God has given us, and what is it that God has given us? That's simple, all that we have and all that we are.  That's the secret to understand tithing; we will never give cheerfully as long as we think we are giving God 10% of what is ours.  Instead we need to realize that he is allowing us to keep 90% of what is his.

Our family, our friends, our job our health, our money, our talents, everything we have has been given to us by God and all he asks of us is that we put him ahead of the things which he has given us.

Here’s a question to ponder, what would happen if you found out that Christ was coming to dinner some night next week?  Well you know what would happen. You would have the very best meal possible. 

You wouldn't take him out to the Golden Arches, would you?  Instead we'd break out the fine china and good silver, linen napkins instead of the usual paper towels.  Perhaps a sirloin tip roast with Yorkshire pudding, candied carrots, broccoli with cheese sauce, and for dessert flaming cherry jubilee.  That’s what you would probably do, I’d probably BBQ up some Denn Burgers.   You all right?  You did have breakfast didn’t you? 

I mean if we knew that Jesus was coming to supper we would really outdo ourselves, and I for one would never question the need to do that.  What I do question is this; if we would be so conscious of what we would serve Christ at one meal why are we so content with serving him leftovers the rest of the time?

Are we intent on giving Christ the very best of our money, our time and our talents, or are we content to offer him what little we have left over at the end of the week, and that of course is dependent on whether or not we need it.  And that doesn't sound like the words of Christ in Luke 14:33  So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Does that mean that there is no money, time or talents left for those we love?  By no means, we are taught in 1 Timothy 5:8  But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

But you say “Denn it's not easy to tithe, and it's not easy to give God precious time out of a day that is already too short.”  I know that, and you know that and God knows that.  But you wanna know something else as well?  He never once said that it was going to be easy.  You see Christianity was never intended to be a cake walk.

Too many of us have fallen prey to a false theology that which proclaims that Christianity smoothes all the humps out of life and will make us healthy, wealthy and wise.  “Praise God I’ve been saved and sanctified and since Jesus came into my life he has made things so much easier, I’ve gotten a better job, I’m never sick, my children are always polite and pleasant and my marriage is like heaven here on earth.”  The problem with that is when things start going wrong, and trust me sooner or later things will go wrong, and then we figure that we must have sinned for God to be punishing us. 

Well on that beautiful spring day, as the crowds pushed and shoved to be near Christ he turned around and said, “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.”  Well maybe that isn't exactly what he said but it was pretty close because in Luke 14:27  And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.  Discipleship is About Our Purpose

Carrying a Cross doesn’t sound like a day in the park, but it does sound like commitment, or dare I say “discipleship.”     If we are going to be the type of Christian that Christ wants us to be it will have to affect our entire life.  Christianity isn't just a ticket to heaven it is supposed to be a lifestyle.  It isn't just supposed to affect our behaviour on Sunday morning it is supposed to have a direct, dramatic impact on our entire life, Monday through Sunday, day in and day out, 24 hours a day; it is supposed to be a life changing experience.

Jesus knew where he was being led.  He was heading to the Cross, and it was for a purpose. And he knew that if he was going to fulfill that purpose that he would have to go to the cross, and he knew that it wouldn’t be easy that why we discover Jesus praying in Luke 22:42  “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”  ,

What was that purpose?  Jesus spelled it out in Luke 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”  But his purpose wasn’t just to make a difference in our eternity, which is why he told us in John 10:10  The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

But why do I sometimes get the feeling that the only difference it makes in some people’s lives is that it gives them someplace to go on Sunday mornings that is when we don’t have someplace better to go on Sunday morning.

Let's be serious, do you really think that Christ came to this earth, lived for thirty three years, suffered the indignities he went though and died on a cross so you could come to church Sunday morning, throw a five dollar bill in the box and then squeak into heaven when you die.  That level of commitment wasn't what he expected two thousand years ago when he called men and women to follow him and it's not what he expects today.

To be truthful it really bugs me when I know that someone professes to follow Christ, professes to love God, but have a commitment level of absolutely zero. It's kind of like the fellow who wrote the note to his girlfriend that said, “For you I’d cross deserts, swim oceans, I’d climb mountains and ford raging rivers, for you I’d fight starving animals.  PS. If it's raining on Saturday I won't be over.”

The question that each one of us needs to ask is this, “What does God expect of me?”  in actual fact it doesn't' matter whether you ever live up to what I expect of you, and it really isn't all that important whether or not you live up to the expectations of Cornerstone or the Wesleyan Church but it will matter for eternity how you measure up in God's eyes.  Your entire life needs to be lived asking the question “what does God want of me?” 

The number one resource material for answering that question is the book, his word, and here is a deep thought if you don't read it you will never know what's in it.  His word provides the direction that we need as his disciples, but only if we read it.

I was at Joe Millington’s wedding the other day and when Scott Rhyno from Kingswood University began the marriage ceremony he used the words that are used in so many different traditions in one form or another.  If you weren’t at Joe and Lauren’s wedding but you were at Will and Kates you would have heard the same thing, and if you missed the Royal Wedding but have attended a wedding that I have performed than you would have heard the same words, or close to them.  This holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence in Cana of Galilee, and the Apostle Paul commended as honorable among all men.  It is not therefore to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discretely and in the fear of God.

And it was that same concept that Jesus was teaching about discipleship, It is not therefore to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discretely and in the fear of God.  He didn’t actually use those words but he told folks to count the cost, Luke 14:28-30  “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?  Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.  They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

But more than anything Jesus wants you to understand that to be his disciple is a choice, and he wants it to be an informed choice.  And the fact that it is a choice suggests that there are alternatives.

He was telling those how heard him that day that they would have to make a choice, because to choose one thing means that we reject another. To choose to follow Jesus means that you are choosing to not follow someone else, even our own desires. 

In the book of Joshua, Joshua issued this challenge to the Israelites, Joshua 24:15  But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. . . . But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

And we are still being asked, Choose today whom you will serve.