How Do I Do That?

  Welcome to my post on Radical.  We're on chapter five this week.

 In Matthew 28:19, we are commanded to make disciples of all nations.  This isn't a suggestion or a maybe or a "if you feel so led" please go and disciples.  In the preceding verse,  Jesus says that we are given all authority on heaven and earth.  He doesn't follow this up by saying please live a good life, take great vacations and say a prayer before you go to bed and at every meal.  Instead He gifts us with His supernatural power for the specific purpose of making disciples, baptizing them and then teaching them to obey what God has taught us.  So how on earth to we go about doing that?

 For me, this command can conjure up a lot of anxiety.  It also brings up a lot of toos and nots.  I'm too busy, I'm too tired, I'm too broken, my kids are too crazy, my house is too messy, my church has too many issues,  I'm not spiritual enough, I'm not ready for this, I'm not.... the list could go on.  But all of these concerns are beside the point.  Am I a follower of Christ?  If the answer is yes, nothing else matters.  No matter what my issues are, if I'm a Christian I am commanded to make disciples.

 So then who do I disciple?  Do I put an add on Craigslist?  "If you would like to learn about Jesus, please contact Grace?"  Do I randomly approach people and ask them if they'd like to know Jesus better?  Well, those are possibilities, but I'm not sure I would recommend them.  Rather, I think we are meant to begin with those we know.  So who do I know?  Who are my friends?  If all my friends are Christians, I am most likely a disinfected Christian rather than a discipler.  

 Until last year, I belonged in that category. Most of my social interaction took place within the community of believers, although I did have some friends outside the faith.  Then last fall happened, and overnight I lost most of my friends within my church.  I experienced social ostracism.  Although this has been a very hard thing, it has had the benefit of kicking me out into my community.  I have more time to listen, more willingness to befriend, and a great desire to spend time with others.  Because of this, I have finally made good friends among my neighbours and school mates.  Instead of fellowshipping only with other believers, we have been actively building friendships with those in our community.  They are the people we have over for dinner, go to movies with, and drink tea with.  Since last year, I think I can now call myself a discipler.

 For the most part, I believe that discipling happens informally.  Currently, the woman that I am discipling has no idea that this is happening.  She isn't even a follower of Christ.  Yet.  But I believe that she will be eventually.  It's happening much slower than I would like, but God is at work in her life and heart.  I didn't chose her, God did.  Lizzie(not her real name) has children in the same classes as my children.  We also walk the same way to and from school.  Our kids really like each other, but she drives me nuts.  The first year we met, I really didn't want to talk to her.  During that year, I never invited her in even though we stood in my yard chatting.  I was too busy, my house was too messy, and I was not interested in being her friend.

  Summer came, and God disciplined my selfish heart.  I realized how badly Lizzie needs Jesus, and how much her children need her to find Him.  Swallowing my selfishness, I repented and told God that if He brought her into my life again, I would invite her in.  Come fall and the start of school, Lizzie was back in my life.  I took a deep breath, prayed and invited her over.  The first time, she stayed for tea.  The next she stayed for dinner.  After our third visit, God told me to invite her to church.  Other than saying grace and mentioning that my children's art was made at Sunday school, I had not had a single spiritual conversation with her.  But I felt very strongly that I was to invite her to church.  It was Friday afternoon, I was engaged in conversation with another friend when I saw Lizzie.  Breaking off quickly, I darted over and asked "Random awkward question: Woud you like to go to church with me on Sunday?" Strangely she said yes.  Lizzie didn't come that Sunday, but she came the next.  I'd like to say that she's started following Christ, but she hasn't yet. However, she is seeking and we're continuing to come alongside her as she is ready, communicating God's great love for her with our actions and unconditional love and care.

 I'm coming to learn that discipleship is about obeying God's call and living openly.  We just celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend.  My husband's family has been journeying with us in reaching our community.  As a result, they opened their home and table to six Asian students they've been connecting with.  My family invited over two neighbour couples, both Russian(mostly).  One family also follows Christ, the other doesn't.  The unbelieving family attended the Oktoberfest parade with us.  While we were waiting for the parade to start, a woman came along handing out tracks.  To be honest, this woman makes me embarrassed to call myself a Christian.  I disagree with both her methods and her theology.  Even after we politely refused the tracks, saying that we already know Christ, she pressed them on us with warnings of hellfire.  *sigh*  My daughter read the track and then handed it over, saying that she already knows Jesus.  Her faith warms my heart.  The neighbour boy also read the track and then asked who is this Jesus Christ.  With his father's permission, I was able to briefly explain the Gospel.  While hiking with my menfolk through the woods, this same little boy commented that we believe in God and his parents don't.  We haven't done anything other than live our lives openly, inviting them in.  Steve and I have both had honest faith conversations with his parents and we prayerfully anticipate many more.

 I could keep writing because this is a subject I'm passionate about.  Discipling is hard.  There are many times when I don't want to engage others in conversation, when I don't want to open my home, when I am too tired and hurt to open my heart to new friends.  I don't feel capable of leading others to Christ.  But I ache for my beautiful friends.  I want them to experience the amazingness of a relationship with Christ.  My answer to everything is prayer and I want them to have that option too.  Since these are my friends and neighbours, it's up to me to buck up and obey Christ's command to make disciples.  I have to say that in all honesty, I wouldn't go back to being a disinfected believer, only interacting with other believers.   Although I feel inadequate most days, I also feel alive and purposeful.  May you discover the joys of sharing your life with whomever God brings into your path.  May we go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey God.  My next step is to invite someone over for dinner once a week.   What's yours?