The Cost of Discipleship

It seems that today churches are focused on being welcoming and trying to remove obstacles that keep people away. While there is nothing wrong with be a warm, loving, and inviting church, we cannot promote the idea that people can come to Jesus on their own terms. Christ Himself sets the standard.

Jesus was never looking for casual followers. He never needed part-time disciples. He never tried to lower the bar and make it easier for more people to be saved. Instead he demanded a very high price for anyone who desires to be His disciple.

And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Matthew 13:44

 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”  He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”  But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”  Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”  But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62