We have been Called - we have been Chosen - to live on the edge and ledge of the most exciting place on planet earth. We live in the dynamic community of soul-winners. We live on the corner of Transformation Way & Regeneration Street.
We are the people who handle the masses one person at a time. We deal with one soul at a time, in one seat at a time. Every seat in our house counts! Every seat on the pews of our church counts! You know why, because they represent what matters most to God - souls!
Scripture declares a powerful truth about Jesus and His concept of winning lost people - "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And He said unto them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" Matt. 4:18-19
In the whole of Old Testament worship and religious practice, it was of the utmost importance to the elders of Israel, as to what tribe you belonged to and to what Rabbi you ascribed your life's devotion and religious practice after.
But Jesus, the One from Nazareth had it said of Him, "And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as One that had authority, and not as the scribes." Mark 1:22
Jesus was different from any other type of Scribe or spiritual leader. He did not qualify people by their beliefs before He allowed them to belong to His journey.
You see - Jesus was the first to ever invite someone to belong before they believed!
This is the paradigm shift that must be made in America's church today if we are to do the work of the evangelist. The sinner - the lost man - can belong before he learns to believe.
Beth Sefer and Beth Talmud prepared the youth of Israel to believe - and based on your ability to believe, you were admitted and allowed to belong. But Jesus had a different mission, He was seeking out "people" - lost people! He came "to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10
Jesus invited people to follow Him. Just follow. Because when you follow - you hang out. You get to know them while you walk the journey with them. Jesus said, "Join My community and then, I will make you fishers of men."
Jesus invited people to hang out with him, to belong before they believed. Jesus taught us that in order for someone to truly believe and become a disciple, he must first belong. This exactly opposite of what churchanity teaches.
You see - Jesus is totally comfortable with the concept and power of process. He knew that if these men followed Him, they would get to know Him and His purpose and they would ultimately believe. Jesus was relaxed in the moment - because He knew that it took process to make a disciple. Discipleship can only take place where there is fellowship. You cannot microwave salvation.
Twitter went to the bank on what Christianity has forgotten - let them follow before they become believers. Today, many people hooked up to me on twitter to "follow" me -- I don't know them yet, but because they now follow I have the opportunity to fellowship with them. Go Twitter for getting it!
