In a world where membership often equates to perks and privileges, what does it truly mean to be part of the church? Is it simply about attending services, or is there a deeper calling that challenges us to go beyond mere attendance?
The concept of “church” can evoke various images – from traditional buildings with steeples to modern structures, from worship services to profound spiritual experiences. But at its core, the church is more than brick and mortar or a weekly gathering. It’s a community of Jesus-followers committed to discipleship, fellowship, and mission. The challenge, then, is not just to go to church, but to be the church.
This shift from membership to discipleship is not about diminishing the importance of membership. Being a member signifies a commitment to a congregation and its work in the community. It’s a covenant we make with one another. However, in today’s society, the meaning of membership has often been diluted to resemble consumer relationships – like a Sam’s Club card that offers discounts and free shipping.
But Jesus calls us to something far more profound than consumerist membership. He calls us to be disciples.
In Luke 9:23-25, Jesus lays out the true cost of discipleship:
“If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves?”
Let’s break this down:
1. “If any wish to come after me…” – Jesus begins with an invitation, not a command. True discipleship is voluntary, an act of grace and choice. The question we must ask ourselves is: Do we really want to follow Jesus, wherever He may lead, even if it costs us everything?
2. “…let them deny themselves…” – Following Jesus is not a self-centered endeavor. It’s a move away from self-centeredness, self-interest, and personal control. In a world that constantly tells us to put ourselves first, Jesus calls us to put aside our ego and self-interests. This doesn’t mean hating ourselves, but rather putting our needs in proper perspective.
3. “…and take up their cross daily…” – In Jesus’ time, the cross was not a symbol of hope but of terror and death. To “take up our cross” means to live a life of sacrificial obedience. It’s not about minor inconveniences but about choosing a lifestyle of following Jesus, even when it’s difficult. It’s a daily surrender, not a one-time event.
4. “…and follow me.” – This is where it all comes together. Following Jesus is not just about believing in Him or agreeing with certain doctrines. It’s about living our daily lives with Jesus, patterning our lives after His, and trusting Him enough to go wherever He goes and love whoever He loves.
Jesus then presents us with a paradox: “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.” This flips our worldly values on their head. We’re taught to protect our lives at all costs, to build a life of comfort, success, and control. But Jesus tells us that if we try to hold onto this life with clenched fists, we’ll lose it. It’s when we open our hands, release control, and trust our lives to God that we find what really matters.
This paradox challenges our understanding of success and happiness. How many people have we known who’ve climbed the corporate ladder, gained wealth and status, but struggled to find true joy? What good is gaining the whole world if we lose our soul in the process?
Jesus offers us another way. It may look like losing by the world’s standards, but it leads to true life and peace. We find ourselves not through self-preservation and self-centeredness, but through self-giving. This was not just Jesus’ teaching; it was His entire way of living. He didn’t cling to power, chase comfort, or try to save His own life. Instead, He denied Himself, took up His cross, and traveled the path the Father laid before Him.
Now, Jesus invites us to travel this path as well. We’re not called to admire Him from a distance or simply appreciate His words. We’re called to follow Him – wherever He may lead. This might mean letting go of things we’ve stubbornly held onto because our culture tells us they’re markers of success. It might mean releasing the life we’ve carefully constructed to ensure our comfort and leisure.
The invitation to follow Jesus is not a one-time decision but a daily opportunity and choice. Each day, we have the chance to surrender, to die to self, and to rise to new life in Christ. The question before us is not just “Do we want to follow Jesus?” but “Do we want to follow Jesus today?” Will we decide to follow Him tomorrow when the path looks scary? Will we follow when it’s challenging, difficult, or unexpected?
By the world’s standards, this path of discipleship may look like a losing cause. But it’s not a path that leads to death – it leads through death to resurrection and eternal life. It’s a journey from surrender to freedom, from sacrifice to joy.
As we reflect on what it means to be disciples rather than mere members, let’s not be afraid to lose what we cannot keep in order to gain what we can never lose. Let’s choose daily to be the church, to be disciples of Jesus Christ. And may that choice carry us wherever God wills, transforming not just our lives, but the world around us.
