The Sunday Mail
Tafadzwa Ramios
IN the words of Dr Jamal H Bryant, the pastor and the founder of the Empowerment Temple in Baltimore Maryland, “not everyone in church is in Christ”.
Modern Christianity has been defined in terms of gatherings rather than how people behave in their day to day lives.
As much as church gatherings are so profound in helping people to come together and fellowship, they do not make one a Christian or a disciple of Jesus.
Christianity is an issue of the heart that is expressed through an outward expression of behaviour which signifies the life and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Evidently, many are floating on the realms of fanatic hood because they just talk about Christ and churches but they do not desire to be like Jesus.
The incredible intellect and the founding father of a free India, Mahatma Ghandi said “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Likewise he added, “If Christians were like Christ, all of India would have believed.”
A lot of our brothers and sisters especially in this nation have been caught up in church issues and are forgetting the greatest call to ministry, this can be said about the preachers as well.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, “Go make disciples of all nations,” but if you look into the circles of the 21st century church, it is difficult to identify the true disciples of Jesus.
Disciples should be identified easily because in the words of Jesus they are the light of the world. Surprisingly churches are packed and new ones are opening day after day,then the question is what is it that all those people are doing if the world is failing to identify Christ in them?
21st century Christianity has been defined and limited to a place of worship and as a consequence, many are talking about Jesus but living like the devil.
Significantly, Jesus gave a lot of incredible teachings on the issue of following him which are found in the Bible.
Luke 9:23, And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
John 8:31-32, So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
These are powerful words of Jesus Christ that should not be ignored regardless of the state of our country’s economy.
By definition, a disciple is a follower. A Christian disciple is someone who has accepted Jesus as his or her Lord and saviour.
And they begin to follow and obey his teachings with the objective of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ.
Surprisingly, the word disciple is being eroded from today’s Christendom due to various reasons which may relate to the need for power and misunderstanding of scriptures. Many have decided to call themselves sons or daughters of preachers.
And as a consequence, this has left many in a pool of confusion as they do not understand what it means to be a Christian or disciple.
This is because a huge number of people in today’s churches do not know who they should follow between Jesus or the church leader as many are trying to be like their preachers because they misunderstood 1 Corinthians 11:1.
Biblically it has been condemned to say you belong to or follow a certain individual, rather you should be a follower of the saviour of the world — Jesus Christ, the Holy one of God (1 Corinthians 1:11-13).
Forewarned is forearmed, take heed and do not be part of the statistics but make sure your name is written in the book of life.
Your journey into discipleship can begin today as you give your heart to Jesus only and follow His word.
Your light will shine before men for the glory of the father in heaven.
Tafadzwa Ramios writes in his capacity as a Christian. Send feedback to [email protected]
