Christian or Disciple: whats the difference?

We have had the pleasure of spending each week in the Sermon on the Mount for the last few months. I'm sure we could spend a lot more time, but it was enjoyable to go through it all, bit by bit, piece by piece.

I'm left with a nagging question though. Why don't Christian adhere more closely to the kind of life described by Jesus in what may be the most important sermon ever given? 

Today's Christianity seems like a muddled mess of what Jesus intended it to be when he was here on the earth. Gandhi is famously quoted as saying, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Ouch. That hurts. That should hurt for all who associate themselves with the bride of Christ, his church.

So it leaves me wondering, why do some choose a sort of nominal Christianity, while others choose to become Christ followers or disciples? I suppose it is a matter of ease and comfort. It's not easy to take up your cross daily, or to live as salt & light, or to love your neighbor, much less your enemy.

Perhaps there are no words spoken by Jesus that haunt me more as someone who calls on the name of the Lord.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Matthew 7:21-23

Are you religious? A Christian? A Disciple? I pray that he may say to me one day: "I know you, come close to me faithful child." 

Living Jesus Sermon Series

Prayer & Fasting

We talk a lot about prayer in our Christian circles. How often, how to, when to, what way, with what authority...you get the point.

Just because we talk about it often doesn't mean we're good at it, or that we pray often. We'll save that discussion for another time.

But we don't talk much about fasting. Why? What are we so scared of? Is it because we don't do it, or because we don't want others to know about it?

In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about 3 things we shouldn't do just for show: give to the needy, prayer, and fasting. Two of these (giving to the needy and prayer are in the forefront of our post-modern minds) the third...let's not talk about it.

In our over indulgent, self reliant, push until you can't anymore, the fasting needs a quick re-entry into the regular Christian practice. I admit- I'm not very good at it (and even if I was I wouldn't tell you about it right!). But I know there are times I have trouble focusing on my relationship with God. I also know from past experience that fasting allows you specific, set aside time to focus on Him. You may be distracted by the gurgling in your stomach, but can you allow that to put you into stronger communication with Him?

This Sunday we will continue our series on the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus. It is quite possibly the most important teaching in all of Christianity. With in it, we find some of the most difficult teaching in all of Christianity. Prayer and fasting, certainly fall into that category.

More next week on this...after I do some more, study, prayer, fasting, and preaching on it (Sunday @ Grace Crossing).