Echoes From the Campfire

If he had learned one thing from life it was to keep his guns loaded, his canteen full, to eat when there was food and sleep when there was time.  A man never knew what would happen; it was best to be ready.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Last Stand at Papago Wells)

    “Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.”
              –2 Timothy 4:2 (HCSB)
————————–
As I mentioned, I will not be writing every day concerning How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World, but today’s topic is related to what is happening around us.  I guess you could call it a “parenthesis” or more commonly a “side-bar”.  I was reading a couple of articles.
    In one, I read that the most Christian continent is now Africa.  For several years it had been South America, but Africa has taken the lead.  Can we then be surprised at the fight for the souls that is taking place on that continent with Muslims killing Christians?  The article spoke of the fact that there is little different in the theology of Christianity since it is founded upon the person of Jesus Christ.  The second aspect of the article then disputes the false notion that Christianity is a product of white supremacy.
    The second article I read was a little more shocking coming out of Barna.  From the time I was very small I have heard that the purpose of the Church is to fulfill the Great Commission.  In this report Barna states that 51% of people in America have never heard of the Great Commission, 25% said they couldn’t recall the exact meaning of it, and 6% said they were not sure.  That means only 18% know what they should be doing in this age today.

         “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.'”
         –Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)

    After Jesus informs them that He had “all authority” He tell them what they are to do–the Great Commission.  First, they are to go out and make disciples of all nations.  This is further stated in Acts 1:8 and the premise is to go and do.  Up until now, the Church seems to have understood that message.  Notice that they were to “make disciples” not simply get a confession of faith.  There is much more to making disciples, and it takes time and effort.
    Second, they were told to baptize them and then given the mode.  The Church in America has not placed the emphasis upon baptism as it once did.  Baptism symbolized the death of the old self and the resurrection of the new.  Baptism is an open statement of faith.  In many countries it means death; in many families they actually hold a funeral service.
    Then the third aspect, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”  Wow!  That is where the discipleship comes in.  Jesus said if you love me, keep My commandments (John 14:15; 15:10).  Today many will cry “legalism” at that statement.  People want to be part of the world, not separated from it.  People want their luxuries and their sin without the Word of the Lord rebuking them.  
    If you want to survive in this world that is under the sway of the devil you must be a complete, dedicated, equipped disciple of Jesus.  You must continue in His Word, training, developing yourself as a disciple.  It takes time, it takes effort, it takes stamina (physical, mental, and spiritual), it takes practice, it take desire.