Nurturing Baby BelieversSample

Day 1: Why We Can’t Stop at Converts

It always warms our hearts to see people follow the call of God in their lives. But why do many who indicate decisions for Christ, or recommit their lives to Christ, never become fully incorporated in the life and ministry of a local church?

Years ago, a highly publicized national evangelistic campaign excitedly reported that thousands of people had given their hearts to Christ during the yearlong effort. Follow-up research showed that less than five percent of those who professed faith in Christ had become part of a church body.

What’s going on? Why do so many people seem to slip through the evangelical cracks? I believe the problem lies in our failure to properly understand and implement the Great Commission.

If we look closely at Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20, we discover that Jesus never told us to make “converts.” Just before He ascended from earth, while giving His followers their last-minute instructions, Jesus clearly directed that they should “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19, emphasis added). Lest we dismiss this as simple theological hair-splitting, we need to know that the Greek word Jesus used for disciples is totally different from the Greek word for converts—a critical distinction.

A convert is essentially one who has turned from and turned to. It implies the same action as the military termabout face. However, a person can become a convert without ever responding to the follow-up command, forward march. A disciple, on the other hand, is one who responds to that second order by becoming a learner and a follower.

But why the distinction? What did Christ mean by His emphasis on making disciples? In the days ahead, let’s look at why Jesus commissioned His followers to make disciples. For now, ponder and pray in light of this fact: Jesus calls His followers to be His witnesses and to help those who respond to the gospel to take those first steps of faith.