THE HEART OF THE MATTER

It has been several months since my last entry...oh I have written several but not posted them. They were pretty bitter sounding...angry even. There are times I feel we need a little "righteous indignation", but the problem is most of the time it just comes out as sounding/being self-righteous in nature. That is an easy trap to fall into, but not one that bears fruit, and fruit that will last and reproduce is the reason for the Disillusioned Disciple.

I have been substitute teaching a good bit lately...for income and without realizing, a sort of a research project into our nation, culture and spiritual temperature. It has given me an opportunity to look at hearts, to see how students, teachers, administration and staff react in a microcosm of society. What I have discovered, is that we are overwhelmed with religion, church and pseudo-spirituality...but there are few, if any real disciples of Jesus. The heart of the matter is, there is an urgent need to stop playing games and begin making disciples of Jesus...no matter what the cost!

The door of opportunity is slowly but consistently shutting. The question must be answered, "what can be done?" We must renounce marketing and growth programming and focus on the content of the gospel and the command of the commission of Jesus to His followers..."make disciples" of all groups of people! There is no program or name change that can make this happen, it is a matter of the heart!

There must be a heart that is about making disciples, it can't be a side light or an add on...it must be priority. Until this becomes our heart, nothing will change and the slide into chaos and anarchy will continue! It begins with "I must become a disciple." Intentional, focused...that is where I am right now; this is the direction for no longer being disillusioned. The system will only change when I begin the change in me!

The Disillusioned Disciple is a place for those with a kindred spirit. The Disillusioned Disciple is not for everyone, it is for people: who are at a place where good enough is not good enough; for people who have come to a place where striving for consistency is important; who know that moving forward is only possible if we are firmly grounded in our past; who believe that leadership is servanthood...nothing more...nothing less; is for those who really believe that following Jesus has the answers, and is willing to endure the struggle of that journey of faith; is tired of religion and churchianity! It you identify with one or more of these things, you are invited on this journey of faith for all of us disillusioned disciples!