3MN: If you think you are guiding your life, they have won.
Happy Thursday!
In the next 3 minutes:
- Everyone is a disciple.
- The rise and fall of rugged individualism.
- Three goals for every apprentice.
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Minute 1 - We are all disciples of someone or something.
We like to isolate discipleship (a better word is apprenticeship) to the Christian's faith, but the truth is, we are all followers.
The world has gotten really good at getting us to believe contemporary liturgies like "Follow your heart" and "You are the captain of your own ship," but how is that going so far?
We are all consumers of certain products, voters for certain candidates, watchers of certain sports, and eaters of certain foods. The choice is never our own, but rather the silent nudges of our "teachers."
But the number one rule in sales is: make it their idea.
If you think you are guiding your own life, then they have won.
Minute 2 - The rise and fall of rugged individualism.
The term rugged individualism holds a backlog of meaning and application. For our purposes, it's the idea that we chart our own destiny and think our own thoughts.
Nothing is further from the truth.
"No man is an island, Entire of itself; Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main." - Poet John Donne
"None of us come to what we believe on our own. For good or for ill, we believe what we believe because of our upbringing." - NYT Columnist Tish Harrison Warren
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. - Acts 2:42-47
Minute 3 - Three goals for every apprentice.
If we can come to the conclusion that we are all disciples (apprentices) of someone or something, then things get a lot easier.
If you're going to follow someone, why not choose to follow Jesus?
There are three goals for every apprentice of Jesus:
1) Be close to Jesus. "Come. Follow me."
2) Become more like Jesus. "Love one another as I have loved you."
3) Do as Jesus did. "Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do."
VERSE OF THE WEEK
As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. - John 20:21
See you next Thursday,
Payton Minzenmayer
P.S. - A small Illinois town filled with the world's largest things.