Categories
Blog

What Is a Disciple? “The Rule of Ten”

    Everyone who claims to be a Christian is not a disciple.  No.  There basically exist three groups.  The church is made up of believers, committed believers, and disciples.

A believer is one who has done the basics.  They will say they are a Christian.  They may even go to church more often than just Palm Sunday, Easter. and Christmas.  They serve on church committees and support outside church functions.  However, many may not attend.  Their church membership is  the place where they made their confession of faith, or the place where they got married; but the church and their faith is not vitally important to them.  I have had these folks in every church I served.  They are the ones who, if you called them any time, day or night, will come and help out as necessary.  They do anything –  except attend church regularly.  Sometimes when a hardship arises, they return until the emergency in their lives is over, or they decide that church and their faith is no longer providing anything for them.  There is always a good reason (excuse) not to attend.  In all of my pastorates, I have passed by new homes on the way to worship.  When I saw someone had moved in,  I would stop and invite them to church.  Many would tell me they were members of this or that other congregation, but every Sunday morning I would see them washing their car, building something at the house, or cutting the yard.  This group, the believers, usually make up around 90% of a church’s membership.

Then there are the committed believers.  They are committed to Christ, most of them, but I have known many who are more committed to the church than they are to Christ.  Those that are more committed to the church grew up in that church and/or have strong family ties to that church.  Their parents, grandparents, and extended family belong (or belonged) to that church.  This group will be in attendance regularly for worship.  If you have a Wednesday night, a prayer time, a Sunday night service –  they will be there.  The committed Christians make up most of the church leadership:  Sunday School teachers, Bible Study leaders, trustees, ushering captains, etc.  Depending on the size of the church, they may wear many hats.  They do love Jesus.  They love the church and want it to succeed.  The committed Christians make up only around 9% of a church’s membership.  The committed Christian has a desire to know more and be more.  Following the rules and regulations is important to them.  They want God to approve of them.  These are what most of us would call “good people”.

 

The disciple is the smallest segment of a church body.  They make up about 1% of a church’s membership.  I will go into great detail regarding the difference in a committed Christian and a disciple in future blogs, not here.  Let’s just say one can hear it in their prayers.  The committed believer will ask God to be with them and go with them.  The disciple will ask to go with God, to be used by God, to do God’s work where God leads.  The disciple does not ask, “What would Jesus do?” The disciple asks,  “Lord what are You doing?  How can you use me?  I want to be where you are Lord – work through me where You are doing what You are doing.”  You may be tempted to point out that only a preacher has time to do that.  You are wrong!  In fact, today, very few preacher are disciples.  Most are no more than committed Christians.  Many are committed to something, but it is not necessarily Christ.

 

This rule of 10 applies to most organizations – not just the church.  I have seen it play out in all kinds of social and community groups.  To keep it simple, let’s say a club has 100 members.  About 90% will be members only, and 45-55% of that group won’t even attend.  Committed members will comprise 10% of the total group.  They will make up most of the leadership of the club.  They will be on the work crews.  That club will be a priority in their life.  Of the committed group, there will be what we will call the disciple  –  the one who lives and breathes that club, because it is their life blood.  So, the club has 100 members.  If it is a positive and exciting organization, they may have 65 people in attendance, 10 will be the major leaders, and for one it will be their life.  This rule has also proven true in every church where I have been a pastor.

 

I heard a quote the other day that there are 1,000,000,000 Christians in the world.  If we take the rule of ten, that would mean that there would be 100,000,000 committed Christians in the world, and 10,000,000 disciples.  That sounds like a lot, but when you factor in that there are over 7,000,000,000 people in the world, the Christian population is actually shrinking…

 

During the recent national election, I heard that there were around 330,000,000 American citizens.  The last poll I read indicated that Christianity was ’way down, with only 65% claiming to be a Christian.  This would mean that the Christian population in the USA is 214,500,000.  Using the rule of ten means that there are 21,450,000 committed Christians and 2,145,000 disciples.  The reason there is such a discrepancy in the church in the USA is that it mirrors the church in Ephesus during John’s time.  It has lost its first love.  Jesus said, “Go and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19&20).  We have settled for tallying believers and church members…

 

Now, taking this rule of ten and using it for a small-membership church, that group (based on just how small the membership is) may not have a disciple in the church…. Again, you say, “What about the pastor or the priest or the preacher?”  Well, that church fellowship may be lucky if they are committed Christians.  I believe the biggest problem in the church as a whole is that we have promoted persons into HIGH church positions who are no more than religious professionals and at best committed believers.  Because of politics, we have elevated these instead of disciples.  Name the denomination or the non-denomination – all are guilty.

 

If you want to poo-poo this rule of ten, go ahead.  But did you know it is Biblical?  Think about this –  Jesus chose 12 disciples.  While He was hanging on the cross, one had betrayed Him, one had denied Him, and nine had fled into hiding.  Only one, John, was at the foot of the cross with Jesus’ mother.  I don’t require any further proof.

 

We have now defined what a disciple is not.  Next blog, I will begin to   share my thoughts on what a disciple is..

 

Until then,

 

The Dap

Be sure and pray the 91st Psalm every day in the first person.  If you want to feel even more empowered, pray the 23rd, 27th,, and 121st Psalms in the first person as well.

This is the second in the series “What is a Disciple.”  If you missed my first one just go to my web-site, www.goadap.com and click on blogs.  You will find it there.

 

27 replies on “What Is a Disciple? “The Rule of Ten””

I simply wanted to write down a note to express gratitude to you for those fantastic tips you are placing at this website. My considerable internet research has at the end been honored with pleasant concept to share with my visitors. I ‘d point out that we site visitors are unequivocally fortunate to be in a good site with many outstanding people with good things. I feel somewhat privileged to have seen the site and look forward to tons of more amazing times reading here. Thanks a lot again for everything.

I really wanted to write down a quick note so as to express gratitude to you for the fantastic items you are giving out on this website. My rather long internet search has now been paid with professional facts to write about with my companions. I would express that many of us visitors are very much lucky to be in a remarkable site with so many lovely professionals with insightful secrets. I feel really fortunate to have used your web page and look forward to really more cool minutes reading here. Thank you again for everything.

My spouse and i were so glad Ervin could finish off his research with the precious recommendations he obtained using your web site. It is now and again perplexing to just continually be giving for free techniques which other folks have been making money from. We really remember we now have the website owner to be grateful to for that. The most important illustrations you made, the easy site menu, the friendships you will assist to instill – it is most excellent, and it is facilitating our son in addition to the family believe that the content is satisfying, and that is exceptionally mandatory. Many thanks for the whole lot!

I definitely wanted to develop a small comment so as to say thanks to you for these wonderful secrets you are giving out at this site. My extensive internet lookup has at the end of the day been compensated with useful information to write about with my companions. I would state that that many of us readers are undoubtedly fortunate to live in a good site with very many wonderful professionals with interesting plans. I feel pretty blessed to have used your entire weblog and look forward to plenty of more brilliant times reading here. Thank you again for all the details.

I would like to convey my gratitude for your kindness in support of visitors who have the need for help on this important content. Your personal commitment to getting the solution all around became amazingly functional and has continuously permitted workers just like me to attain their dreams. Your new warm and helpful key points signifies a whole lot a person like me and extremely more to my colleagues. With thanks; from all of us.

I am only writing to let you understand of the amazing encounter my wife’s daughter gained reading the blog. She realized plenty of things, including what it’s like to possess an incredible giving heart to get other people very easily thoroughly grasp a number of complex matters. You truly surpassed her expectations. Thank you for displaying these necessary, dependable, revealing not to mention fun tips on your topic to Jane.

I simply desired to appreciate you once more. I do not know the things that I would have tried without the ways shared by you relating to my area. It seemed to be a very challenging condition in my opinion, however , coming across the well-written technique you managed that forced me to cry over joy. Now i am grateful for the advice and as well , hope you find out what a great job you’re undertaking instructing many others through the use of your web blog. I know that you haven’t got to know all of us.

Thank you for all your effort on this blog. My mother take interest in making time for investigations and it’s easy to see why. Most of us notice all concerning the powerful form you give very important tips on your web site and as well as attract response from people on the point and our own child is truly discovering so much. Take pleasure in the rest of the new year. You’re doing a terrific job.

I enjoy you because of your whole effort on this web page. My mom really loves doing investigation and it is easy to understand why. All of us hear all regarding the compelling manner you deliver precious solutions on the web site and increase contribution from some others about this issue then our favorite princess is in fact studying a whole lot. Have fun with the rest of the new year. You have been doing a stunning job.

I’m curious to find out what blog system you’re working with? I’m experiencing some small security issues with my latest site and I would like to find something more secure. Do you have any recommendations?|

Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!|

You’re so cool! I do not think I have read something like that before. So nice to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up. This web site is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a bit of originality!|

I am just writing to make you be aware of of the terrific discovery my cousin’s daughter developed going through your blog. She even learned lots of details, most notably what it is like to possess a great giving mindset to have the rest with ease comprehend a number of tortuous issues. You really did more than readers’ expected results. I appreciate you for offering these necessary, dependable, edifying and as well as fun tips on this topic to Tanya.

I enjoy you because of your entire work on this blog. My niece really likes carrying out investigation and it is easy to see why. Most people learn all relating to the lively form you present priceless tips by means of the web site and improve response from some other people on that article plus my princess has been becoming educated so much. Take pleasure in the rest of the year. You’re the one carrying out a stunning job.

Howdy I am so grateful I found your site, I really found you by error, while I was browsing on Aol for something else,
Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a marvelous post and a all round entertaining
blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also
added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much
more, Please do keep up the fantastic work.

I not to mention my pals were found to be viewing the nice pointers on your site and all of a sudden I had a horrible suspicion I never expressed respect to the site owner for those strategies. These guys were for that reason excited to study all of them and already have undoubtedly been having fun with those things. We appreciate you truly being so considerate and then for using this form of essential useful guides most people are really needing to be aware of. My very own sincere regret for not expressing gratitude to you earlier.

I would like to express some appreciation to you for bailing me out of this type of problem. After looking through the internet and obtaining ways which were not powerful, I believed my life was over. Being alive without the answers to the issues you’ve resolved by means of your good article is a crucial case, as well as ones which could have adversely affected my career if I hadn’t encountered the website. Your own training and kindness in controlling all the things was useful. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered such a subject like this. I am able to now relish my future. Thanks so much for this professional and amazing guide. I will not be reluctant to endorse your web page to any individual who would like support on this area.

Thank you so much for giving everyone such a splendid possiblity to check tips from this web site. It can be so amazing and as well , full of a good time for me personally and my office co-workers to search your web site a minimum of thrice weekly to learn the newest guidance you have got. Not to mention, I’m at all times impressed considering the stunning guidelines you give. Some 2 areas in this post are honestly the most impressive I’ve ever had.

Leave a Reply to Zenia Lekey Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *