Reformed thoughts at the end of the year.

---

 

Discipleship through evangelism or

evangelism through discipleship.

 

Because of the sovereign predestination and election, the final destiny and number of the believers chosen in Jesus has been already determined as the sole work of God.

 

Regardless of personal preference or way of thinking, the number of the saved remains inalterably set from before the foundation of the world. It cannot be any other way because God is not an improviser. In fact, God does not only know the end from the beginning but has set every step of the way.

 

Therefore, we can say along with great ones of the past that “God is the greatest Evangelist of all times who is Evangelizing the world through his Word so that without his direct intervention it is not only difficult, hard, impossible but inconceivable to do evangelism.” Jesus, God the son, came into the world to make disciples. “Jesus chose twelve to be with him.”

 

The hard work is discipleship and not Evangelism. Billy Graham himself acknowledged not to have converted a single soul but it was God who did it through his word. Billy Graham chose to make disciples massively.

Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of men.”

Jesus also said, “Go and make disciples.”

 

Many believe that the great commission is an enterprise, that is Evangelism oriented. While others believe that the Great Commandment is relationship oriented which is to love God and to love people.

 

I believe that the great commission, as great as it might sound, is not greater than the great commandment. In fact, I believe that it is hypocrisy to try to do great commission before you do great commandment.

 

“Love the Pig because it is a pig and not because of the bacon.” “Love the sinner because he is a sinner and not because you want him to be a saint.”

Jesus loved us when we were yet sinners …and we love him because “he first loved us.”

 

You might say “That is a false dichotomy.” It might be, but false or not … let us see if you can be convinced of your love for the pig apart from the bacon.

If you can do that, you can convince anybody of anything.

 

I was told that a farmer enjoyed the love of his animals so that on his birthday the chicken had the great idea of serving him breakfast in bed.

She asked the goat to provide the milk and the cow to provide the butter and the chicken said that she would provide plenty of eggs.

The pig who was silent up to that moment spoke saying: “That is a nice gesture on your part … but from my part that would be a total commitment.”

 

Partial or total commitment, false dichotomy or real dichotomy, it is for you to decide your level of commitment to your God. Is your farmer a good farmer and worth your everything or only your Sunday nice gesture.?

 

By the way, I do not ask anyone anything that I am not willing to do myself.

Even though these days I fight for balance because of malnutrition and weakness but I am strengthened by verses such as the “verse of the day” on my smartphone.

“My flesh and my heart failed; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26.

 

Jesus gave himself up for you and stood up for you on the cross of Calvary.

It is your turn to stand up for Jesus now.

 

Gerry Gutierrez.

 

Ben is visiting from Los Angeles. It was fun.