Josh Hatcher's Blog
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Core Value # 2 - Authentic Disciples
Let's take a look at our Open Arms Core Values. What is Open Arms all about? How does it function? What makes us tick?
Core Value #2. Authentic Disciples –We believe the true measure of faith is
demonstrated by one's obedience and that we need to have healthy avenues
of accountability in our walk with Jesus.
There are a lot of people who call themselves Christians. There are a lot of people who believe in God. In fact, check our these statistics from the Barna Group:
Faith Groups
8% of US adults classify as evangelicals (2007) (see Evangelical category for more information)
35% of US adults classify as born again, but not evangelical. (2007)
Atheists and agnostics comprise 10% of adults nationwide. (2007)
7% of the US population identify with a faith other than Christianity (2007)
69% believe in God when described as the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today. (2007)
8% believe that God is the total realization of personal human potential. (2007)
But the boxes people check on a survey or a census does not necessarily accurately measure a relationship with Jesus.
An “Authentic Disciple” is someone who really follows Jesus. They not only talk the talk, but they walk the walk.
Sure, they aren’t perfect, they make mistakes…
but everyday, they get closer and closer to what God wants them to be.
They chose to obey the principles and commands that God laid out in His word.
They are not liars.
They are not cheats.
They are generous givers.
They are faithful and committed to their spouse.
They help poor people.
They don’t gossip.
They are forgiving.
They tell their friends and family about Jesus.
Sure, they’re not perfect. They make mistakes...
That’s why they surround themselves with people who can hold them accountable. People who can ask them, “So How’s it going man? Are you doing anything you shouldn’t be?”
They allow themselves to be questioned so that they can truly be shaped into who God wants them to be.
Scripture says that: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens the face of another.
That means that REAL followers of Jesus are not lone wolves… they run in packs.
I can remember two guys that lived on the floor of my dorm in college. Keep in mind that I went to Liberty University, a very conservative Christian College with a lot of rules, including mandatory dorm curfews, and a dress code. (We had to wear a tie to class.)
One young man in the dorm was raised in an evangelical home, went to a Christian school his whole life, and knew exactly what was required of him.
But he was cynical and rude. He took pleasure in picking on people. He also snorted Ritalin to get high, snuck booze into his room, and had underage drinking parties in his dorm room. He would not listen when people would confront him, but would get defensive and sometimes violent if people challenged his lifestyle. He didn’t go to church regularly. He was greedy with his money. (and he had a LOT of it.) He hated black people, and would sneak out at night to meet up with his girlfriend and have sex. Even though he did these things, he believed in God, and considered himself a Christian.
Another young man was a preacher’s kid. He struggled with authority, he hated the strict rules that Liberty placed on it’s students. He struggled with pornography and masturbation. But he was honest. He surrounded himself with guys, and confessed his sin. He asked for help and accountability to overcome his struggles. He read his Bible, he faithfully attended church, and tithed his meager income. He prayed daily. He struggled, but he was repentant, and open to people helping steer him.
It’s one thing to say you have faith, or that you trust God. It’s another to actually do what God says. The Faith of an Authentic Disciple is measured by his Obedience to God. And he’s willing to be held accountable to that.
Core Value #2. Authentic Disciples –We believe the true measure of faith is
demonstrated by one's obedience and that we need to have healthy avenues
of accountability in our walk with Jesus.
There are a lot of people who call themselves Christians. There are a lot of people who believe in God. In fact, check our these statistics from the Barna Group:
Faith Groups
8% of US adults classify as evangelicals (2007) (see Evangelical category for more information)
35% of US adults classify as born again, but not evangelical. (2007)
Atheists and agnostics comprise 10% of adults nationwide. (2007)
7% of the US population identify with a faith other than Christianity (2007)
69% believe in God when described as the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today. (2007)
8% believe that God is the total realization of personal human potential. (2007)
But the boxes people check on a survey or a census does not necessarily accurately measure a relationship with Jesus.
An “Authentic Disciple” is someone who really follows Jesus. They not only talk the talk, but they walk the walk.
Sure, they aren’t perfect, they make mistakes…
but everyday, they get closer and closer to what God wants them to be.
They chose to obey the principles and commands that God laid out in His word.
They are not liars.
They are not cheats.
They are generous givers.
They are faithful and committed to their spouse.
They help poor people.
They don’t gossip.
They are forgiving.
They tell their friends and family about Jesus.
Sure, they’re not perfect. They make mistakes...
That’s why they surround themselves with people who can hold them accountable. People who can ask them, “So How’s it going man? Are you doing anything you shouldn’t be?”
They allow themselves to be questioned so that they can truly be shaped into who God wants them to be.
Scripture says that: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens the face of another.
That means that REAL followers of Jesus are not lone wolves… they run in packs.
I can remember two guys that lived on the floor of my dorm in college. Keep in mind that I went to Liberty University, a very conservative Christian College with a lot of rules, including mandatory dorm curfews, and a dress code. (We had to wear a tie to class.)
One young man in the dorm was raised in an evangelical home, went to a Christian school his whole life, and knew exactly what was required of him.
But he was cynical and rude. He took pleasure in picking on people. He also snorted Ritalin to get high, snuck booze into his room, and had underage drinking parties in his dorm room. He would not listen when people would confront him, but would get defensive and sometimes violent if people challenged his lifestyle. He didn’t go to church regularly. He was greedy with his money. (and he had a LOT of it.) He hated black people, and would sneak out at night to meet up with his girlfriend and have sex. Even though he did these things, he believed in God, and considered himself a Christian.
Another young man was a preacher’s kid. He struggled with authority, he hated the strict rules that Liberty placed on it’s students. He struggled with pornography and masturbation. But he was honest. He surrounded himself with guys, and confessed his sin. He asked for help and accountability to overcome his struggles. He read his Bible, he faithfully attended church, and tithed his meager income. He prayed daily. He struggled, but he was repentant, and open to people helping steer him.
It’s one thing to say you have faith, or that you trust God. It’s another to actually do what God says. The Faith of an Authentic Disciple is measured by his Obedience to God. And he’s willing to be held accountable to that.
Labels: accountability, authenticity, discipleship, faith, obedience
