We have misidentified discipleship. We have distinguished being a Christian and being a disciple. We have made it two decisions instead of one. The decision to become a Christian is the same as the decision to become a disciple (follower of Jesus). Our tendency toward two distinct decisions has had disastrous consequences. People want to be cleansed (baptized so they can be Christians) but they do not have plans to fill the vacuum with the things of the Spirit (genuine discipleship). Thus we have a whole host of folks who appear to have begun but have not continued. I say “appear to have begun” because of the possibility that they never really began.
Jesus said that discipleship demands counting the cost. Discipleship means that Jesus is first–above all else. Jesus is before any personal concerns for possessions, power, prestige, prominence, parents, family.
A familiar song suggests how simple discipleship can be: I have decided to follow Jesus….