I've never really been fond of this saying "make disciples" because I feel like it leaves a lot to the imagination. I don't think God is about leaving a lot to the imagination. Another reason I've not liked this phrase is because I don't see it in the Bible that I read which happens to be the King James version. I've talked about Bible versions before, I've read the KJV since I was a child and that's the one I'm most comfortable with. I'm not saying that EVERYONE must read this version. When I first started hearing this "making disciples" phrase, I kept saying, "But that's not in the Bible!" People would tell me yes, it is in other translations. I'm trying to convey how adamantly I did not like this phrase. But now, I'll concede that this phrase could be appropriate and how it does NOT leave a lot to the imagination.
First of all, let me quote the verse I'm discussing. Matt. 28:19 from the KJV : "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Like I said before, I've read the King James version all my life. Recently I've been reading the amplified Bible, as it draws out the meanings of the words. It cuts down a lot on me running to the Concordance for word clarification. So, in reading the amplified Matthew 28:19 reads, "Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." When I saw this, I had to consider what it truly meant, and when I looked up the word "teach" in the Greek, I got more of a clarification.
The word "teach" in this instance in the KJ means "to disciple" and that word definition didn't really satisfy me, so I looked to the word it came from. That word means "one who follows one's teachings" and further "A disciple was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher."
Uh-oh, this is what I was worried about. I've been asking people this question- "Who are they making disciples of?" And this is my problem with the whole disciple thing. I find that many people make disciples of themselves. Meaning, I've got all these people following me. That is downright scary to me. None of us are perfect and there is a risk in having lots of people following you. I feel that many churches make disciples of their particular church, or a certain program or class. I think churches really like to make disciples of their own doctrine.In regards to having personal disciples, I had an incident when someone offered to loan me some teaching tapes, but it came with a warning that I would be accountable to them for the content of the tapes if I listened to them. I ask you, where is this in scripture? To me, this seems like I would become this certain persons or certain teachings disciple. I was dumbfounded. This all follows the technical line from Matt. 28, but is that God's heart? I give a resounding NO!
The other day I was listening to someone teach God's Word from John 8, and what happened during that teaching changed my life. It was like a spotlight shone down, and then alarms went off and the verse I've been waiting for regarding "making disciples" was made clear to me. I quote John 8:31-32 from the amplified Bible: " So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My Word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. God's intent was to make disciples of Jesus, but for some reason this verse jumped out at me. The only way to rightly make disciples is to steer them ONLY and ALWAYS to the Word of God.
What freedom that brings! If all you ever do is steer people to God's Word, then you are safe. How can you go wrong by guiding people to find their answers in God's Word? Of course, it must be approached in love and compassion, but God's Word is ALWAYS the answer. I've found that if you know God and His great love for you, and you move in love toward other people, it makes it easier to share God's Word with them. If people think you are beating them up with God's Word, they will not want to listen to you. There is a phrase in the Gospels that has profoundly impacted my life and it is this; When Jesus saw them, He was moved with compassion toward them. (my summary, not a quote) When I think about how Jesus walked, this phrase leaps to mind. He saw people and had compassion toward them. And after that, He preached the Word to them. So, in my opinion, reaching people with the Word needs to come with a true love and compassion for people.
So, to sum it up: We are indeed to be making disciples- of JESUS!! Not to any one church, doctrine, class, philosophy but to the Son of God. That means we must know this Son ourselves and be His disciple ourselves. And Jesus must be the only thing we point people towards.
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