Pastor's Pen

What is discipleship?  What does it mean to completely and totally follow Christ with all our hearts, minds and soul? 

As we baptize our new Christian believers today, we are following the words of Christ in the Great Commission, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:18-20; NIV)

The New Hiscox Guide for Baptist Churches states the following:  Baptism is the most significant single act by which a new Christian believer states his or her faith and desire to continue in Christian discipleship……..  All persons are called to repent of sin, to accept Christ as the means of salvation and to continue in this life in obedience to their Lord’s commandment.   Baptism is the visible means by which repentance is confessed, the acceptance of Christ is verified, and the intention to obedience is symbolized…  As an act of obedience, the reception of baptism brings joy, hope, and a profound sense of belonging to spiritual community with others who have experienced the same joy.  In baptism the believer feels that he or she has come out into the world and made a public commitment to Christ, thus giving triumph to his or her spirit.

As members of Shiloh Baptist Church we have all followed our Lord in baptism, symbolizing the death of our old life and being born again into Christ.  As we obey this commandment let us also remember that when asked which of the commandments was the greatest, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Mark 12:29-31; NIV)

Discipleship does not mean that we have all the answers.  It does mean we have learned to take our anxieties and uncertainties to God.  Discipleship begins with praise and encompasses study, service and prayer.  Someone once said disciples pray constantly, study regularly, serve eagerly and worship faithfully.  Disciples also continually seek the will of Christ in their lives and earnestly try to follow His commandments.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks,  slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink