Discipleship's Superior

I'm a discipleship guy. I have been for at least four decades. If discipleship is being trained by Christ, I think discipleship is superior to almost any endeavor. Almost. The work of discipleship has its own superior: coming to know God, the Trainer.

I was trained in college by several professors, most of whom I didn't know any better on the day of my graduation than I did at orientation—no big deal. But to miss out on knowing God is to miss out on eternal life.

Lingo

We've all encountered it: CEO-speak, lawyer-talk, academic word salad, politician punch. Words were uttered, but nothing was said. Gauging success in communication rests with the hearer.

Christians have our lingo, too. We might not even have a good grasp of their meaning, but some words make us feel secure in some theological safe zone. To make new disciples of Jesus, we need to turn lingo into language. Our words and our actual lived lives can communicate a coherent message of faith working through love.

Baptized

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in (eis) the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit... — Matthew 28:19

And whoever welcomes one such child in (epi) my name welcomes me. — Matthew 18:5

When we are baptized, we are immersed, not just into water and fire, but into (Greek eis) God's name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Following baptism, we represent him in all that we say and do in (Greek epi) his name.

What we must not do is take (bear) God's name in vain, misuse his name.