Quantity or Quality?

     As I was reading Scripture today, I came across a passage that made me stop and reflect on Christ's ministry.  Luke 14: 25-27:  "Now great crowds accompanied Him, and He turned and said to them, 'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot my disciple.  Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.'"  In the verses that follow, Jesus goes on to describe how a builder always counts the cost before laying a foundation so he knows if he has enough materials to finish the job.  Likewise, a king does not go to war unless he is certain he is able to defeat the foe.  Counting the cost of discipleship is the message the Lord is giving in these verses.
     Looking further in my Study Bible, I read this footnote to verse 25:  "Christ's aim was not to gather appreciative crowds, but to make true disciples.  He never adapted His message to majority preferences, but always plainly declared the high cost of discipleship.  Here He made several bold demands that would discourage the half-hearted"  (MacArthur Study Bible, pg. 1506).  The footnote also referred to another footnote on Chapter 13:23 that carries much the same message.  In this chapter and verse, the Lord is asked if there will only be few that are saved.  Jesus replied (verse 24)
"Strive to enter through the narrow door.  For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."  According to the footnote on Chapter 13:23, Dr. MacArthur indicates that the question asked about how many will be saved may have been prompted by many factors.  He says, "The great multitudes that had once followed Christ were subsiding to a faithful few (John 6:66).  Great crowds still came to hear (Luke 14:25) but committed followers were increasingly scarce.  Moreover, Christ's messages often seemed designed to discourage the half-hearted.  And He Himself had stated that the way is so narrow that few find it (Matt. 7:14)" (MacArthur Study Bible, pg 1504).
     Reflecting on these two passages, there is clearly some things we can glean from what the Lord did.  Jesus, in no way, shunned crowds of people but as Dr. MacArthur so aptly said, our Savior was not as concerned about making everyone feel comfortable.  He did not fashion his message to tickle the ears of those who came to hear Him.  He realized that many followed Him for what He might do for them.  Others came to see the miracles He performed or out of curiosity.  Yet, Jesus was seeking those who were called by God to believe in Him.  He desired disciples who would put God first ahead of all other concerns including their own life.  He was not encouraging for those that were half hearted in their commitment.
     Thinking about this in terms of our culture today, we see some churches that do things more from a marketing position than from the example our Lord  gives in these passages.  Big programs, special music with lots of drawing power do bring in the crowds.  However, we need to stop and ask why people come to these events.  Do they come for entertainment?  Are they coming just for social interaction and nothing more?  Jesus clearly told those who followed Him that it would cost them to follow Him, and unfortunately, we know little in our country of the cost that others in the persecuted church have to pay to follow Him.  Therefore, we do not value our commitment in the same way.  The persecuted church cannot have big name speakers come to preach or hold huge rallies.  Yet, their numbers are growing more each day.  Why?  They have honed in on what is most important...they preach the Gospel which is able to save.
     These passages point out the importance of discipleship over attracting the masses.  Jesus wanted the committed to follow Him not the half hearted.  As believers in church bodies, how are we doing in terms of discipling those who are new to the faith?  After all, it is not the quantity of people we attract in our churches each week, but rather it is the quality of the preaching and teaching that prepares them to go out in the world to reach others.  May each one of us be faithful to use the gifts which God has given to us to help those around us grow in their faith, and may God receive all the glory as we follow in the Master's footsteps.  Selah!