(Thoughts on the Introduction to Dallas Willard's book, The Great Omission. I encourage you to join me in reading the book and interacting with me as I blog through it. http://www.amazon.com/Great-Omission-Reclaiming-Essential-Discipleship/dp/0060882433)

On my way to and from work I pass a sign that reads "Butler is a Worshiping Community". I get annoyed every time I pass it. As I look around the community in which I live, honestly, I am hard-pressed to see the evidence that backs up the sign's claim. Does the problem lie in what is being worshiped or in the worshiper?

"There is an obvious Great Disparity between, on the one hand, the hope of eternal life expressed in Jesus...and on the other hand, the actual day-to-day behavior, inner life, and social presence of most of those who profess adherence to him." Dallas Williard, The Great Omission.

What is the problem? Put simply, we, Christians, "have not given ourselves" to Christ and Christianity "in a way that allows our lives to be taken over by it." When Jesus assembled his band of world-changers, how did he call them to himself? "Follow me." He called them to an apprenticeship, to discipleship, to a way of life that took on His teaching, His way of life.

Willard asks, "Who, among Christians today, is a disciple of Jesus, in any substantive sense of the word 'disciple'? A disciple is a learner, a student, an apprentice, a practitioner. In that context, disciples of Jesus are people who do not just profess certain views as their own but apply their growing understanding of life in the Kingdom to every aspect of their life on earth."

The Great Omission in the Church today is the assumption that we can be Christians forever and never become disciples. Therein lies the reason for the Great Disparity. The church is busy making converts, many times to systems of doctrine, rather than fulfilling the Great Commission and making disciples of Jesus. Jesus' aim was to establish earthly embassies where His ambassadors might live out Kingdom priorities wherever they lived and worked. He likened His followers, His disciples, to salt and light - both of which have a permeating effect in the things to which they are applied. Salt flavors and preserves; light dispels darkness.

The Church doesn't need more converts, better buildings or programs, more education, or more prestige, more churches. In fact, Jesus did not call His disciples to plant churches. While that may happen as a good and necessary result, that was not the point of His call. "All it needs to fulfill Christ's purposes on earth is the quality of life He makes real in the life of His disciples." This is the kind of life Jesus referred to when he said He came to give us life and life to the full. He came to give us a Kingdom life not simply in heaven but in the hear and now. This is the kind of life that should be contagious to those lacking it. Sadly, that is not the case. "...the greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as 'Christians' will become disciples - students, apprentices, practitioners - of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from Him how to live the life of the Kingdom in every corner of human existence."

That is true discipleship!