COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

NEEDED: FANATICAL DISCIPLES

People are blowing themselves up every day for Allah. Where are those who will blow themselves up for Jesus Christ?

It seems that the average American "Christian" is committed only to the edge of his/her comfort zone, and does not want anyone or anything to mess with his/her lifestyle.

Dietrich Bonhoffer wrote, "The call to Christ is a call to die."

Paul said, "I die daily."

Let’s see what Jesus said:

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

These verses on the call to discipleship, found in Luke 14, are sobering. Especially when you consider that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

The way I see it: Not a disciple? Not a Christian!

A Christian must be a disciple of Christ. A disciple must be willing to blow himself up daily.

We can criticize the "way" of Islam. But, we cannot criticize the commitment of their adherents.

They are walking their talk!