The first commandment of Jesus…

The first commandment of Jesus was not written on tablets of stone and handed down on a mountaintop. It was a simple invitation to fishermen engaged in their occupation. It is the same invitation he makes to each of us today. "Come, follow me…"

if we want to know what it means to "follow Jesus" we will have to read on, through the gospels, as layer upon layer, and example upon example is given. We will also have to unlearn and peel back the layers that have been added to our thinking by those who have invited us to a different kind of followership.

Jesus did not invite the first disciples:
1. To accept him as their personal savior.
2. To pray a prayer.
3. To confess their sins and repent of them.
4. To come to his church service.
5. To volunteer in the nursery.
6. To tithe.
7. To discover their spiritual gifts.
8. To attend his "101" class.
9. To sign a membership covenant.
10. To adhere to a set of doctrines.
11. To be baptized.
12. To fast.
13. To give up smoking, drinking, playing cards, dancing or watching TV or movies.
14. To quit their jobs.
15. To attend classes, Bible School or seminary.
16. To become ordained as pastors.

I was "discipled" as a member of a denomination as a child. There wasn’t a lot of talk about "following Jesus." There was a lot of talk about the kinds of things included in the "Not" list. I realized a couple of months ago that I have renounced my discipleship to church, or for that matter, church services.

This is not because I haven’t been a part of some really great church services. I’ve been a congregant, a worship leader and a preacher at some pretty well executed "services." It’s not because I don’t like to sing praise and worship songs, or hymns and anthems. It’s not because I don’t enjoy a good sermon, well-preached with passion. It’s because I’ve come to believe that my participation in church services may not be a crucial component in "following Jesus." It’s because I’ve come to believe that the time, energy, and resources that are expended in perpetuating and starting church services keeps people who might really enjoy following Jesus from doing so.

I want to make it clear that I don’t believe that house churches, simple churches, monastic communities, or even mega churches, are better or worse when compared to each other. I have simply come to the place where I believe that membership in a church is not what Jesus had in mind when he made that original invitation.