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Creyentes y creyentes... Believers and believers...

11/3/2017

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Hay una diferencia.

En uno de sus estudios hace unos años, Jorge nos preguntó, “¿Nuestra iglesia sería una iglesia sana si estuviera llena de puros creyentes?" No a todos les cayó bien su respuesta: "No. Sería una iglesia raquítica."

Fue una pregunta capciosa, pero quedó claro el punto: no importa lo que creamos si no lo vivimos. Hablaba del tipo de creer que no nos acerca ni un milímetro al cumplimiento de la Gran Comisión (Mateo 28:19-20).

Jesús no nos dejó ejemplo sólo para ayudarnos a rectificar nuestra cabeza. Exige que le sigamos. “dejándonos ejemplo, para que sigáis sus pisadas;” (1Pe 2:21)

Cuando llamó a sus primeros discípulos, no buscaba un simple cambio de corazón o de actitud. Implicaba un poco de geografía también. Mira a Mateo, por ejemplo. Estaba ocupado en la cobranza de impuestos cuando le habló Jesús: ““Sígueme.” Y se levantó y le siguió.” (Mat. 9:9) Dejó de cobrar impuestos y empezó a ir a donde iba Jesús.

Los creyentes en Jesús que no son seguidores de Jesús son creyentes sin fruto. Creer sincera y fervientemente te ayuda a ti -tal vez- pero por sí solo, no le ayuda a nadie más.

“y a los discípulos se les llamó cristianos por primera vez en Antioquía.” (Hch 11:26) Eso quiere decir que antes que se les llamara cualquier otra cosa, los discípulos de Jesús eran conocidos como... discípulos.

Un discípulo es un seguidor. Un discípulo de Jesús es un seguidor extremadamente comprometido. Jesús va a donde no quisiéramos. Sin embargo, siempre hemos de confiar en nuestro líder... aun cuando duele... aun cuando parezca suicida. Pero eso es intrascendente para el discípulo, puesto que se considera muerto a sí mismo desde el inicio. "consideraos muertos al pecado, pero vivos para Dios en Cristo Jesús.” (Ro 6:11)

¿Ya ves? Siempre sabías que los pastores eran raros. Somos como el chico en la película, "El Sexto Sentido". Vemos gente muerta. Y se pone hasta más asqueroso. Queremos iglesias llenas de gente muerta... del tipo que apague el ego y desaparezca en Jesús.

Los verdaderos creyentes en Jesús le siguen a Jesús. Van al mundo con el evangelio. Llevan fruto porque viven lo que dicen creer. Otros ven las decisiones que hacen y los riesgos que toman.

¿Tú crees en Jesús? ¿Le sigues? ¿Llevas su mensaje al mundo?

“Si alguno me sirve, sígame; y donde yo estuviere, allí también estará mi servidor. Si alguno me sirviere, mi Padre le honrará.” (Jn 12:26)

There is a difference.

In one of his messages a few years ago, Jorge asked a question: "Would our church be a healthy church if it were filled with just believers?" I don't think everyone liked his answer: "No. It would be a weak church."

It was a tongue in cheek question, but the point was made: it doesn't make a difference what we believe if we don't live it. He was talking about the kind of believing that doesn't get us an inch closer to fulfilling the Great Commission (Mat 28:19-20).

Jesus didn't leave us an example just to help us get our head straight. He expects us to follow him. “…leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."  (1Pe  2:21)

When he called his first disciples, he wasn't looking for a mere change of heart or an attitude check. There was some geography involved, too. Look at Matthew, for example. He was busy collecting taxes when Jesus spoke to him: “Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.” (Mt 9:9) He stopped collecting taxes and started going where Jesus went.

Believers in Jesus who are not followers of Jesus are fruitless believers. Believing sincerely and fervently helps you -maybe- but by itself helps no one else.

"And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." (Acts 11:26) That means that before they were called anything else, Jesus' disciples were known as... disciples.

A disciple is a follower. A disciple of Jesus is an extremely committed follower. Jesus goes places where we would rather not go. But we must always trust our leader and keep following him… even when it hurts… even when it seems suicidal. But that is inconsequential to a disciple since he reckoned himself to be dead anyway at the outset. “…consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus."  (Ro 6:11)

So there. You knew pastors were weird. We are like the little boy in the movie, "The Sixth Sense". We see dead people. But it gets creepier. We wish our churches were full of dead people... the kind that turn off the ego and disappear in Jesus.

Real believers in Jesus follow Jesus. They go into the world with the Gospel. They bear fruit because they live what they say they believe. Others can see the risks that they have taken and the decisions that they have made.

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you follow him? Do you take his message to the world?

"If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."  (Jn 12:26)

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    Greg Smith

    Greg grew up in Menomonee Falls, WI. His ministry began in 1976: 5 years in Central America, 36 in Mexico. His passion is church planting and discipleship.
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    Greg enjoys being married to Carol Ahola-Smith. Both have been missionaries (Japan and Mexico); both watched their first spouses precede them in death.
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    Together, they have a heart for writing, mentoring and teaching.  They enjoy long walks and good coffee.

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