Why

The other day I wrote about "what" and "how." That post was inspired by something else, but I suppose it's only fitting it preceded today's post on "why."

It all came about because of this great article by Ben Sternke "Why Would Anyone Want To Be A Disciple of Jesus?" He notes Simon Sinek's book 'Start With Why' (though the TED talk is better and shorter). Sinek says where most organizations go wrong is they can tell you WHAT they do, and a few can tell you HOW they do it, but very few can tell you WHY they do what they do. What’s their ultimate purpose? Why do they get out of bed in the morning? What’s the point? His basic argument, then, is that why we do something is far more important and powerful than what we’re doing or how we’re doing it.

In regard to discipleship, Sternke says, a lot of churches do the same thing. They say you should be focusing on discipleship (WHAT), and some church even have a plan for it (HOW), but very few churches can really talk about WHY discipleship to Jesus is such a big deal.

This is important, because, as Sinek says, it's the "why" that motivates people! This is something I've been thinking about for awhile lately. If you run a non-profit, or use a lot of volunteers, or even if you're just a regular old leader in any type of venture... people are not motivated by a paycheck. They want and need to know why they're doing what they're doing!

I wish my boss would do this. Tell me WHY we do what we do! Why does this matter?! I wish my pastor would do this. Tell us WHY the good news of Jesus is good news! What does this mean for my life? In my opinion, THAT is when transformation begins to take place. THAT is what speaks to people's hearts. THAT is what inspires!

So, in the article, Sternke puts discipleship to the "why" test: Why focus on discipleship in the first place? Why be disciples of Jesus? Why make disciples of Jesus?

Of course, the obvious answer is, because Jesus said so! We've all heard the "Go, and make disciples..." and yet, somehow it loses steam (or something) somewhere along the line. And WHY is that? Sternke says this:
The problem is the way we often talk about discipleship makes it feel like it is arbitrary, that it’s less of a vital thing and more of an extra-curricular activity, an add-on to the “main thing,” which is typically “getting saved.”

If this is your good news…

God will forgive your sins and let you into heaven if you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you…

…then there is no reason at all to become a disciple of Jesus. You’re not trusting a person, you’re just assenting to some facts.

But the good news is so much more than forgiveness and heaven-when-you-die!

If this is your gospel…

You can participate NOW in the life of the Trinity, joining with him in what he’s doing right now on earth. Through Jesus Christ, life in God’s kingdom is available to you now. You can start immediately.

…then becoming a disciple makes perfect sense! 

Why? Because how else will I learn to live this new life? If I surrender to this gospel, I realize that I really don’t know how to live in God’s kingdom. I don’t know how to participate in the life of the Trinity. But Jesus does!

So, Sternke asserts...

• Discipleship to Jesus is the natural way to say 'yes' to the gospel of the kingdom.
• If we want to see a discipleship revolution take root in the North American church, we have to intentionally change the way we think and talk about the gospel.
• If we can truly begin to preach and respond to the gospel of the kingdom, the one Jesus and Paul and the whole New Testament preaches, it will naturally lead to discipleship, because the WHY will be obvious.

I say, Amen! Aren't you glad you asked why? :)