Discipleship or Cruise Ship

One of my favorite authors is Pastor Mike Slaughter out of Ohio. In his church, he has established a vital ministry that combines both an emphasis on the person's spiritual condition as well as issues of social justice. He casts an inspiring vision for becoming disciples seeking to live in the way of Jesus and not view our spiritual life as a hobby. The following are some of his words from his own blog. Read on and share your comments and thoughts.

A few weeks ago I addressed the whole issue of the church setting a low bar of involvement that calls people to make a decision for Jesus rather than make a commitment to become a disciple of Jesus. I fear that we have given people a false and simplistic view of salvation. The churches that grew in the 1980’s and 90’s were based for the most part on a seeker-attraction model rather than a costly call to renounce the predominate culture (worldview) and claim the worldview of Jesus (I refer to this as the “Missional Church”). The result has been “born again” church attendees (vs. servant-participants), who have brought Jesus into their own worldview rather than being transformed into his. Many of our mega churches have created programming that mirrors that experienced on a cruise ship rather than Jesus’ relational-missional model of discipleship. Note the contrast:
The Cruise Ship is an experience of refined excellence. Truly entertaining. Service with a smile. Someone to wait on you at your beck and call, turn down the bed and leave a chocolate on your pillow. Five Star!
The Mission Outpost is messy. Many of the teams who have worked in the Gulf region or Cedar Rapids have slept on floors and forgotten the meaning of air conditioning. (Click on the picture to view a news report on one of Ginghamsburg’s Gulf teams.)
The Cruise Ship is centered in excess. How much food can you eat in a day before you hit the midnight buffet?
The Mission Outpost is stretched to the limits, lives by the “seat of its pants,” depending on Jesus to multiply the loaves and fish. Embodies a commitment to live simply so that others may simply live.
The Cruise Ship is literally a self-contained fortress. Programming, classes, restaurants, movies, clubs, gyms, gift shops. You never need to leave the confines of the ship.
The Mission Outpost is an externally focused network of partnerships for the sake of better meeting the needs of the communities it serves. Ginghamsburg is in partnerships with public schools, international relief organizations, businesses, theological seminaries, social organizations as well as county jails, to name just a few.
The Cruise Ship is a place of retreat.
The Mission Outpost is all about engagement at the greatest places of need.
Participation on the Cruise Ship is based on self-interest. I show up at the things I want to do.
Participation for the disciple in mission is based on others’ needs--a servant rather than a volunteer.
I desperately hope I am wrong, but I fear that many folk in the church have signed up for a cruise rather than a life mission.
God bless...