I read Matthew 9, which includes the call of Matthew, the tax collector, the same day I received an email from a fellow in ministry. As usual, he reported on one of his speaking engagements, including the number of men who indicated they wanted to receive Christ. I’ve been in such a meeting with this man, who afterward in a newsletter reported on our event and said that eight men wanted to follow Jesus. Eight! I was one of the people in charge of the event, and I don’t know who those eight men were. No one does.

Jesus didn’t seem to operate that way.

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. (Matthew 9.9, ESV)

I’ve already written about the call of Matthew, especially the way it’s presented in The Chosen. Peter was aghast that Jesus called Matthew. “This is different!” he told Jesus. To which Jesus responded, “Get used to different.”

What struck me this time was that when Jesus invited Matthew to join him, he was entering into a relationship with him. He would be rubbing shoulders with a despised tax collector. Just as he was rubbing shoulders with ordinary fishermen.

Back to the public speaker in paragraph one. I’m well aware that traveling speakers (I am one sometimes) can’t have a personal relationship with everyone in their audience. But, surely when someone allegedly makes a profession of faith, we can do something to connect them with someone local who can have a relationship with them. Someone local who will also make sure they have a growing relationship with Jesus.

I don’t believe we can disciple people en masse any more than we can teach someone to play the piano by taking them to concerts.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15.12 – 15, ESV)