We're Looking for D2 Christians

(with some of what I learned at churchplantingbc's Day With Hugh Halter)

Not that we think that Christians necessarily are at different levels, or statuses. But it can’t be ignored that not all who call themselves “Christian” are in fact disciples of Jesus, trusting in Him for their salvation and living their lives for Him. Beyond that, it’s apparent that some Christians are content with calling Jesus their Lord and Savior, attending church and maybe Bible study, raising their kids to fear God, and having a positive affect on people they come into contact with.  We call people who fit into this category “followers of Jesus”.

Then there are those who are a little bit more hardcore about their Christian lives. It could be said they’re somewhat more ‘radical’. This is your typical missionary, pastor, worship leader, etc. Those for whom Christianity is more than a label, but a way of life. Of course, I recognized a long time ago that not all radical Christians are in fulltime Christian service, and not all in fulltime Christian service are radical Christians. But some people receive the call to become a disciple with more intentionality. We call people in this category “apprentices of Jesus”.

Apprentices are those who take the directives of Jesus, particularly those of ‘loving your neighbour as yourself’ and ‘go and make disciples’, and ‘go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation’ seriously. They learn to ‘obey everything that’ He has ‘commanded’, particularly the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.  They are those who have not only made the decision to follow Jesus, but who have made the second decision to live out His mission.

First Decision Christians, or rather those who remain ‘followers’ and never become ‘apprentices’ of Jesus, tend to be consumeristic and protectionistic.  They want what’s best for them and theirs – the safest neighbourhoods, the best schools, the biggest houses, the most secure jobs, the best looking friends and family, no conflict, no messiness, to enjoy life in Christ.  In contrast, Second Decision Christians, or those who decide to follow Jesus and also make a decision to become like Jesus, will work to put the priorities of the Kingdom ahead of their own comfort, advancement, security, or image.

We love D1, or First Decision Christians. We know that they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We serve them, pray with them, depend on them, love them, work for the Kingdom with them, learn from them, guide them, help them, and minister to them. But we are looking for D2, Second Decision Christians. We need them to work with us for the advancement of the Kingdom in Aldergrove. We need them to impact their friends, relatives, and neighbours. We need them to buckle in with us if Aldergrove is going to be transformed by the Gospel. We need them to work at their jobs with excellence, to befriend their neighbours and seek ways to serve their communities. We need them to open their homes to others, and to give of their time to Gospel Community that includes other D2 Christians, D1 Christians, pre-Christians, non-Christians, never-gonna-be-Christians, and those who think they are Christians but don’t follow or depend on Christ.

Discipleship involves community, mission, and worship. D2 Christians are continuously developing intentionally in all three of those areas. We invite you to develop in those areas with us, and to join with us, in developing a D2 Access Church.