What's the Point of All This if You're Not Going to Let This Change You?

A few weeks ago, our students began a new study. We've been watching and discussing the movie, To Save a Life. In it, Jake Taylor watches his former friend take his own life in the hallway at school. You see, Jake is your stereotypical popular kid. Roger, the exact opposite. Roger decides that there is nothing else for him to do but take his own life. Jake's last-ditch effort can't stop Roger, and the sudden tragedy rock Jake's world. Something breaks loose inside and sends him questioning everything. Most of all, he can't shake the question, "Could I have saved Roger?" In a quest for answers, Jake finds himself at church. There, he quickly encounters the routine of others and poses the question to his peers, "What's the point of all this if you're not going to let this change you?"

I asked the same question tonight, and I ask it to you, "What's the point of all this if you're not going to let this change you?" For far too long, Bible-belt churches have preached conversion. The problem with that is that ultimately, especially for our students, we convince them to believe what we believe. They walk our isles and pray our prayers. When does their life change? Are we raising disciples or converts?

What about you? "What's the point of all this if you're not going to let this change you?" What is the point of all our routines unless we actually let these teachings we hear each week permiate our lives and change us. Jesus said to go into the world and make disciples, not converts. How would things be different if that was our goal?