I just read this article today regarding the nine challenges George Barna has for American Christianity,

Challenge Number 5 states the following:

A Costless Faith

Christianity has no cost in America. We've made it way too easy to be "born again"—perhaps much easier than Jesus intended. When do we get to the point at which we accept smaller numbers of intensely devoted people rather than feverishly investing in filling auditoriums and stadiums with massive numbers of the lukewarm "Christians" that Jesus promised to spew from his mouth (Rev. 3:16)?

--George Barna

It is interesting because I also read this scripture this morning:

Saint Luke Chapter 14

 28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

This scripture comes right after Jesus tells the crowd:

Saint Luke Chapter 14

26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Jesus speaks of real costs when it comes to following Him.

The Great Commission

I recall being a part of the Navigators while in the military. They taught me that the Great Commission given by our Lord in Mathew 28 was to go and make DISCIPLES.

Saint Mathew Chapter 28

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Our commission as the church is not to get everybody we know to pray a prayer or come forward during a moving alter call. Our commission as a church is to make disciples, that is strong and healthy followers of Jesus Christ, baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who have been taught to obey everything Christ has commanded.

Applying the Great Commission on Christian Websites

So, how does this commission affect our Christian websites and us as workers in Christian web master ministry?

Well, to be honest, I am not sure I fully know the answer.

I can share two initial ideas on how I believe they may apply, and would then like to hear from you.

First, build Christian web sites whose aim is discipleship.

This can be two fold:

1. Provide discipleship material on your site
   • Stages of material that begin with a clear presentation of the Gospel, and then lead the visitor further and further into Christian teaching. Start with the foundations and then build up from there.
   • Provide tools that help visitors in their walk and relationship with Jesus Christ. Examples may be daily scripture readings, recorded sermons, and Christian blogs about living the daily life with Christ.
2. Make it a goal to get site visitors off your website and into a Christian community where they may continue to be discipled.

Second, consider In-Reach to be as important as Out-Reach.

Healthy sheep beget other sheep.

I have a personal mission to help Christian organizations create, advance, and expound faith in Jesus. I realized that, for me, one primary way to get more people to come to Jesus Christ has been to serve those who already know Christ and help them to develop a strong healthy relationship with Him, so they will naturally go out and lead others to HIM.

I applied the “Healthy Sheep” principle when developing a website for all of my own denomination’s churches in the US and Canada. I made it a primary requirement that we have just as much material for our church members as we do for people who would like to know about our church.

Consider the “Healthy Sheep” principle when you design your next Christian website.

Yours in Christ,

Sean Buscay