Oh Merriam, Oh Webster!

In Mark 1:16-18, you’ll find one of the simplest — yet most life-changing — invitations ever spoken:

“Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” – Jesus

That’s it. No multi-step program. No graduate-level training in theology. No complicated application process. Just two actions: Follow Me and Fish for Men.

But here’s the strange thing — somewhere along the way, the American church has managed to take this clear, powerful command and ignore it or change it to an easier, less demanding definition. We’ve created programs, processes, and endless studies on “how” to be a disciple, but sometimes, we’ve lost sight of Jesus’ own definition.

Let’s check a secular dictionary that changes frequently and see what it says. The Merriam-Webster for a moment. The dictionary defines a disciple as:

“Someone who accepts and helps to spread the teachings of another.”

So here’s the question: How can someone say, “I’m a disciple of Jesus,” yet refuse or ignore His call to fish for people? That’s like saying, “I’m a fisherman,” but never picking up a rod or casting a net. If we only follow but never fish, we’re not living out the word's very definition.

In the early church, there was no confusion. If you were a disciple, you were both a learner and a messenger. There wasn’t a separation between “being a Christian” and “sharing the Gospel.” The two were inseparable. But today, we sometimes treat evangelism as an optional “advanced course” for a special few. We think we can be “just” followers without being fishers. That’s not what Jesus said.

Another truth that might hit closer to home is that everyone is a disciple of something… or someone. You may not realize it, but your daily conversations reveal your allegiance. Whose message do you most often share?

• A famous sports star?

• A country singer?

• A political figure?

• A favorite influencer?

If your friends can tell you’re a die-hard fan of a football team but have no idea you follow Jesus, that says something. If your voice is loud about your favorite politician but silent about your Savior, that’s revealing. Whatever you talk about most is what you’re a disciple of. Your lips will always give away the message you’ve accepted and chosen to spread.

Merriam & Webster nailed the definition of a disciple. Jesus said, "Follow Me & Fish for Men."

If you are a disciple, you FOLLOW and you FISH.

www.hearandobey.com