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If we realize the large emphasis in the Scriptures on evangelism, then we must equally recognize the emphasis on discipleship.  Matt 28.19 basically tells us that the end of evangelism results in the beginning of discipleship.  Of course this ideal situation - which should be the norm - is far from it.  Practically no one evangelizes, and even less disciple.  Yet discipleship ensures the future of Christianity.  If you have children, they are your future.  If you said you loved them, but instead of saving up money for their college education, you spent it on a really nice car, or a jacuzzi, did you really love them?  How can you love something, and not care about its future?

One of the most amazing things Jesus did was turn his disciples, notably the eleven - mostly peasants from Galilee - into men entirely sold out for what they believed.  How did Jesus do this?  By going out to do his job with them.  When he went to preach, he took them.  When he went to teach, he took them.  He often did odd things in front of them to teach them.  He corrected them every change he got.  Why?  Because he cared.  Most Christians are unwilling to inconvenience themselves, to spend their extra time, working with younger Christians.  It just doesn’t happen anymore today.  Often times the young Christian is left to figure things out for themselves.  It seems that every generation has to start from scratch making the same mistakes the generation before them did - so they can learn from them.  We should hope that those we teach and disciple become more committed, more learned, and more powerful Christians than we are.  Why?  Because we care about our future.
The only thing a young Christians needs to do in this situation is submit.  This seems to be a “word from the LORD” for me lately as I keep saying it over and over to many people I talk with.  Submission is a critical aspect that we’ve forgotten.  We all think that we submit to God, even if we aren’t.  As my father always told me, “Man is the great rationalizer”, they will convince themselves what they are doing is right.  And if you’ve gone out preaching the Gospel you know this is a true statement.  Just as 1 John says if you say you love God, but don’t love your brother who you can see, you are a liar.  The same is true for submission.  If you don’t submit to your brother who you can see, you are not submitting to God.

I sincerely hope that we Christians can change our track record on this subject.  There are many groups throughout history for which this was their chief method of survival, and has since been their fame.  Sparta, the Samurai, Renaissance artistry, lawyers, doctors, even theology - prestige has always been given based on who you studied under.  May we each study under Christ, and under an elder Christian.  May those learned elders rise up, and the younger submit.