Radical Discipleship
For those honestly concerned enough to admit the full impact of modern life on Christianity the haunting question of "what are you willing to do about it" continually presents itself. All the more so when our efforts to casually or even diligently seek and serve God seem to fall short. When personal and corporate prayer goes largely unanswered. When family and friends find living faith unreasonable. When Omnity's apparent silence and distance engenders doubts as to God's goodness or even existence. When loss and loneliness threaten to overcome. When pain and death demand answers to life's ultimate questions... How then shall we live? Scripture's answer is to become even more radically committed the gospel and cross of Christ. But what happens when the prescription appears more daunting than the disease?
For centuries, if not millennia, Christian people groups esteemed pursuing and pleasing God. Today there are a thousand reasons why modern society shuns the concept of even partial, much less full commitment to discipleship. Overflowing with technological and scientific breakthroughs, conveniences and amusements, most find the cost too high (and the earthly payoff too low). Understandably, those of us blessed enough to escape poverty and war and enjoy the opulence and the wealth of the developed world have become addicted to ease and pleasure and repelled by difficulty and pain.
The same mindset has incrementally and relentlessly infiltrated and inundated modern Christianity reducing our once radical and robust religion to a kind of safe and sane offshoot sometimes called Churchianity.
While most of today's believers frequently talk and sing a good story, tracking our time much less behavior reveals the sad fact that ninety percent or more are practical agnostics. Having embraced cultural Meism, the action and inaction of most reveal a mindset that diligently seeking God is less than worth genuine effort. Augmented by honest and disingenuous doubts and issues with God, reinforced by pop theology supporting a misunderstanding of unconditional love and acceptance, the original sin of entitlement has become all but ubiquitous. Sadly, doctrinal errors so abound within the belief system of many formerly Christian nations and institutions that the introduction of a new Biblical commentary is crucial for any hope of promoting even basic discipleship. All this in light of the Bible's inconceivable gracious offer of a Divine exchange rate of our all for God's, as has been noted "he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot loose."
Another stumbling block to believers personally and/or corporately seriously striving for complete obedience to God in preparation and hope of receiving far greater fullness and empowering of the Holy Spirit is a growing Biblical illiteracy regarding righteousness in general, triune righteousness and levels of righteousness. This doctrinal rift is so prevalent as to cause even the best of Churchianity to make the costly error of being "at peace in Zion" and preaching "peace peace when there is no peace."
By definition "Radical" discipleship implies a depth of wisdom and understanding, zeal and obedience transending the norm. Beyond repentance and salvation. Beyond intercession and study. Beyond activism and insight, there lies the undiscovered country of full sanctification and costly commitment to the cause and person of Christ.
So what components might comprise a more complete commitment? While many of Christendom's greats have weighed in on the subject, perhaps none has done so as skillfully and succinctly as Evan Roberts, recognized leader of the 1904 Welsh Revival. During a revival that would see 100,000 converts in a matter of months, Evan Robert codified the following simple yet insightful directives:
- You must confess any known sin to God and put any wrong done to others right.
- Second, you must put away any doubtful habit.
- Third, you must obey the Spirit promptly.
- Finally, you must confess your faith in Christ publicly.
- Confess any known sin to God and put any wrong done to others right: This first half of this directive appears easy enough. However on reflection, how many sins of omission and commission are so dear as to all but escape detection? This is particularly true when having little or no intention, much less success in giving them up. The second component of this command mirror's Christ's insistence on developing and safeguarding faithful and loving relationship's with each other, as seen in Jesus' insistence on forgiveness and restoring relationships. Yet it has been noted that churches would be overflowing if attendees were to apologize and make restitution to offended members having left the congregation.
- Put away any doubtful habit: Given mankind's intrinsic and infamous dualistic nature, collectively and as individuals we simultaneously embrace and are vexed by double-mindedness. Paul treaties on such a piteous state in Romans 7 makes the point beautifully. Without a personal and extensive kingdom transformation, we find ourselves like Peter in his confession of Christ "in the Spirit" one minute only to be in "the flesh" or worse in the next. Given modern society's insatiable pursuit of happiness and diversions, step two may prove to be the most problematic of the four.
- Obey the Spirit promptly: Many modern believers, particularly of the evangelical and/or charismatic persuasion, feel confident of their sensitivity to the leading of the Spirit. Citing weekly or sometimes daily devotions and worship, subjective spiritual feelings and impressions, tens if not hundreds of millions assure themselves and one another of God's acceptance and salvation. The question is to what degree is such confidence an act of faith or presumption? A question all the more relevant given societies free fall from grace into temptation and deception, sin and immorality of every kind. This while Churchianity, claiming and called to be the salt and light of the world, offers little or no tactical guidance or resistance through prayer or activism. When it comes to the clashes between the kingdoms of darkness and light, it’s one thing to fight and fail and quite another to fail to fight.
- Confess your faith in Christ publicly: Here again millions feel satisfied with mostly infrequent efforts to share their faith, even with little or nothing to show from it. Rather than allowing themselves to be troubled, travailing in prayer until Christ be formed in the lives and lifestyles of family and friends, neighbors and even enemies, most choose to presume that all is and will be well. More unfortunate still, there is a notable difference in casual and militant evangelism and discipleship as explained by the Protestant reformer Martin Luther: “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Wherever the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that one point.” Careful consideration should be given to the likelihood of Christ's judgment by such a principal when applied to Churchianity's underwhelming response to any number of spiritual and/or social ills, from poverty to abortion.
The above graphic represents a decent into holiness described more thoroughly in our article entitled "Levels of Righteousness." Suffice it to say that only by emptying oneself can one deeper levels of discipleship be developed. John the Baptist recognized the need to decrease that Christ might increase. A principal reinforced by Paul's illustrious resume and eloquently expressed to his beloved Corinthians:
- "For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment. I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church." 1 Cor. 4:14-17 NIV
Having illustrated the crucial role of the grace of diminishment, another helpful example is that of various levels of response to the gospel by individuals and society. It’s been noted “We are all telling ourselves a story.” The following graphic emphasizes that knowingly or not, all who have heard the story and claims of Christ are somewhere to found on the continuum from inappropriate two appropriate response:
Trailblazers
Below is a far from exhaustive list of shinning examples of Christian leaders who exemplify and encourage radical discipleship.
- John Wesley: A friend and contemporary of George Whitfield, the pair were instrumental in ushering in America’s 1st Great Awakening. Oxford educated and creator of it’s “Holy Club” he was famous for his unrelenting devotion to Christ and was the founder of the Methodist movement within the Anglican Church.
- Charles Finney: Arguably the most spiritually powerful and insightful man to walk the earth since the apostles. Played a key role in America’s 2nd Great Awakening. See extensive library collection of sermons and books.
- Smith Wigglesworth: A charismatic evangelist known for overwhelming miracles as well as incredible sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
- Søren Kierkegaard: Amazing "Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic, and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher. He wrote critical texts on organized religion, Christendom, morality, ethics, psychology and philosophy of religion" - Wikipedia
- Evan Roberts: Recognized leader of the 1904 Welsh Revival. During a revival that would see 100,000 converts in a matter of months. Famous for his succinct and insightful four step discipleship program.
- George Müller: Founder of orphanages in Bristol England caring for over 10,000 often praying in dinner at breakfast. Called "the apostle of faith" he recorded the public answers to hundreds of private prayers. Among many accomplishments include reading the Bible cover to cover 200 times, 100 of which were on his knees.
- Hudson Taylor: Founder of the Inland China Mission bringing in 800 missionaries and starting over 100 schools at an extremely dangerous time with tremendous cost to himself, his family and those within ICM.
- Praying Hyde: A missionary to India known for incredible feats and a lifestyle of serious and lengthy prayer. Click here for free short biography in pdf format.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Founder of Germany's "Confessing Church" during WW2, Nazi resistor and martyr. See "Cost of Discipleship" (a must read for all those contemplating much less committing to full discipleship).
- Howard Pittman: Most believable heavenly experience we've ever heard (personal interview).
- Jackie Pullinger: A British Protestant Christian charismatic missionary to Hong Kong and founder of the St Stephen's Society in Hong Kong who's dangerous and successful ministry to drug addicts is chronicled in "Chasing The Dragon." See Youtube video short "Go."
- Florence Nightingale: "Celebrated English social reformer and statistician, and the founder of modern nursing..." Famous quote: "Life is a hard fight, a struggle, a wrestling with the principal of evil, hand to hand, foot to foot. Every inch of the way is disputed. The night is given us to take breath, to pray, to drink deep at the fountain of power. The day, to use the strength which
- has been given us, to go forth to work with it till the evening."
- Blaise Pascal: French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Christian philosopher. He was a child prodigy..." - Wikipedia
- Brother Yun: Also known as the "Heavenly Man." A living martyr instrumental in developing the modern house church movement in communist China.
- Back to Jerusalem: Persecuted church militant movement to reach Chinese and Muslim from China to Jerusalem.
Sadly most modern believers would rather simply embrace the concept of “peace, peace” even “when there is no peace” than diligent discern the difference between the story we tell ourselves and the hard truth of Scripture. This long standing tradition among the people of God is warned against by such notables as Ezekiel and Jeremiah:
- “Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash…” Ezekiel 13:10 NIV
- “Everyone’s after the dishonest dollar, little people and big people alike. Prophets and priests and everyone in between twist words and doctor truth. My people are broken—shattered!—and they put on Band-Aids, Saying, ‘It’s not so bad. You’ll be just fine.’ But things are not ‘just fine’! Do you suppose they are embarrassed over this outrage? No, they have no shame. They don’t even know how to blush. There’s no hope for them. They’ve hit bottom and there’s no getting up. As far as I’m concerned, they’re finished. God has spoken.” Jeremiah 6:13-15 MSG
In the case of “good old church goin’ folk” the reason for the disconnect from both Scripture and reality is an often well meant yet foundational mistake regarding to whom, how and why the “exceedingly great and precious promises of God” belong. By and large believers today are taught to view Biblical warnings and conditions through the rose colored lens of presuposing they possess the promises of God. Unfortunately, as is too often the case, Scripture teaches the exact opposite. The promises of God are received and kept not by presumption but by heeding the Bible’s warnings and conditions.
The current permissive mindset is the result of Churchianity being caught in the dangerous riptide of the original sin of entitlement popularized by various forms of Me-ism. Billions have and continue to reason, “surely modern Christians enjoy favor and forgiveness through the love and mercy of God, not to mention the costly atonement of Christ.” While having a ring of truth, such a vast over simplification of Scripture omits the clear and concise instruction of at least half the Old and New Testaments, including such unpopular topics as conditional salvation and additions to faith, presumption and the fear of God to name just a few.
So how does the average church attendee so often reverse the emphasis of Scripture? Through Biblical illiteracy and the auspice of “cheep grace.” A graphical representation of such inversion might look like this:
Finney’s List
Charles Finney, from the list above, certainly ranks among the most spiritually powerful men to walk the earth since the 1st century. In one of his many revival lectures “Power From On High” he asserts that while God is more willing to bestow the Holy Spirit than we are to ask acceptably. He acknowledges that despite the great deal of intercession for this outpouring there remains a “great gulf” between asking and receiving. He asserts the explanation for this discrepancy is our grieving of the Holy Spirit in some or all following ways:
We are not willing, upon the whole, to have what we desire and ask.
God has expressly informed us that if we regard iniquity in our hearts He will not hear us. But the petitioner is often self indulgent. This is iniquity, and God will not hear him.
He is uncharitable.
Censorious.
Self-dependent.
Resists conviction of sin.
Refuses to confess to all the parties concerned.
Refuses to make restitution to injured parties.
He is prejudiced and uncandid.
He is resentful.
Has a revengeful spirit.
Has a worldly ambition.
He has committed himself on some point, and become dishonest, and neglects and rejects further light.
He is denominationally selfish.
Selfish for his own congregation.
He resists the teachings of the Holy Spirit.
He grieves the Holy Spirit by dissension.
He quenches the Spirit by persistence in justifying wrong.
He grieves Him by a want of watchfulness.
He resists Him by indulging evil tempers.
Also by dishonesties in business.
Also by indolence and impatience in waiting upon the Lord.
By many forms of selfishness.
By negligence in business, in study, in prayer.
By undertaking too much business, too much study, and too little prayer.
By a want of entire consecration.
Last and greatest, by unbelief. He prays for this enduement without expecting to receive it. “He that believeth not God, hath made Him a liar.” This, then, is the greatest sin of all. What an insult, what a blasphemy, to accuse God of lying!
Practical Steps
The follow are practical considerations for those intending to embrace the process of emptying themselves in hopes of being filled to a greater measure with the Holy Spirit.
- Repentance: Growth in humility and brokenness along the line of 2 Chr 7:14, God's perfect formula for repentance.
- Daily Denial of Self: Human attitudes and actions, from virtue to vice, are many faceted and take place on a variety of levels. Self sacrifice, to whatever degree, can be the result of an assortment of often simultaneous motivations. The trick is learning to "be careful how you hear" thus developing more accurate discernment and obedience to the call and example of Christ. Luke 9:23
- Taking Up Ones Cross: Akin to self denial, see same Scriptural reference, implicit in the word "cross" is a heightened degree of worldly loss and heaven gain. Luke 9:23
- Morality: After millennia of gains, in a single generation immorality has become the new norm, so ingrained that it takes extreme efforts to even recognize much less root out all it's advances. 1 Cor 6:9
- Not Grieving the Spirit: Ruthlessness incremental, the spirit of the Antichrist is permeating every aspect of secular society, deeply effecting and infecting Modern Christianity Eph 4:17-32
- Church Structure: Few today take the time to examine the Bible's purposes and guidelines for genuine Christian fellowship. Aside from the propriety of order, the Spirit through Paul levels a most solemn yet nearly universally overlooked warning that may partially explains the apparent silence and distance of God from Churchianity as evidenced in such serious problems as unanswered prayer, namely "But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored." 1 Cor 14:34-38
- Family Structure: Deviated social structures have lain waist to family order and life. This must be corrected for the presence and power, provision and protection of God to freely flow. 1 Tim 2:11-15
- Activism: Scripture warns it is not dead but living faith that saves. Not only are good deeds an prerequisite for salvation but they will be the basis of eternal judgment an/or heavenly rewards. A sobering thought for a generation, secular and religious, that has participated and/or allowed the abortion of over 1,000,000,000 (five times the earth's population in Christ's day). Mat 25:31-46
- Exemplary Faith: Paul explains that whatsoever is not of faith is sin, at the very lease a kind of missing the mark of God's very best. Radical discipleship is built upon laying aside compromise with fear, sorrow and anger (the antitheses of faith, hope and love) Rom 14:17-23
- Additions to Faith: All New Testament authors attest to the importance of essentials elements and additions to faith. Those who would excel know that the best and only eternal security, for oneself and others, is found in paying the price to develop unusual spiritual stamina and insight. 2 Ptr 2-10
- Extra Oil: Easily the most problematic passage in the New Testament, Christ's warning of the Ten Virgins is one terrible parable. One perhaps only answered by constant striving for total commitment. Mat 25:1-13
- Thankfulness: Entitlement is the original sin of heaven and earth. Thankfulness for everything is the costly prescription such the greatest plague ever to besiege mankind. 1 Thes 5:16-18
- Remove Righty Eye/Hand: Modern society is saturated with dazzling trillion dollar idols that not only speak but beckon with all the glory of Hollywood, Motown and Madison Ave. Add to the mix the unprecedented temptations of immodest clothing and immorality and we have a recipe for individual disaster on a global scale. Mat 5:29-30
- Forgiving: Forgiveness may involve many issues and intricacies, layers and levels. Extreme Christianity certainly requires a deepening maturity, even among those not currently experiencing direct persecution. Mat 6:14-15
- Be Perfect: Mat 6:38-48 Loving one's family and friends can prove challenging. How much more so enemies and/or persecutors? Yet such is not only required
- Obedience: The vital role and importance of obedience is reinforced throughout the whole of Scripture. As seen from this short list, the would be radical disciple must attain a far greater of self mastery. 1 Cor 9:19-27 Mat 7:19-23
- Productivity: Often overlooked as one of the conditions of salvation, productivity along with obedience and thankfulness comprise the kind of triune appropriate response God demands from all and all the more from those endeavoring to fully embrace the "high calling in Christ." John 15:1-6
- Diligence: A defining and crucial component of active and living faith, extreme discipleship might almost be spelled "diligence" in both degree of effort and attention to detail. Heb 11:6
- Watch and Pray: Strategic and watchful prayer, a mainstay of Scripture, is all the more required of prophetic Christians running point. This true in regards to seeking the power and presence of God, as well as preparing for persecution and tribulation. Mat 26:40-41 Luke 21:34-36
- Count it All Joy: Few if any Bible verses are as challenging and potentially rewarding as being able to find happiness in the midst of difficulties. This is the bane and boon of radical discipleship. James 1:2
- Endurance: Tens if not hundreds of millions of modern believers presume to have heaven in hand by simple mental assent. Scripture teaches a far more strenuous path to salvation, not the least of which is successfully competing and completing one's course. Mat 24:13
- Practice Hospitality: 1st century Christians were legendary for their brotherly love and hospitality. 21st century Christians less so. Understanding the importance of loving one's neighbor is essential not only to salvation, but to faith itself. Extreme discipleship must necessarily recover such lost traditions and the mindset that once made them commonplace. Rom 12:9-13