Living the Discipled Life

Years ago, I wrote a review of a book entitled "Choose the Life" by Bill Hull. Here is a portion of my review:

Somehow, someway, we (the North American Evangelical) have enabled a weakened church body to accept a way of faith to the exclusion of biblical discipleship. Hull does a good service to us by exposing and then challenging believers to not settle for anything less than obedience to the teachings of Christ—all of them. For many the Gospel has been presented as a buffet option, which a person can pick and choose what he or she desires.

He illustrates this error perfectly when he says, “In the US, the church continues to shrink in size, lacks relevancy because of moral duplicity, and preaches a gospel that produces more consumers of religious goods and services than disciples.” Pg. 11

It is true. We are all about giving choices, about consuming religious goods and services than we are about reproducing the life of Christ in us. The current emphasis seems to be on right doctrine, right belief rather than right actions or behavior (i.e., making disciples). Hull addresses this very thing when he states

A pathology of the American church has been to disconnect belief from behavior. People think that if you say the right words and believe the right things, you’ll receive your get-out-of-hell-free card, and that’s it. In the meantime they manage their sin until heaven. Jesus calls us not to sin management but to transformation, where we experience one breakthrough after another and do away with sin in our lives. We are called to follow Jesus and be transformed into his image…We are expected to take on that same character and thus influence the people around us the same way Jesus influenced others. In short, the gospel connects belief and behavior.” Pg. 19

Hull really challenged me to consider the reality of conversion (regeneration) in the lives of so many who use “cheap grace” to gain their fire insurance, but continue to live like nothing has happened inside. Several quotes caught my attention:

“The problem we face is a faith that doesn’t transform. We have taught a nondiscipleship Christianity, and in Scripture this Christianity does not exist.…We have made the test for salvation doctrinal rather than behavioral. We have ritualized salvation with walking the aisle, praying to receive Christ, or signing a doctrinal statement. The trouble with our evangelism is that we have made it so easy to enter the Christian life that we miss the repentance, commitment, and regeneration that provide the power to live the Christian life.” Pg. 23-24

“A gospel that speaks only of forgiveness of sins and getting into heaven is a partial gospel. The complete gospel says to repent of your sin, take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus.” Pg. 24

“Faith is real only when there is obedience.” Pg. 24


That's enough for us to chew on today.

Making a difference in the market place of life with you,

Denny Bates