Read John Schroeder's Post

...which begins with a critique of a message of mine on discipleship from a few weeks ago. That message began with a quote from Christian martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a hero of John's as well as of mine. Writes John:

Mark's sermon makes it [discipleship] sound so easy. He makes only passing reference to Bonhoeffer's own martyrdom - talk about "flushing our lives of all that distracts us from following Christ," and yet, that is precisely the level of committment discipleship to Christ demands of us.

While it wasn't my intent to cheapen the costliness of discipleship, I fear that the effect of my message to some extent, may have been to do that.

Disciples are called to daily crucifixion of their sinful selves, putting God's preferences over our own, dying to sin so that God can fill us with the power to truly live as human beings.

As Bonhoeffer pointed out in his classic, The Cost of Discipleship, God's grace, the undeserved gift of forgiveness and life through Jesus Christ, is free. But to receive it, we must empty ourselves, so to speak, of ourselves.

Read John's entire post.