Village Schools of the Bible

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
by Max Frazier, JR.
Part 2 of a 3 Part Study

In 1937 Dietrich Bonhoeffer first published his classic book titled, The Cost of Discipleship. At the time of its publication, Germany was going through some dramatic changes. Adolf Hitler had usurped power within the German Reichstag and had laid plans for his conquest of the world. Included in his plans were the elimination of all those people groups - including Jews, gypsies, the deformed and disabled that were inferior, at least according to his standards. Caught in between was the Church. Would it follow the new national leadership that was bringing Germany out of the economic chaos created by World War I, or would it continue to abide by the teachings of the Word of God? Pastor Bonhoeffer chose to become part of what came to be known as the Confessing Church, was accused of being part of a plot to assassinate Hitler, was imprisoned and eventually hanged just prior to the Allied liberation of Germany. I have read this book several times and have been stimulated and challenged by it on every occasion. I would recommend it to you.

What did Jesus say?

Basically, Bonhoeffer states that it is our desire to look for ease of following Jesus. But Jesus never promised us ease. This is what Jesus said, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? (Luke 9:23-25). Jesus identified two things that must occur if we are to follow Him. Both of them seem to run counter to twenty-first century thought.

First, Jesus said that we must deny ourselves. Notice: Jesus did not give this as an option. He did not say something like, It might be good if you would deny yourself or I think you should deny yourself. No, Jesus said denying ourselves was an imperative it was something we must do. But, what does it mean to deny yourself? The word deny has as one of its meanings, to refuse to recognize; disown; repudiate (Websters New World Dictionary of the American Language). Jesus is saying that I must refuse to recognize myself; that I must disown myself; that I must repudiate myself. Now, in this day of emphasis upon self-esteem, this appears to deflate our esteem.

But, I dont think Jesus is saying that I lay down on the floor and let everyone walk over me, or that I must think so lowly of myself that I feel like a grasshopper in the sights of a bird. Jesus is saying that I must reach that point where I look at myself and my own efforts of trying to achieve salvation and realize that I cannot do it. There is nothing I can do to appease the anger and judgment that emanate from a holy God. I must disown my efforts; I must repudiate those desires that encourage me to keep trying to please God.

Second, Jesus says we must take up our cross daily. Unfortunately, in twenty-first century Christianity, at least the type practiced in the United States, the cross has become a symbol that is worn on a golden chain around the neck, fastened to the bumper of a car, or adorn the steeples of our churches. Now I am not criticizing how we use the cross. But the cross worn around the neck of my wife was not the cross Jesus was talking about. If you and I were standing there with that first century crowd listening to Jesus, and He mentioned taking up a cross, we might shudder with fear. For the cross was an instrument of torture and death. Its beams were stained with the blood of the crucified. The air around it was filled with the curses and screams of those who were being executed. To take up ones cross meant death for the one carrying the cross.

I must not only deny myself, but I must be crucified. I must die to self. Until I am willing to do both Jesus does not give us the option of either denying ourselves or taking up our cross I cannot follow Jesus. I cannot be His disciple.

What might it cost me?

So, I decide to deny myself and to take up my cross daily and want to follow Jesus. Now, it becomes an easy way, right? Wrong! Luke 14:26 records these words of Jesus, If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters yes, even his own life he cannot be my disciple. This is one of those teachings of Jesus that we seldom consider. I thought Jesus told us to love one another, in fact, the world would know we are His because of our love. What did Jesus mean when He commanded us to hate our family members if we wanted to be His disciples? I believe Jesus is saying that we must have a greater priority love for Jesus than we have for our families. Jesus must come before my children, my parents, my wife, and even my own desires. Jesus is saying that when my love for my family is compared with my love for Him, it would appear that I hated my family as my love for Jesus would be that strong. In his book The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard writes, concerning this passage: The entire point of this passage is that as long as one thinks anything may really be more valuable than fellowship with Jesus in his kingdom, one cannot learn from him.

This truth was clearly illustrated to me during one of my pastorates. I was invited to a home where the youngest daughter was leaving for Zaire as a missionary. Her parents were getting older and her brothers and sisters were not close by. I was asked to come and pray for the safe arrival of the barrels that would carry Bettys possessions to Africa. I could sense that it was difficult for her parents to let her go. Yet I will never forget her Mothers words to me: Pastor, We gave Betty to the Lord when she was a little girl. How can we say no to what God has called her to? They had experienced the cost of discipleship.

Second, Luke relates the story of Jesus and a rich young leader that he records in Luke 18:18-23. There we read: A certain ruler asked him, Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother. All these I have kept since I was a boy, he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. What cost was this rich young leader facing? It was that of his personal finances and possessions. He did not want to part with what he had. Many of us struggle with giving up what we own. Jesus was not saying that possessions were wrong, but clinging to them tenaciously was. It was Corrie ten Boom who prayed that God would cause her to hold things loosely so that it would be less painful if God should take them away. Corrie ten Boom had experienced the cost of discipleship.

Finally, Jesus relates in Luke 9:16 these words, Still another said, I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family. Now, at first this seems like a simple request. Why should not one be allowed to have a farewell? But at least one commentator explained this verse as being of a young man who wanted to explain to his friends what he was doing so they would not be mad at him. He was concerned about his reputation among his friends. He was still seeking approval and wanting acceptance. But Jesus said that our focus should be upon Jesus and not upon the approval of others.

A few years ago I was in Poland and had the opportunity of visiting with a young man who had recently given his heart to the Lord. He was a skilled weight-lifter and had as a goal to represent Poland on its Olympic weight-lifting team. However, upon his coming to Christ, he was given an ultimatum by his high school weight-lifting coach to either give up his Christianity or his weight-lifting. As I visited with him, he said, Max, it was probably the most difficult decision I have ever made. But I could not turn my back upon Jesus. This young man knew the cost of discipleship.

Why should it cost us anything?

A better question would be: Why should it not cost us anything? After all, it cost Jesus Christ everything. It cost Him the riches of glory. The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians, Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped (Philippians 2:6). Jesus gave up all the glories of heaven. He became poor so that we might become rich. Jesus knew what it was to give up possessions that rightfully belonged to Him.

It cost Jesus His friends, for we read in Matthew 26:56 these words: But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. When Jesus needed them the most, His disciples turned and fled because of fear. Jesus faced his accusers alone. Jesus knew what it meant to have friends forsake you.

It cost Jesus a break in His relationship with His Father. One is drawn to those words of Jesus upon the cross: About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46). The cost of our salvation included a separation of Jesus from His Father because of our sins.

It cost Jesus His life. John relates it this way: When he had received the drink, Jesus said, It is finished. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30). Could God ever ask us to give up our life to follow Him? Ask a William Tyndale. Ask a John Hus. Ask a Jim Elliot or a Nate Saint. Ask a Martin Burnham.

Perhaps it is this strong teaching about the cost of discipleship that keeps us from proclaiming it with authority. The Church today is gaining converts. But is it making disciples? It is practicing evangelism. But is it focusing equal energies upon disciple-making? Yes, it is great to know I am on the way to heaven - evangelism. But I want to realize that abundant life Jesus came to give me now - discipleship.

Someone has written these prophetic words: A religion thatdoes nothing, gives nothing, costs nothing, sufferings nothingis worth nothing. Perhaps it is time I ask myself this question: Has my walk with Jesus Christ cost me anything? If the answer is no, then I need to ask myself why? Perhaps I have not denied myself. Or I have not taken up my cross daily, dying to my own wishes and desires, instead of praying that His will would be accomplished through me. Discipleship it is easy to talk about, but it is difficult to practice. God did not call us to the life of a convert, but to the life of a disciple.

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