"The Cost of Discipleship"

"The whole Word of the Scriptures summons us to follow Jesus" - so said the 20th century Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his seminal book "The Cost of Discipleship."  In this book, Bonhoeffer lays out the biblical mandate that all professing Christians are to place themselves continually under, in regards to Christ's discipleship, so as to truly be called one of His disciples.  Bonhoeffer first points out the many instances in Scripture where Jesus explicitly calls people to literally follow Him, and not simply to follow His example.  As Bonhoeffer wrote, "Discipleship means an adherence to Christ, and, because Christ is the object of that adherence, it must take the form of discipleship."  Bonhoeffer is then able to elicit a model of how Christians are to take heed of the seriousness of that call, and to answer it wholeheartedly and accordingly in a manner worthy of a Master/Disciple relationship.

Undoubtedly, the most important aspect to take away from "The Cost of Discipleship" is the fact that to follow Jesus Christ is not merely to obey His commandments, but by obeying Him, the disciple will actually partake of His nature and begin to resemble His Master in all aspects and spiritual countenance.  As Bonhoeffer declared, "Christ's followers always have His image before their eyes, and in its light all other images are screened from their sight.  It penetrates into the depths of their being, fills them, and makes them more and more like their Master... That image has the power to transform our lives, and if we surrender ourselves utterly to Him, we cannot help bearing His image ourselves."  This scriptural truth is stated clearly in Romans 8:29, "For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son."

For those who wish to attain and read through material that will make more real and genuine an individual's relationship to Jesus as a true disciple, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book "The Cost of Discipleship" will greatly assist in just such an important and biblical endeavor in the Christian's life.

"If we answer the call to discipleship, where will it lead us?  What decisions and partings will it demand?  To answer this question we shall have to go to Him, for only He knows the answer.  Only Jesus Christ, who bids us follow Him, knows the journey's end.  But we do know that it will be a road of boundless mercy.  Discipleship means joy."

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, Introduction, pg 38

"The Radical Cross"

The book "The Radical Cross" is a compilation of excerpts from many books written by the prolific 20th century author A.W. Tozer.  The excerpts all deal specifically with the nature of the Cross of Jesus Christ and how we as followers of Christ need to bear up and carry our own crosses in order to truly identify ourselves as His disciples.

Tozer takes a very in depth look at Jesus' Cross and presents a portrait that is odious and even other-wordly, in comparison to how the Cross is often portrayed in contemporary religion.  The reason Tozer's description of the Cross is so vastly different than what most Christians today are used to, is because he recognizes it for what it has always been, an instrument that was caused by the evil of our sin and which brought about the abolition of sin through the excruciating suffering of the holy Son of God.  Tozer put it in these words, "Though the cross of Christ has been beautified by the poet and the artist, the avid seeker after God is likely to find it the same savage implement of destruction it was in the days of old.  The way of the cross is still the pain-wracked path to spiritual power and fruitfulness."

As soon as you see the true nature of the Cross that Jesus bore for us, Tozer then convicts the reader in strong and firm words the importance of each Christian to take up their own painful and self-denying cross as their Master did.  As Tozer noted, "In every Christian's heart there is a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross; if he refuses the cross he remains on the throne.  Perhaps this is at the bottom of the backsliding and worldliness among gospel believers today.  We want to be saved but we insist that Christ do all the dying.  No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying.  We remain king within the little kingdom of Man-soul and wear our tinsel crown with all the pride of a Caesar; but we doom ourselves to shadows and weakness and spiritual sterility."

For those who wish to attain a more deep, intense, and realistic representation of the Cross of Jesus Christ, as well as to learn how to properly bear your own, the "Radical Cross" by A.W. Tozer will provide the answers to those two categories of utmost spiritual significance.

"The cross not only brings Christ's life to an end, it ends also the first life, the old life, of every one of His true followers.  It destroys the old pattern, the Adam pattern, in the believer's life, and brings it to an end.  Then the God who raised Christ from the dead raises the believer and a new life begins.  This, and nothing less, is true Christianity."

- A.W. Tozer, The Radical Cross, Section 1, Chapter 1

"The Incomparable Christ"

It is very rare to read a book in which literally every sentence of every page is devoted to the examination, promotion, and the exaltation of the exquisite personality and unrivaled character traits of Jesus Christ.  That was precisely the goal of J. Oswald Sanders in his book "The Incomparable Christ."  Published in 1952, Sanders book has since been used as an endearing devotional to increase one's view of the whole and complete Man that Jesus embodied as He lived among men 2,000 years ago.  Sanders sifts through nearly every moment of Jesus' life, from His birth, to His teaching ministry, to the cross, to the resurrection and His ascension.  Along the way Sanders points out the much to be heeded and sought after spiritual disciplines and divine idiosyncrasies that made Jesus the kind of Man He was; the only perfect Man to walk the face of the earth.

Concerning the perfection of Jesus' integrity, Sanders wrote, "The character of our Lord was wonderfully balanced, with neither excess nor deficiency... It stands out faultlessly perfect, so symmetrical in all its proportions that its strength and greatness are not immediately obvious to the casual observer.  It has been said that in Jesus' character no strong points were obvious becomes there were no weak ones."

For me personally, the book "The Incomparable Christ" has immediately become one of my all-time favorite books.  It is one which I believe every Christian ought to read, as this book will not only strengthen your faith in Jesus, but it will also deepen your attraction to Him as the only perfect Man to have existed amidst the fallen race of humanity.  And as such a Man, Jesus is the archetype of whom all men ought to uphold as the quintessential model of what God initially created man to be.

"Jesus is the peerless teacher of the ages.  True, He lived in an age when many outstanding teachers had exercised far-spreading influence, but in solitary splendor He towers above them all."

- J. Oswald Sanders, The Incomparable Christ, Chapter 16, pg 164

"A User's Guide To Bible Translations"

Subtitle - Making The Most of Different Versions

This book, written by Baptist minister David Dewey, is a manual to help people understand the history of each English translation of the Bible and to know the purpose and layout of each version.  Dewey traces the history from the first English translations of the Bible by John Wycliffe and William Tyndale in the 14th and 16th centuries, all the way up to current translations as the New International Version, the New Century Version, and the English Standard Version.  Dewey also points out the different styles of translation, such as form-driven versions (word-for-word translations, i.e., the NASB), meaning-driven versions (thought-for-thought translations, i.e., the NLT), and paraphrase versions (freedom-of-language translations, i.e., the J.B. Phillips translation and The Message).

Dewey's purpose is not to state which versions are better than others, because that will be determined by which type of Bible translation each individual Christian would be better served by.  New Christians might be better served by thought-for-thought translations because of their use of contemporary language in making hard-to-understand verses more clear.  Whereas mature Christians may be better served by word-for-word translations which, although more difficult to read, are closer to the original Hebrew and Greek wording.  Another group of Christians that would benefit from Dewey's book are those who have been reading a particular version for most of their lives and simply want to switch to an alternative translation for the purpose of refreshing their Bible studies or to gain a wider grasp of the Scriptures through different English renderings.

"All the arguments in the world about the merits and demerits of this translation or that version matter not one bit unless we are regularly feeding, alone and with others, on the precious Word of Life - and then applying it to our lives."

- David Dewey, A User's Guide To Bible Translations, Chapter 12, pg 204

"The Necessity of Prayer"

"Faith that ceases to pray, ceases to live", so said E.M. Bounds - one of the greatest authorities on prayer in church history.  Although he wrote his books mostly during the late 19th century, his works still resonate in the hearts of modern-day Christians.  For example, the current pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle, Jim Cymbala, has these rousing words to say concerning Bounds' books, "Reading E.M. Bounds is like camping near a blazing fire on a cold winter night - you either stand near to enjoy its warmth or move away because the flame seems too much to bear."  These words rang true for me after reading "The Necessity of Prayer."  In this book by E.M. Bounds (he wrote a total of eight books on prayer) his desire to be in continual, burning and impassioned communion with God is clearly felt in his words when describing what prayer is and why it is essential for spiritual survival.  Concerning the need for blazing fervent prayer, Bounds wrote, "Prayer ascends by fire.  Flame gives prayer access as well as wings, acceptance as well as energy.  There is no incense without fire; no prayer without flame."

For Christians who feel their prayer-life with God may not have their heart in it and has grown cold and lifeless, the book "The Necessity of Prayer" by E.M. Bounds will exalt the importance of prayer and rekindle a strong fire in the hearts of its readers to engage God daily with prayer in a deeply profound and life-giving way.

"Prayer must be habitual, but much more than a habit... It is the expression of a relation to God, a yearning for divine communion.  It is the outward and upward flow of the inward life toward its original fountain."

- E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer, Chapter 6, pg 39

"The Attributes of God"

During one of Jesus' prayers to the Heavenly Father, Jesus said, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." - John 17:3.  Clearly, it is important for a person to have some comprehensive understanding of the divine nature of God in order to claim to know and to be known by God Himself.  The book "The Attributes of God" is a very well-written, specific and concise volume that serves the purpose of equipping each Christian with a biblical and doctrinal understanding of who God is as revealed in the Scriptures.  Written by theologian A.W. Pink (1886-1952) this book delves into and defines 17 attributes of God; such attributes are the decrees of God, the sovereignty of God, the immutability of God, the faithfulness of God, the love of God, and the wrath of God.

In our time when the word "God" is thrown around loosely and without definition or qualification by numerous groups, it is important for Christians to retain and proclaim the definite and precise doctrinal attributes of the God of the Bible for their own sake and for the good of their hearers.  A.W. Pink wrote, "A spiritual and saving knowledge of God is the greatest need of every human creature... An unknown God can neither be trusted, served, nor worshiped."  Reading "The Attributes of God" by A.W. Pink will help reveal the all-encompassing power, infinite nature, and majestic glory that is our almighty God.

"To countless thousands, even among those professing to be Christians, the God of the Scriptures is quite unknown."
- A.W. Pink, The Attributes of God, Chapter 5, pg 23

"A Tale of Two Sons"

Subtitle: The Inside Story of a Father, His Sons, and a Shocking Murder

The Prodigal Son parable is the longest, most gripping, and most well known parable that Jesus ever uttered.  Having read this parable a number of times myself, I thought I had learned all there was to learn from it.  However, after reading "A Tale of Two Sons" by pastor and theologian John MacArthur, I realized there was a wealth of knowledge and wisdom still to be uncovered in this most important parable.  MacArthur digs deep into the historical significance of the three protagonists fictional lives and the cultural settings in which the hearers of this parable (1st century Jews) would have understood its fullest meaning.  Another tremendous blessing taken from this book is the profound way in which MacArthur expounds God's love and forgiveness which He shows to all prodigals that have turned away from Him but who would return to God to find immediate mercy and grace and are warmly and strongly embraced and accepted.

But as MacArthur points out, the most important point Jesus wanted to get across through this parable is a warning to those who resent, are jealous of, or even express hatred toward God for His exuberant show of forgiveness and joy to those who are deemed totally unworthy by the rest of society (as demonstrated by the eldest son in the parable).  MacArthur concludes his book with an added ending to the parable (a 'shocking murder') which was taken from the real events that happened shortly after Jesus spoke this parable in public (I will not give that ending away here).

"A Tale of Two Sons" is easily one of the most illuminating and profound books I have ever read.  For those wishing to fully grasp the essential truths of the Prodigal Son story, John MacArthur's book will provide the detail and eternally imperative truths that Jesus purposed to reveal through this parable.

"The Prodigal Son is a living symbol of every sinner who has ever lived - including you and me."

- John MacArthur, A Tale of Two Sons, Chapter 5, pg 78

"The Pursuit of God"

Christians not satisfied with simply having "knowledge" of God, but additionally want to experience His presence from day-to-day, need look no further for a prime example of such a hunger for God than in the life of A.W. Tozer (1897-1963).  Tozer never settled for simply understanding correct doctrine, memorizing scripture, or faithfully attending church every Sunday.  Although Tozer counted all those things as good and necessary, he made it very clear that by themselves they were not enough to fill his heart; he needed to pursue and experience God's presence everyday of his life.  Tozer wrote, "It is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth."  Every morning Tozer would lay prostrate on his study room floor and seek and ultimately find God's presence, and the fruit of such a hunger is laid out in his masterpiece "The Pursuit of God."

Christians who have this same heart-felt desire to pursue God's presence daily would benefit greatly from studying this book from A.W. Tozer.  His book and life's example will help us to replicate the words of King David spoken to God in Psalm 27:8 - "You have said, 'Seek my face.'  My heart says to you, 'Your face, Lord, do I seek.'"

"The presence of God is the central fact of Christianity.  At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself waiting for His redeemed children to push into conscious awareness of His presence."

- A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, Chapter 3, pg 34-35

The Purpose of a Christian Library

The "Library of Christian Principles" is a blog where I can post, describe and promote books that I've read through which I've experienced positive and sanctifying effects in my walk with God.  With all the advances in technological gadgetry and the ever-increasing noise of city metropolises, the chance for Christians to have quiet, contemplative time alone with God is becoming more and more of a dying spiritual ideal.  This fact is causing a great spiritual decline in the areas of both personal fellowship between God and each individual believer, as well as the weakening of the Christian mind because believers today tend to put aside religious books in favour of TV remotes and that which appeals to the human eye.  For myself, some of the most intimate moments I have with God are when I am alone reading through evocative Christian literature written by men and women who themselves sought time alone with God on a continual basis.  It truly takes great discipline and self-control for Christians to turn off the world and pick up an edifying book to enrich their souls and to be in solitude with their Creator.  But the harvest of blessings that are reaped from such discipline and time alone with God while wading through God-honoring spiritual discourses cannot be ignored by Christians while in the type of world we live in today.

Although this blog is meant to promote extra-biblical books, it is in no way meant to discourage daily readings of the Bible itself.  Nor are the books promoted herein designed to replace or usurp the Word of God as the ultimate authority in a Christian's life, as 17th century Puritan Richard Baxter wrote, "Let the Holy Scriptures ever have the pre-eminence.  Let Scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it."

As we continue to maintain our literary priorities by keeping the Bible paramount in our studies, at the same time may we also engage and interact with the books and writings of our brothers and sisters in current and past times upon whose shoulders and heritage we Christians stand today.

"Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to your soul."

- Proverbs 2:10