The Imperfect Disciple (Baker Books, 2017)
Jared C. Wilson, currently director of content strategy at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently published The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together. In his Introduction, Pastor Wilson states he wrote the book to demystify discipleship. Because all of us need tuning up in the gospel every day, Jared thinks of discipleship as not simply following Jesus, but refollowing Jesus every day. We veer off track so easily. Yet, we don’t often realize our souls are greatly troubled when, in fact, that’s the case. As a result, the author notes, we need to feed, nourish, and lubricate our souls. Through this process, we don’t need good advice. In contrast, we need good news. And there’s good news for those on the bottom! Jesus turned things right side up, not upside down.
Thus, discipleship rests on our trust of Jesus’ mercy toward our total inability to become bigger, better, or faster. In addition, discipleship must deal with the tension between the glorious reality we believe in and yearn for and the harsh reality of life. As a result, Pastor Wilson underscores, “every day when you encounter God . . . you face the choice of simply looking at Jesus or actually trying to see him.” As G. K. Beale observes, people resemble what they revere, either for their ruin or their restoration. Therefore, to truly behold Jesus, it’s crucial to cultivate Spiritual formation. This means we find ways to immerse ourselves in the work of the Holy Spirit. In the process, we re-sync ourselves to the rhythms of the Kingdom of God.
Through centering on the gospel, the essential duties of maintaining a relationship with God seem more delight than duty, more rhythms than rules. Contrary to popular belief, hearing is believing. In other words, to see we must first hear. For, Jared states, the glory of God blares from the pages of Scripture. Thus, God’s not giving us the silent treatment. In fact, the author stresses, He’s practically yelling. To behold Jesus, we must feast on His presence rather than giving Him crumbs. Prayer enables us to strengthen this relationship. Also, we need to think of duty as worshipful prayer rather than worshipful prayer as duty. Our daily life communicates when where we place our hope and trust. And the more we pray, the more we abide in God’s strength alone.
In conclusion, Jared emphasizes that our availability to God’s call to sacrifice is predicated on our understanding that God needs no more messiahs. Jesus already took care of that job. Thus, God doesn’t need us. Ah, Jared adds, but we’re wanted! God’s grace goes all the way down. It meets us in the darkest valleys of the heart. But God’s grace also goes all the way up to His glory. Therefore, to practice followship of Jesus is to believe, through God’s grace, that heaven’s beyond our imagination or ability to conceive. One day the Lord “will pull out a chair and seat us at his own table at the wedding supper of the Lamb.”
