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Sometimes provocative but always encouraging, a pastor offers sage advice for leading Christ-like lives amid the stresses of modern life.
Perhaps the hardest thing about following Christ is translating our good intentions into deeds. Christ calls us, and we want to answer him, but time and again we lose resolve. Many of the selections in this book offer answers to specific problems. Others grapple with broader themes such as world suffering, salvation, and the coming of the kingdom of God. All of them pulsate with conviction and compassion, giving fresh hope to those who find themselves lonely or disheartened in the daily effort to follow Christ. Discipleship contains writings, letters, and talks from J. Heinrich Arnold’s forty years of service as a pastor in the Bruderhof Communities.
View Table of ContentsThis book is a collection of the author's writings, many of them letters. The topics are very wide ranging, covering just about everything, which is not surprising because Arnold was a man of God; and God cares about everything! Their style could be called that of "tough love", although that term had not yet been coined during the time Arnold when wrote! At any rate, you will find straight talk from Arnold, which is a refreshing contrast with the sentimental stuff popular these days. If you are concerned about what a recent writer called "The Osteenification" of the Church, Arnold is a good antidote! But, as good as his writings are, Arnold stresses the all-important point that people today "need to be shown deeds and a practical way of discipleship". (p. 91) This reminds me of a talk I heard by a missionary who told us about the great examples of godly living he saw from the persecuted Christians on the mission field - he said he learned far more from their lives than he had from what he was taught in Bible College! But the next best thing is godly counsel, of which you will find plenty in this book, which I highly recommend for that reason. I heartily concur with Betty Elliott's plaudit, found on the jacket, which regards this book as "thoroughly scriptural and highly practical".
Arnold writes with a refreshing candor and forthrightness. Specifically, he can be downright blunt. Yet this always is shaped by a shepherd’s tough and tender love. While I wish I had this book as a young man (or Arnold in person!), I’m glad I have it now. Arnold’s writing challenges and encourages young and old alike, beginners and leaders. Sometimes his incisive words are the faithful wounds of a friend that heal. At other times, his word offer spiritual and moral clarity needed in our murky times. And always he keeps central the main thing of Christ, his cross, his kingdom, and our future hope.
