In a consumer culture, there is a temptation to avoid thinking about the total cost of an item and simply focus on getting monthly payments that are as low as possible. The reality of paying large sums of money in interest--and, consequently, overpaying for many items-- does not seem to bother a large percentage of the population. It's all about easy payment plans.
The easy payment plan in the realm of economics often bleeds over into our theology. We can tend to cheapen grace by promoting a discipleship that glosses over the hard truth of Scripture and, instead of looking closely at Jesus' definition of discipleship and counting the total cost of following him, we would rather define "following Jesus" in our own terms. Billy Graham once said, "Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost everything we have." Graham's statement nicely captures the truth of Luke 14:25-35, a powerful passage that includes Jesus' teaching on what it really means to follow in his footsteps. Jesus lays out the cost of following him up front; there is no small print or misleading wording. So, what can we learn about counting the cost of discipleship from the life and teaching of Jesus? Here are a few things:
1) Jesus never let large crowds lead him to compromise the message of true discipleship.
As Jesus fulfilled his ministry and headed toward Jerusalem, the crowds continued to grow and the number of people around him was probably well into the thousands. Even though Luke records that "large crowds were traveling with Jesus," it is powerful to look at the teaching Jesus gives to this throng: If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple (Lk. 14:26). Notice how Jesus doesn't water down his message just because the crowd is large. Take note that he does not take a poll and change his teaching to connect with the majority opinion. Make a mental note that he wasn't afraid speak the truth in love--even if the truth happened to be offensive to some. Instead of compromising his message, he presents the requirement of loving him above all other people, including one's own family members, if one is going to truly count the cost of discipleship.
In our current political climate, the norm is for the message to change as the audience changes or grows. To be politically popular is sadly akin to compromising. As Christ followers, one critical test of spiritual authenticity is the consistency of life and message--no matter the audience, or the size of the audience, or the specific interest of the audience. Even in the church there is the danger of presenting "Christianity-light," a more palatable, user-friendly version of discipleship that is geared to make people comfortable, not confront them with the truth.
2) When we count the cost of discipleship, we understand that the call of Christ is comprehensive.
When we heed the call to follow Christ, all areas of our lives are to be surrendered to the authority of God--our family, our jobs, our bank accounts, our sex lives, our personal budgets, our free time. To count the cost of discipleship is to refuse the compartmentalization of life into separate boxes whereby some boxes are under God's reign and others are still under our control. God wants the totality of our lives. Jesus said, "And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (Lk. 14:27).
The cross was a familiar item in the first century, and when Jesus mentions this cruel execution tool it would have undoubtedly sparked much conversation among the people in the crowd because Jesus was telling the would-be followers that their old lives were to die so they could daily experience the Kingdom life. To count the cost of discipleship is to die to ourselves so we can live fully for Christ. Desires of the flesh must die. Selfish ambitions must be crucified. Lusts of the flesh must be nailed to the tree. Discipleship is comprehensive in nature and the true follower of Christ even values following Jesus more than life itself.
In his classic book, The Cost of Discipleship, theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes:
The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death--we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.
3) When we count the cost of discipleship, we willingly give up worldly security.
"In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciple." (Lk. 14:33)
We all have treasured possessions. It's not wrong to have things. It is wrong when things have us. Jesus desires for us to find our ultimate security in knowing him, not in cherishing deteriorating items that don't have eternal value. To count the cost of following Christ is to daily place our trust and hope in Him, not in the accumulation of material items. Jesus said, "those of you who do not give up everything..." Our hands should never clench possessions as if they are our own. All the items God entrusts to our care and stewardship are to be held simply in the palms of our hands, as if we are making an offering of worship by lifting our hands heavenward. Clenched, possessive fists are a sign that we haven't yet truly counted the cost.
Is there anything you're holding on to that is preventing you from following hard after Christ? Surrender it all to him. Count the cost.
The words of the old hymn I Surrender All provide a powerful statement about the nature of discipleship:
- All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.- Refrain:
- I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
- All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now. - All to Jesus I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine. - All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
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