Costly Discipleship
The cost of discipleship is facing the truth and its consequences, and we must trust Christ and be honest with people about the cost.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of understanding the true cost of discipleship, warning against the modern tendency to present a sanitized version of Christianity that promises only comfort and happiness. He critiques the approach of offering an easy path to faith without acknowledging the challenges and sacrifices that come with following Christ. Tozer highlights that Jesus was a realist who presented the full truth to His followers, allowing them to make informed decisions about their commitment. He stresses that true discipleship involves facing hardships and that Christ's honesty about the journey is what makes Him trustworthy. Ultimately, Tozer calls for a more authentic representation of the Christian faith that prepares believers for the realities of following Jesus.
Text
In our eagerness to make converts I am afraid we have lately been guilty of using the technique of modern salesmanship, which is of course to present only the desirable qualities in a product and ignore the rest. We go to men and offer them a cozy home on the sunny side of the brae. If they will but accept Christ He will give them peace of mind, solve their problems, prosper their business, protect their families and keep them happy all day long. They believe us and come, and the first cold wind sends them shivering to some counselor to find out what has gone wrong; and that is the last we hear of many of them. The teachings of Christ reveal Him to be a realist in the finest meaning of that word.
Nowhere in the Gospels do we find anything visionary or overoptimistic.
He told His hearers the whole truth and let them make up their minds. He might grieve over the retreating form of an inquirer who could not face up to the truth, but He never ran after him to try to win him with rosy promises. He would have men follow Him, knowing the cost, or He would let them go their ways. All this is but to say that Christ is honest. We can trust Him. He knows that He will never be popular among the sons of Adam and He knows that His followers need not expect to be. The wind that blows in His face will be felt by all who travel with Him, and we are not intellectually honest when we try to hide that fact from them.
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Modern Salesmanship
- The Realism of Christ
- The Cost of Discipleship
- Following Christ means facing the truth and its consequences
- We must trust Christ and be honest with people about the cost
Key Quotes
“Nowhere in the Gospels do we find anything visionary or overoptimistic.” — A.W. Tozer
“He told His hearers the whole truth and let them make up their minds.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must be honest with people about the cost of following Christ.
- Following Christ means facing the truth and its consequences.
- We can trust Christ because He is honest and knows the cost of following Him.