"The Cost of Discipleship"
A sermon preached on The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, September 9, 2007 at Edgemont Chrsitian Church (Disciples of Christ) , by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. The sermon is based on Luke 14:25-33.
The Reverend Tracy Hartman tells the story of when her daughter came home from school and asked if she would bake a cake for a program that her drama class was sponsoring. Tracy says, "I readily agreed. However, I didn’t realize until my daughter came home later in the week with bags of ingredients that we had signed up to make all the cakes for some two hundred people." She goes on to say; "That wasn’t quite what I thought I was signing up for!" You know, perhaps you have been in a similar situation - you didn’t realize all of the costs, or obligations or responsibilities of a project or an assignment you agreed to take on. Jesus is seeking to avoid any such misunderstandings in our Gospel Lesson this morning. He wants to be sure that his followers know just what the cost of discipleship will be.
Marketing experts will tell their clients that in the sale of a product it is important to give the consumer what they want. Figure that out, and you are three-quarters of the way to a successful sale. Find just the right set of words, with just the right tone that meets the people right where they are, and a cleaver person can sell just about anything - that’s what we are led to believe. In fact, I am not so sure that’s incorrect. Amber has just recently been selling on e-bay and I am amazed at some of the stuff she puts on there - things we might consider junk, and then, what is even more surprising is how much it will go for. People will buy just about anything, especially if it is marketed correctly. In fact, we have all seen this firsthand. Politicians have certainly discovered the power of modern marketing in pitching their personalities. The American church has caught on, as well, to this postmodern mode of thinking and selling; or, what the church calls evangelizing.
Keep in mind, by this point in our Lord’s ministry his popularity is high. He has attracted a large following of people who are both captured and intrigued by his message and ministry. But in our Gospel Lesson this morning Jesus makes what would seem to be a grave mistake when it comes to popularity polls. Several weeks ago, I equated Jesus to a politician; but here he makes a grave political mistake. Where were his speechwriters and advisors? The mistake Jesus made was that he didn’t give the people what they wanted; rather, he gave them what they needed - a reality check! In fact, Jesus’ words here in our Gospel Lesson are a bit harsh. These words could be categorized or filed away with those really tough sayings of Jesus’.
Someone once said; "The mark of a great leader is the demands he makes upon his followers." And certainly that is true! The Italian freedom fighter, Garibaldi offered his men only hunger and death to free Italy. Winston Churchill told the English people that he had nothing to offer them but "blood, sweat, toil, and tears" in their fight against the enemies of England. And our Lord demanded that his followers carry a cross. And certainly, as we think about the lives of the apostles we see that they were willing to do just that. Tradition tells us that: Andrew died on a cross. Simon was crucified. Bartholomew was flayed alive. James (son of Zebedee) was beheaded. The other James (son of Alphaeus) was beaten to death. Thomas was run through with a lance. Matthias was stoned and then beheaded. Matthew was slain by the sword. Peter was crucified upside down. Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows. And Philip was hanged.
Marketing experts will tell their clients that in the sale of a product it is important to give the consumer what they want. Figure that out, and you are three-quarters of the way to a successful sale. Find just the right set of words, with just the right tone that meets the people right where they are, and a cleaver person can sell just about anything - that’s what we are led to believe. In fact, I am not so sure that’s incorrect. Amber has just recently been selling on e-bay and I am amazed at some of the stuff she puts on there - things we might consider junk, and then, what is even more surprising is how much it will go for. People will buy just about anything, especially if it is marketed correctly. In fact, we have all seen this firsthand. Politicians have certainly discovered the power of modern marketing in pitching their personalities. The American church has caught on, as well, to this postmodern mode of thinking and selling; or, what the church calls evangelizing.
Keep in mind, by this point in our Lord’s ministry his popularity is high. He has attracted a large following of people who are both captured and intrigued by his message and ministry. But in our Gospel Lesson this morning Jesus makes what would seem to be a grave mistake when it comes to popularity polls. Several weeks ago, I equated Jesus to a politician; but here he makes a grave political mistake. Where were his speechwriters and advisors? The mistake Jesus made was that he didn’t give the people what they wanted; rather, he gave them what they needed - a reality check! In fact, Jesus’ words here in our Gospel Lesson are a bit harsh. These words could be categorized or filed away with those really tough sayings of Jesus’.
Someone once said; "The mark of a great leader is the demands he makes upon his followers." And certainly that is true! The Italian freedom fighter, Garibaldi offered his men only hunger and death to free Italy. Winston Churchill told the English people that he had nothing to offer them but "blood, sweat, toil, and tears" in their fight against the enemies of England. And our Lord demanded that his followers carry a cross. And certainly, as we think about the lives of the apostles we see that they were willing to do just that. Tradition tells us that: Andrew died on a cross. Simon was crucified. Bartholomew was flayed alive. James (son of Zebedee) was beheaded. The other James (son of Alphaeus) was beaten to death. Thomas was run through with a lance. Matthias was stoned and then beheaded. Matthew was slain by the sword. Peter was crucified upside down. Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows. And Philip was hanged.
Certainly, the cost of discipleship is extremely high as Jesus points out in our Gospel Lesson this morning. But what sacrifices have you made for Christ and his kingdom?
There’s a cute little story about a hog and a hen who were sharing the same barnyard and happened to hear about a church’s program to feed the hungry. The hog and the hen discussed how they could help. The hen said, "I’ve got it! I’ve got the perfect idea! We’ll provide bacon and eggs for the church to feed the hungry." The hog thought about the suggestion and said, "There’s only thing wrong with your bacon and eggs idea. For you, it only requires a contribution, but from me, it will mean total commitment!" And that’s the point Jesus was trying to make in our Gospel Lesson this morning. That’s the cost of discipleship! It’s not a contribution, but a total commitment - a total way of life!
Sadly, many see their faith as being a contribution. There are many half-hearted Christians today - they are not fully devoted nor committed to Christ and the kingdom. They are like the man in the parable Jesus tells who begins building the house but doesn’t finish. He doesn’t consider the cost and the labor that is involved in such an endeavor. Or perhaps we’re like the general who hasn’t fully committed himself to battle. We haven’t sat down to consider the demands or sacrifices that are involved. Jesus reminds us at another time; "Many are willing but few are truly chosen."
Jesus wanted followers, but he wanted committed followers. Jesus is calling not for half-hearted followers, but for those who are willing to put him and the kingdom above everything else. Once again, Jesus is teaching about priority - what has priority in your life? Are you seeking first the kingdom of God?
There is a story about a mountaineer who was noted for his marksmanship. When asked about his prowess, he said that it was quite simple: "I just fire a round into a large tree and then draw a bulls-eye around it." Most of us want our discipleship to be that easy. Bonhoeffer writes in his book; Cost of Discipleship, these words; "We have cheapen grace and cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting for costly grace. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must know. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life." The theologian, Martin Luther once wrote; "A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing." True, that kind of Christianity makes us a little uncomfortable - sadly, we have cheapen our faith!
What a challenge this is for us! But consider the costs - "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple..." Did our Lord really say that? Isn’t "hate" such a strong and negative word - are we really to hate our family and friends, even our own selves? Now friends, keep in mind the word "hate" here is not our emotionally laden word for personal disgust but, rather, it is a Semitic idiom expressing a kind of detachment, if you will. This is a rhetorical use of the verb "to hate," the word is miseo, which literally means "to love less." It means "to put something before it." And so, this understanding, brings Jesus’ words to a whole new light and understanding. Jesus is talking about having our total commitment and priority. He is talking about "seeking first the kingdom of God..."
There’s a wonderful analogy that involves an empty jar, a large rock, some pebbles, sand and water. And, interestingly enough, all of these items can fit into the jar if they are put in, in the right order. If you begin with water, sand and pebbles you will never have any room for the rock, but if you start with the rock, amazingly everything else fits right in. The rock could very well represent God or perhaps our commitment to the kingdom - the church, but if we fill our lives with sand and pebbles and water - then we have no room for God - no room for the kingdom.
The poet Edward Everett Hale writes;
Sadly, many see their faith as being a contribution. There are many half-hearted Christians today - they are not fully devoted nor committed to Christ and the kingdom. They are like the man in the parable Jesus tells who begins building the house but doesn’t finish. He doesn’t consider the cost and the labor that is involved in such an endeavor. Or perhaps we’re like the general who hasn’t fully committed himself to battle. We haven’t sat down to consider the demands or sacrifices that are involved. Jesus reminds us at another time; "Many are willing but few are truly chosen."
Jesus wanted followers, but he wanted committed followers. Jesus is calling not for half-hearted followers, but for those who are willing to put him and the kingdom above everything else. Once again, Jesus is teaching about priority - what has priority in your life? Are you seeking first the kingdom of God?
There is a story about a mountaineer who was noted for his marksmanship. When asked about his prowess, he said that it was quite simple: "I just fire a round into a large tree and then draw a bulls-eye around it." Most of us want our discipleship to be that easy. Bonhoeffer writes in his book; Cost of Discipleship, these words; "We have cheapen grace and cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting for costly grace. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must know. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life." The theologian, Martin Luther once wrote; "A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing." True, that kind of Christianity makes us a little uncomfortable - sadly, we have cheapen our faith!
What a challenge this is for us! But consider the costs - "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple..." Did our Lord really say that? Isn’t "hate" such a strong and negative word - are we really to hate our family and friends, even our own selves? Now friends, keep in mind the word "hate" here is not our emotionally laden word for personal disgust but, rather, it is a Semitic idiom expressing a kind of detachment, if you will. This is a rhetorical use of the verb "to hate," the word is miseo, which literally means "to love less." It means "to put something before it." And so, this understanding, brings Jesus’ words to a whole new light and understanding. Jesus is talking about having our total commitment and priority. He is talking about "seeking first the kingdom of God..."
There’s a wonderful analogy that involves an empty jar, a large rock, some pebbles, sand and water. And, interestingly enough, all of these items can fit into the jar if they are put in, in the right order. If you begin with water, sand and pebbles you will never have any room for the rock, but if you start with the rock, amazingly everything else fits right in. The rock could very well represent God or perhaps our commitment to the kingdom - the church, but if we fill our lives with sand and pebbles and water - then we have no room for God - no room for the kingdom.
The poet Edward Everett Hale writes;
"I am only one,
but still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do THE something I can do."
In our Gospel Lesson this morning, Jesus urges those who are considering a life of Christian discipleship to "count the cost." If we do that honestly, we will discover that being a Christian - being a follower of Christ, demands more than an occasional Sunday visit to God’s house. It becomes a lifestyle - a way of life. It requires a total commitment to Christ and his kingdom - it requires living the Christ-like life, it requires embodying God’s love and grace, compassion and justice in the world. It requires becoming the very elements we receive at the Table of Lord - becoming the body of Christ, so that we might feed a hungry world.
C. William Nichols writes; "Which teacher is the kindest: the one who never demands excellence from her students, never requires homework to be done, and never challenges her students with tests, or the teacher who demands that her pupils stretch their intelligence and abilities through rigorous discipline? An education that costs nothing has nothing to give or offer. Which parent is really the most loving: the one who expects nothing of his children, or the one who demands that the children adhere to the regimens that will make it possible for them to reach their highest potential? In the end, Jesus was being kind and loving when he demanded of his followers, ‘Count the cost.’" And so, let us be willing to count the cost, and may we be willing to make the commitment to be Christ's faithful disciples. Amen.
posted by Pastor Christopher @ 6:41 PM
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