Practicing the Way: A call to depth

Samuel Taylor (Plexus) reviews Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.

‘The greatest issue facing the world today ... is whether those who ... are identified as “Christians” will become disciples.’ Practicing the Way is a call to depth. It’s a clarion call that Christianity isn’t primarily a change in YouGov religious affiliation, a nod to national history or appeasing your intercessor Grandma. It is a renovation of your heart, a transformation of your world view and a revolution of your life, all because of Jesus.

John Mark Comer’s book invites us to review our assumptions about what it means to be a Christian. The fundamental reorientation Comer invites us to is to see Christianity as an invitation to practice. We often reduce the term ‘disciple’ to mean a study or ‘super Christian’. Comer intends to re-inspire our imaginations, that a disciple is better understood as an apprentice of Jesus.

An apprentice is someone who learns a trade by following the life, lessons and work of a teacher, with the goal of one day having an apprentice of their own. Following Jesus, therefore, is an intentional apprenticeship of life under the guidance and teaching of Jesus. It requires time, attention, effort. It requires practice. We will not become formed into the likeness of Jesus by accident. Comer reminds us that following Jesus will always call us to swim against the cultural tide: ‘If we’re not being intentionally formed by Jesus himself, then it’s highly likely we are being unintentionally formed by someone or something else.’

Comer does not leave us merely persuaded. He draws out the three main goals of apprenticeship to Jesus: to be with Jesus, become like Jesus and do what Jesus did. It is a call to abide in the vine through prayer, solitude and sabbath, to be formed in his likeness through community, Scripture and fasting, and to do what Jesus did through hospitality, witness and service.

Practicing the Way resonates with the heartbeat of The Salvation Army. It’s a call to an embodied Christian faith and a life of transformational holiness. It’s fresh water to the soul who has laid down their net and followed him, and a helping hand to those who find themselves stuck on the journey.

•  To join a cohort following the Practicing the Way Course over eight weeks on Zoom, starting 29 January, email samuel.taylor@salvationarmy.org.uk.