The Imperfect Disciple
The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together
By: Jared C. Wilson
If you've ever been stuck in the endless cycle of doing yet feeling it's never enough, or not doing and feeling like a failure, this book is for you. Jared Wilson's book reads like a conversation with a friend. He does not set himself up on a pedestal but rather sits beside us in the trenches. I think he does a great job of coupling resting in the gospel news 'It is finished' with our call to obedience and emphasizing that 'having our act together' is not the story of the Bible. He says, “Do’s and don’ts accomplish nothing resembling biblical Christianity when they are detached from the done of the gospel. The gospel gives us oxygen and space to breathe.”
I found this book convicting- not in a way that makes me feel guilty but in a way that gives freedom, not scolding from someone who doesn't understand but encouragement from someone who gets it and admits it. It's not a 10 step plan to successful faith. It's the message that we are free to obey and free to fail because our salvation is not dependent on anything we have done, are doing, or will do. It's great to be reminded of that!
There were so many parts of this book that resonated with me- a new perspective, a bold proclamation, a challenge to the way we live. It acknowledges the struggle of following Jesus, encourages us where we are, and reminds us that it's worth it.
One of his chapters talks about Galatians 6 where there are two lists in contrast- one is the works of the flesh (basically every sin imaginable) and the second is the fruit of the spirit. He says, "If we can take anything away from a blunt comparison of the lists, it might be this: the solution to bad things we do isn’t good things to do but good things to be... the primary problem with so many approaches to Christian discipleship [is that] they are predicated primarily on doing different rather than becoming different." He goes on to talk about each fruit of the Spirit and how each characteristic God commands of us, he actually gives to us in abundance!
Maybe, like me, you need to hear this: "... no matter how you feel, if you are a follower of Jesus you are never truly stuck. The Spirit is doing a million things in your heart and with your life, and while the theme song of your spiritual life may seem more like ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ than ‘We Are the Champions,’ you are indeed growing..." And that is what discipleship is: letting God grow us into what he wants us to be, by his power.
I think this is an important book to read to grasp what discipleship (following Jesus) really means. I think it's one I'll want to return to every time I feel stuck in a rut, focused on the checklist, and questioning if I'm doing enough.