Guidelines Regarding Discipleship

Throughout the course of a Christian’s walk with God, he might discover that he has been focusing on earthly matters more than his relationship with God. He may realize that he has relegated God to a corner in his mind because he has devoted the vast majority of his time and energy to the concerns of the world. In order to foster discipleship, however, he must actively guard against temporal events and mindsets that hinder his relationship with God. Failure to protect his heart from these worldly pursuits will result in conformity and a simultaneous abandoning of his spirituality. In The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer explores ways in which Christians often elevate material possessions or even their own feelings above God. He repeatedly explains that discipleship can only be maintained when “nothing is allowed to come between Christ and [oneself]” (Bonhoeffer 173). Bonhoeffer argues that the emotion of anger and material possessions separate the Christian from God, but a true disciple must forsake such worldly pursuits and passions in order to become unified with the Savior. 

Worldly goods often steal the focus from God and promote self-involvement, causing one to place emphasis on the “creature instead of the Creator” (Bonhoeffer 174). However, it should be noted that Bonhoeffer does not condemn disciples for having material possessions. On the contrary, he acknowledges that “earthly goods are given to be used,” with the distinction that they are “not to be collected” (Bonhoeffer 175). Such items should be used to sustain one’s worldly body so that he can better serve God. In addition to providing nourishment, these possessions should be sacrificed to benefit others. While possessions are not inherently evil, when one considers his possessions more precious than his time with and love for God, he begins to erect a barrier between him and Christ. A true disciple cannot be lukewarm in his affection, nor can he serve two masters (Bonhoeffer 176). He must fully devote himself to God and maintain a “singleness of heart” which allows a focus upon God alone (Bonhoeffer 174). Instead of concerning himself with trivial matters or conforming to the world, the disciple’s heart must demonstrate dedication to its Creator. Bonhoeffer states that “where [a man’s] treasure is, there is [his] trust, [his] security, [his] consolation and [his] God” (Bonhoeffer 175). A disciple must trust God to support his every need, but material possessions often replace this reliance on God (NLT. 1 John 2.15). Oftentimes, one relies on his earthly comforts to fulfill his needs and desires. Moreover, he may idolize his worldly possessions and consider them his savior instead of God. However, a disciple is supposed to be fulfilled through God alone, dwelling on eternal matters rather than the items he temporarily possesses on Earth. His purpose is not to be materially wealthy, but rather, holy and set apart for God (NLT, 1 Pet. 1.16). In order to become sanctified, God calls His followers to suffer alongside Him, forsaking worldly comforts in the process (NLT. Matt. 16.24). Abandonment of worldly possessions strips a disciple of additional comforts which allows him to participate in Christ’s suffering. As a result, the disciple experiences joy because his trials cause him to “bear [his] sorrow in the strength of Him who bears them up” (Bonhoeffer 109). His current distress and tribulations prompt the disciple to continuously pursue God, leaning on Him in every moment of the day. Therefore, relying on worldly possessions and placing them above God only hinders one’s relationship with God rather than strengthens it. 

Similar to material possessions, emotions, such as anger, wield the power to negatively influence a disciple’s focus and disposition. Bonhoeffer focuses on anger because it can drastically interfere with a disciple’s communion with the Lord. If an individual is angry, he disobeys the second commandment to “love [his] neighbor as [him]self,” (NLT. Matt. 22.39). Through anger, the disciple both refuses to display love towards his neighbor, and makes an “attack on the brother’s life…[refusing] to let him live and aim[ing] at his destruction” (Bonhoeffer 127). Anger actively hurts one’s brother as it devastates their relationship and tears him down. Bonhoeffer rejects all anger, stating that “the disciple must be entirely innocent of anger” (Bonhoeffer 127). A tendency towards anger rather than love is also a direct affront to the Creator as the individual allows his sinful emotions and desires to overshadow his appreciation and reverence for God’s people. Just as God is love, therefore, a disciple should imitate a similar, unconditional love towards others (NLT, 1 John 4.8). In contrast, anger expresses a lack of control and self-discipline, overtaking the individual until he can concentrate on nothing else. Because anger consumes him, he has no room in his heart for God. He unknowingly idolizes anger as he makes his brother “an object of contempt,” allowing it to come in between him and his Master (Bonhoeffer 128). Bonhoeffer explains that the “follower of Christ is in the light only so long as he looks simply to Christ and at nothing else in the world” (Bonhoeffer 174). A disciple must surrender his worldly passions and allow God alone to lead his body and emotions into purity and holiness. By asking God to provide him with the ability to love his brother, he relies on God to sustain his countenance, emotions, and focus. 

Throughout The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer emphasizes that faith can only be exercised in a state of action. Accordingly, a true disciple cannot remain stagnant in his walk with Christ, relying on his material possessions or allowing himself to be controlled by his emotions. He simply cannot elevate these elements so they are equal to or even higher than God’s place in his heart. Christ must be the sole focus of the dedicated Christian. The disciple must strive to grow, willing to suffer and become “less and less” (NLT, John 3.30). Bonhoeffer argues that “the heart of the disciple must be set upon Christ alone” (Bonhoeffer 174), and a dedication to God prompts one to forsake all else and “adhere to Christ” (Bonhoeffer 59). In order to live as a true disciple, one must become oblivious to his possessions, emotions, and himself in the continuous pursuit of God.