THE DILIGENCE OF DISCIPLESHIP

A debut work offers a call to Christian discipleship—and an examination of what that means.

In his concise book, Copper tells his Christian readers that energetic, committed discipleship is not an optional component of their faith. Rather, it’s an explicit command from Jesus, who enjoined his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” In the author’s view, this discipleship is an “ever-growing and never-ending” process. The concern hovering over his chapters is that even people who call themselves disciples of Jesus don’t have a very good understanding of the relationship they’ve undertaken. Although Copper’s outlook on these and other faith-related matters has a certain fundamentalist clarity (“The goal of the Christian is to glorify God in our lives. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else”), his discussion of various aspects of discipleship, including an examination of servitude and slavery as described in the Old Testament, is thorough and scripturally literate. Each chapter is followed by discussion questions clearly designed to facilitate further investigation by individuals and Bible study groups. This kind of study is important in the book’s narrative since Copper grimly points out that in his opinion “most Christians know just enough about the Bible to be dangerous.” His characterization of the relationship at the core of Christianity—between the believer and Jesus— may strike a discordant note in the modern era, since he explicitly calls it a master-slave bond. Likewise, some of his readers will disagree with his stance that true Christians should believe as literal truth Noah’s Flood and the Creation of the universe, Earth, and all life forms in six days. But the passion and scholarship Copper displays everywhere else in his book will make it invigorating reading for his fellow believers.

A powerful, sometimes strident urging for Christians to improve their discipleship.