May Book of the month: Practicing the way by John Mark Comer
/Reviewer: Andy Peck
Book: Practicing the way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did by John Mark Comer
(SPCK, 2024)
We are all being formed into something and being discipled by something or someone, the question is what are we allowing to form us?
John Mark Comer argues that ‘apprenticeship to Jesus—that is, following Jesus—is a whole-life process of being with Jesus for the purpose of becoming like him and carrying on his work in the world.’ He contends that the church has too often convinced people of the truth of the Gospel, but not helped them become disciples of Jesus.
For Comer, the practices of Jesus (AKA spiritual disciplines) are things we do to put ourselves in the way of the grace of God, so that our inner being may be transformed. These practices include prayer, Bible study, solitude and silence, confession, fasting, community and sabbath. The practise of Sabbath links with his earlier book, ‘The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry’ and has become a significant practise for Comer who had suffered burn-out earlier in his ministry.
Arranged in the three sections of the sub-title, there is much to glean from the book and in as much as these are indeed things Jesus practised, there’s wisdom in believing they can help us too. He writes clearly, concisely and honestly, reflecting his own struggles as a fellow disciple and it’s easy to see why his books are in the best-sellers category. He gives appropriate credit to Dallas Willard’s writings which underpin so much of his thinking.
But his approach has divided evangelicals: some are grateful for his clear and coherent explanation of how we change, others believe he is loose in his language on how the Gospel functions, and too broad in his acceptance of thinking from non-evangelicals who are not so clear on salvation by faith.
For me, the big weakness is the lack of time spent exploring God’s grace that positions us in Christ, which is the necessary basis for us to ‘become what we are’. We battle with sin, even as we rejoice as sons and daughters of God. Without that foundation I am left floundering hoping that this or that ‘discipline’ might enable sanctification.
Bridgetown Church, where Comer used to be on staff, offers a free Practicing The Way course which I have used with young people in our church. Although helpful in many ways, I felt the need to emphasise the importance of a grace focus along with the helpful look at practices.
My other big question is the degree to which the disciples in the Gospels who indeed were ‘with Jesus, became like him and did what Jesus did’ are a model for you and me.
Yes, we are united with Christ, indwelt by His Spirit and in the process of becoming like Him, God willing. But the apostle Paul’s teaching on the body of Christ suggests that we have gifts to edify others but not all the gifts and certainly not all the gifts that Jesus had. As a body we are to do what Jesus did, but dependant on one another. Let’s aim high, but let’s not promise something that is outside what God is looking for.
If you are a mature Christian enjoy it and spit out the bones. If you need a book for new Christians, there are others to go for.
Reviewer: Andy Peck is subeditor at Preach magazine, and host of The Leadership Show for Premier