A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Lk 14:26-27). "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that for- saketh not aU that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Mt. 10:33)* "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me* (Mt. 10:38). Discipleship makes radical demands. Devotion to Christ supersedes attachment to family members, to possessions, and even to life itself. This is strange language indeed for a people in the culture of modernity. Discipleship is also an ac- tion plan. Two steps are needed to be identified as disciples. The first is baptism. "Therefore we are buried with him by 304 A CALL TO COMMITMENT baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). This step of obedience by a new Christian signifies death to the old life and a commitment to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:5-23). Peter speaks of baptism as "the answer of a good conscience toward God" (1 Pet. 3:21). The second step of the action plan is "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Mt. 28:20). The clearest teaching of Jesus to his followers is record- ed in his Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). The qualities of character are given in the beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: . . . when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your re- ward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (Mt. 5:3-12). From these qualities of personal character and relation- ships Christ moves on to identify the influence of discipleship on society. "Ye are the salt of the earth ... Ye are the light of the world" (Mt. 5:13-14). The new standard of ethics address- es the sin of broken relationships with our brothers and sisters (Mt. 5:21-26), the sin of adultery and