Review: Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

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It's not often that I find a book that I believe every Christian should read, apart from the Bible, that is. 

Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer is DEFINITELY one of those books!

I had never heard of John Mark Comer until I attended my retreat at Kerith Waters, sponsored by Focus on the Family. During our one-on-one sessions, the Director read a passage to Danielle and me that really resonated with me, so I picked up the book as soon as we returned home. 

Comer guides the reader through a discipleship pathway focused on Jesus, emphasizing true spiritual transformation rather than simply gathering information. Our modern-day view of discipleship is more in line with education than apprenticeship. The church can feel more like a school, with classes, programs, studies, and a curriculum that guides us from one step to the next, building our knowledge without much change to the deeper, innermost parts of our spirit.

Being an apprentice is different. It requires a different level of commitment, and the changed lives in the church and in the world look vastly different. I loved this quote from Comer in the opening section of the book:

Much preaching of the gospel today does not call people to a life of discipleship. Following Jesus is seen as optional - a post-conversion "second track" for those who want to go further. Tragically, this has created a two-tier church, where a large swath of people who believe in God and even regularly attend church have not re-architected their daily lives on the foundation of apprenticeship of Jesus.

He continues to say this is an entirely alien idea in the writings of the New Testament.  Is the Christian faith simply a list of religious activities we perform in the name of Jesus while our lives don't look all that different from the rest of the world? But what if God truly desires for his children to find the freedom we read about in Isaiah? 

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 

What if God wants healing for our souls through participation in the inner life of the Trinity? That is something I could easily dedicate my life to see happening - in my life, my family, and my church!

Comer examines how restructuring our daily lives around a Rule of Life enables us to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do as Jesus did, as we are transformed into people of love. This idea may seem intimidating, but the truth of the matter is that we each already have a Rule of life. We are already guided by principles that are transforming us each and every day. We must be honest about whether our way of living is actually changing us into loving people of God.

Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer will be by my side as I learn to implement more of this teaching into my life and ministry. I strongly encourage you to check it out!

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