The Great Omission.

Book Review.
Willard, Dallas. The Great Omission. Reclaiming Jesus’s essential teachings on discipleship. Harper SanFrancisco. 2006.
Comment. Henry.
Discipleship is obviously a major focus of what we have been calling ‘The Great Commission’. To call it an ‘omission’ is quite justifiable. Of the practice of the disciplines of discipleship there is no end. We never arrive. Just as a conversation about our personal prayer life becomes a bit of an embarrassment so the evaluation of our discipleship disciplines make us uncomfortable. That being said, this resource can be helpful for us and for those for whom we feel responsible.
Unfortunately discipleship is not a requirement for being considered a Christian or becoming a church member. Scripture seems clear that it is basic to being a Christ-follower and experiencing spiritual formation. To neglect it results in missing out on ‘the abundant life’. Because it is so lacking in the lives of so many believers, the church has become ineffective. Its members have become ‘spiritually handicapped’, still in spiritual infancy. We must continually be learning from our Teacher. We may have the keys to the Kingdom but we can fail to access the Kingdom. The Sabbath Rest is of no value to us until we enter into it. Spiritual disciplines are the foundation for the ‘assignment’ of making disciples.
“Spiritual formation (now a popular term) is a matter of reworking all aspects of self.” (56) Christian spiritual formation has its own meaning. It has to do with becoming Christ-like, gaining control over self (the flesh), being stirred by the fire of God from within. Soul care (an antonym for spiritual formation), is all about practicing the presence of God which involves the disciplines of prayer, silence, solitude, etc.
Piety should be “Christ-centered”. (159) Evangelical piety is committed to evangelism, i.e. reaching the lost. In an interview with folks from World Christian/U, Willard answers questions about spiritual disciplines. This interview has a very practical focus. Consistent with Willard’s claim that Jesus was the smartest man that ever lived, he talks about “Jesus the logician”.
A brief inventory and summary of five books on discipleship is given as a sort of appendix. Again, this is good, very practical information.