The Call to Follow
Is being a follower something to frown upon? In The Call to Follow, Richard Langer and Joanne J. Jung give help on hearing Jesus in a culture obsessed with leadership.
Faithful Followers of Jesus
In a little bit over 200 pages, this book defends and champions followership in the Christian life. Langer and Jung say that we follow Christ (deference) through the power of the Spirit and with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (engagement and zeal) in order to glorify God and build his kingdom (mission ownership). They tackle the lies we have all learned to believe about leadership and give examples of biblical teachings on followership. “We need to cultivate a vision of followership that demands the very best of our gifts and abilities yet at the same time includes real respect and deference to our leaders.”
I was most interested to see Langer and Jung showcase faithful followers of Jesus. They look at Gordon and Mary Cosby, who founded The Church of the Saviour in 1947 in Washington, D. C. They emphasized the importance of following Jesus in these ways: (1) Having a high view of the Christian call to diciscpleship, (2) holding a high view of church membership, and (3) having a high view of the Spirit’s ability to deploy ordinary people for ministry. This encouraged me to continue serving God in my local church context, laying down my desires for recognition at the cross.
A High and Honorable Calling
Chapter 6 studies various parables from Jesus in regards to following. It is clear that Jesus demands much from his followers — to simply be a follower of Christ is a high and honorable calling in itself. To be a faithful follower, you need courage, commitment, and competence. Followers must be compelled to serve and ready to give an account for their stewardship.
Reading the Bible, listening to God, humility, and prayer are “soul rhythms” for faithful following. I was most surprised to see hospitality listed as a practice for faithful following — but it makes sense as Christ commands us to extend his grace in cultivating community. I am challenged to teach others about the important call to follow Christ well. And I am motivated to see myself and live out my life as a follower of Christ first and foremost.
I received a media copy of The Call to Follow and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.