Pilgrim Soldier

I cannot state enough how challenging I am finding Graham Cray’s Disciples and Citizens book. It is all about our lives being ones of ‘public discipleship’; lives that are not split into the sacred and secular. Instead Cray says,

“…witness to Christ involves being an example, embodying what he did and taught into our daily lives.”

This is achieved by living in a particular way, not only individually, but also as a congregation of the Church. As Christian’s we can do one of three possible things in our walk with God. Firstly, we can choose to opt out of society completely. We then withdraw into the ivory towered safety of our churches and homes and wait until we either die or Christ comes again. Secondly, we can embrace society and throw our lot in with it and slowly but surely allow culture to subvert our beliefs until we are barely indistinguishable from the rest of society. Finally, we can choose to go the incarnational route. This would see us being immersing our church community into the community around us, and then work for transformation both in the lives of the individual as well as the wider community. This third option is the one Cray, and of course many others, says is the truly Christian way of living.

Cray’s strategy for this way of living is based on two headings; involved distinctiveness and subversive engagement. These ideas are pretty obvious as to their meaning, but I think his definitions will stand repeating.

Involved distinctiveness can be summed up as a call to be a countercultural community which also seeks common ground with its society whenever possible - a community involved in, rather than withdrawn from, society.

Subversive engagement involves a proactive community, actively doing good in its society (because the good can last, in the light of the kingdom of God), while subverting many of its society’s key social values (because they cannot last, in the light of the kingdom of God).

What is particularly pleasing about the book is that it is grounded firmly in scripture and promotes both good theology and good practice, the balance of which is essential in all that we seek to do for the Lord.