Customer Reviews

Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World

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The Christian book market is constantly flooded with material that leaves people neither shaken nor stirred; books that call us to nothing beyond our confined consumerist lifestyles of comfort and conformity. In the flood of mass-marketed easy answers, this little book, 'Mere Discipleship', trusts God enough to ask hard questions. In the flood of apologetics that are not well thought through, 'Mere Discipleship' is a book you don't feel you have to apologize for. In the flood of takes on Christianity that are remembered for power games rather than the empowerment of the marginalised; that are remembered for genocide rather than lifestyles of generosity; that are remembered for the violence of the State rather than the nonviolence of the crucified Christ, we might rightly feel embarrassed about our faith. Yet upon this ocean of despair floats this little faithful vessel, 'Mere Discipleship', that reminds us that, although we may be horrified by a history of Christianity that looks nothing like Christ, we need not be ashamed of the gospel. Amidst the waters of unthinking fundamentalism and unengaged liberalism, 'Mere Discipleship' is a lucid, intelligent yet simple read which has shaken, inspired and moved me to embody the teachings and life of Christ in my person and in my community--and to do so in Resurrection power.

Don't read it unless you are ready to hear the call, "follow me."

This is not a review but a response to another reviewer. I'm not sure exactly what "doug dm" has in mind when he faults Camp and Brazos Press for not taking Paul and Romans 13 seriously, but I imagine individuals like Camp, Hauerwas, Richard Hays and John Howard Yoder might welcome the chance to point out the following:

With its command that every soul be subject to the governing authorities, and its declaration that God has ordained the sword in the hands of rulers to punish evil, Romans 13 has been cited countless times throughout history as an argument for believers to join in acts of violence for the sake of social order. Martin Luther, for example, cited Romans 13 when he encouraged German princes to "knock down, strangle, and stab" starving peasants revolting in 1525. A more careful reading of the text, however, points toward a radically different Christian ethic. Chapter 13 is part of the same literary unit as Chapter 12, which ends with these words: "Repay no evil for evil... Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, `Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore: `If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (v.17-21). Next come the so often (mis)quoted instructions about submitting to earthly authorities. But lest there be any doubt on the matter, in Chapter 13:7-10, Paul returns to the theme of Christian nonviolence, driving his point home with systematic rigor. First, he instructs believers to render to all their due (v.7). Then he tells us that believers should owe no one anything except love (v.8). Next he defines what love is: "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" (v.10). Read carefully, and in historical context, Paul is in fact telling the early Church in Rome, in the face of increasing persecution by a brutal and tyrannical regime, to assume a nonviolent, non-rebellious stance as their reconciling ministry. He is also telling believers to trust in God's controlling power over history. God can use the secular authorities and their pagan armies for his own redemptive purposes and, ironically, even as instruments of his justice. But there is no hint that believers should therefore volunteer to serve in Assyrian, Egyptian or Roman legions. Quite the opposite, Romans 13, makes clear. Christians are called to a different way. How tragic, then, that this passage is so frequently cited to justify Christians killing their fellow human beings in the name of the "national interest", or to silently acquiesce when their governments do the same.

It is true, as Doug says, that our government is not "excuting people for not becoming Christian", and religious liberty is certainly something Americans should be grateful for. But only the most superficial readers of history and of U.S. foreign policy in places like Guatemala, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Laos and of course Iraq, will fail to grasp Camp's point that Lord Ceasar and Lord Mammon are still alive and well, and that Christians must continue to find ways to creatively resist the powers. Readers who find Camp challenging and rewarding might also want read Jacques Ellul's short book on radical Christianity, Anarchy and Christianity, as well as John Yoder's scholarly treatment of the book of Luke, The Politics of Jesus.

Tired of the same ol' pablum one usually finds in popularly written evangelical spirituality? Check out this gem! An outstanding tour de force that strikes at the root (literal meaning of 'radical') of much of popular Christianity. Dr. Camp is a Biblical scholar that pleads for a Christianity that is at once true to its founding AND focused on contemporary culture AND life-changing. Springing from an independent tradition, Mere Discipleship challenges readers to think deeply about the fundamentals of their personal practice of religion.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This book will challenge how you understand Christianity. In short, the author is calling on the readers to be more than christendom Christians -- he is calling for a return to authentic discipleship. The wonderful thing about the book, for those of us forunate enough to know the author, is that he strives to live out what he so eloquently articulates in this book. Enjoy and be transformed!

I've been hearing a lot about this book since it's currently the book students are passing from hand to hand at the college I live near. It's a dangerous thing; people's hearts and lives are changing because of this book.

The basic idea of the book is that since Constantine, Christians have been all too willing to compartmentalize their faith. The gospel, rather than being a radical call that shapes the way a Christian lives life, has been forced inward, to the point that it only shapes attitudes and not the complete life of the Christian. Camp's call is to decompartmentalize that faith. He urges a reexamination of the sort of life to which Christians are called and into which Christians have been baptized. And to take seriously that call to follow Christ would truly demands a reevaluation of our society and our place in it. In Mere Discipleship, Camp begins that sort of reevaluation.

As others have noted, readers of Stanley Hauerwas or John Howard Yoder will not find much that's new here. Nevertheless, Camp has quite an aptitude for presenting those ideas in a clear and compelling manner, and it is certainly worth a read. For others, there is enormous potential for this book to radically change lives. I'll be recommending this book to pretty much everyone I know.

I picked this up at the library because of the title - a play on Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. This book succeeds as well as any of C.S. Lewis' writings. The text is simple to read. The message is uncompromising in adherence to the Gospel. Mr. Camp has done a great service to all who want to follow Christ beyond doctrine or politics, religion or occupation.

What would Jesus do? Check this book out. It may help in sorting through the options. A good sort can help with a hard choice, even if that choice may include one's own cross. Lee Camp reminds us that Easter is here and now, but only if we choose to carry our own cross. For all who worship the God of Abraham and seek to learn the Way of Christ.

Mere Discipleship is a must read for anyone serious about following Jesus "taking up their cross" and living in the tension in the Kingdom come and the Kingdom coming.

This book is no respector of party lines: Catholic and Protestant will be challenged by this neo-Anabaptist voice.

Any good book that forces us to think about--rethink--the biblical concept of discipleship should be read. Mere Discipleship is such a book. Lee Camp has produced a serious book on Christian discipleship where his major premise is that the modern world, and in particular American life, has subverted the biblical concept of true discipleship. Granted Camp's perspective is hinged on his own Anabaptist church background, but his critique of how we apply Christianity today rings true--and at times, terrifyingly so. You're not going to agree with everything Camp presents. And at times he seems to choose some parts of Scripture over others (e.g., you can tell he likes the revelation of God in Christ as the peacemaker, but not the wrathful God of the OT that smote godless armies through Israel; he is partial to the passive Lamb of God, but not the table over-turning Jesus in the temple). Nonetheless, Camp is right--our church-life and concept of discipleship is tainted by our American-way of life. He attempts to help us decompartmentalize our faith, especially at the levels where our Christianity intersects with our public life. Although a bit on the intellectual side, still I highly recommend working through Camp's argument. Your commitment to discipleship will be enhanced and bettered as a result.

For those who have read John Howard Yoder's "Politics of Jesus," you will appreciate Camp's rendition of Yoder's Anabaptist reading of the New Testament.

Camp gets straight to the point in describing the American "gospel" that has failed to emphasize the teachings of Jesus. He claims that American Christian culture is guilty of "baptizing unrepentant social systems and structures" and has compartmentalized the Christian faith.

Camp deals with the "Constantinian" faith of church-state and declares, "There is not merely 'one nation under God,' but all nations and peoples are under God, whether they accept his rightful reign or not."

Mr. Camp does not hold back in his brutal assessment of "American Christianity." He uses powerful stories and even quotes from the presidents as he holds America's "faith" to the plumbline of real Christian discipleship.

He effectively proves that many Christians in North America find Jesus' teachings to be unrealistic and ineffective in making real change. He claims many Christians have embraced utilitarianism and the despicable Augustinian tradition of "just war," only to reject the sermon on the mount. He boldly proclaims that Caesar has taken the place of Jesus for many Christians. Pledging allegiance is idolatrous and pushes aside the real discple's confession that "Jesus is Lord." It would seem that, for some, patriotism is a fruit of the Spirit!

Camp's examination is rough and in your face. I believe he translates Bonhoeffer and Yoder to America's cultural Christianity. The cost of following Christ is great and the politcs of Jesus should no longer be shoved out of the light of authentic Christian discipleship. Camp presents a message of reconciliation and sacrifice that leaves no room for the myth of redemptive violence. He calls all true Christians in America to return to mere discipleship and prove that their identity is founded in a Kingdom not of this world.

I highly recommend this book along with The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church and Jesus and Empire: The Kingdom of God and the New World Disorder.

This book is an homage to John Howard Yoder, the Mennonite theologian under whom Camp studied briefly at Notre Dame. It is a plea for radical Christianity, by which Camp means a Christianity that is faithful to the foundational teachings of Jesus as found in the gospels and particularly in the Sermon on the Mount.

The basic tenets of this book are based on three concepts: 1) The current Christian church is hampered by the Constantinian "cataract," 2) The gospel is this worldly, not otherworldly. The ministry, suffering, and death of Jesus inaugurated a new age (aeon) in which the perfect will of God will eventually be realized on earth, 3) The world is currently dominated by "principalities and powers" against which the true church of Christ must battle.

The Constantinian cataract (see pages 21-23) is the skewed viewpoint gradually adopted after Christianity became a state religion. It is the idea that Christianity should be loyal to the nation-state in which it operates and use the military and economic power of the state to advance Christian causes. The result is that the end justifies the means, and religion is established by the power of the sword. Such Christianity becomes co-opted by worldly values and loses contact with the teachings of Christ. Its vision is clouded. Basically, Camp sees the vast majority of Christian churches in the United States as having this clouded vision.

The revised gospel Camp espouses in described on page 59. The gospel as traditionally understood means that the sacrificial death of Jesus atones for human sins and the resurrection of Jesus offers the promise of eternal life with God in heaven. Camp sees the gospel in a different way. The human problem is not so much sin as rebellion and estrangement from God and his good creation. In Jesus, God is offering humanity a chance to restore relationship and redeem the earth. If humanity accepts this opportunity, there will be heaven on earth. If humanity rejects the new age, there will be the hell of loneliness and self-centeredness.

The "principalities and powers" (see Ephesians 3:10, 6:12 KJV) are supernatural evil forces behind all human institutions that "govern and order our world" (see pages 79-85). Since they are evil, they mostly exploit and oppress the poor and underprivileged. These institutions may include the schools, the courts, international corporations, the Constantinian churches, the political parties, college fraternities, and even the Rotary Club. It is against such evil organizations that the true church must battle if the earth is to be saved and God's will is to be accomplished.

Now there is much in this book that is true and much that seems false and even silly. Certainly it is true that there is a disconnect between the social club feeling of many churches and the radical teachings of Jesus. Certainly many American Christians (as well as others) conflate Christianity with patriotism and nationalism. Certainly, Christianity is not practiced as it should be. Yet the disdain that Camp displays for Christianity as millions of good, honest people practice it seems misplaced. He envisions a perfectionism I suspect he will never find. The church has always reflected the imperfections of a fallen world whether he likes it or not. I suspect he will die without ever seeing it change that much.

Camp's vision of a this-worldly gospel rings false to me. It is false because it distorts the teachings of the New Testament. Camp does not discuss John 18:36 ("My kingdom is not of this world") nor does he treat the many passages that predict a quick end to this world. He nowhere fleshes out what a perfected world would look like or how we will ever get there barring an apocalypse. He seems to advocate a form of Christian socialism but leaves the details vague. His lack of clear solutions make his book sound like idealistic posturing.

While most everyone would agree with him that no cheap salvation by grace comes through giving mental assent to Jesus as Lord and Savior (page 157), his recipe of "self-giving love and communal wholeness" (174) lacks the specificity we might desire. It is ironic that he himself works for a university that exists only because rich Christians who have amassed wealth give some of their surplus to it. One wonders in what way he personally lives a radical Christian life, but there is none of that in the book.

What I find most confusing about the book is its contention that the principalities and powers are "weak and paltry, concerned only with their own pitiful self-existence" (page 59). The forces of evil in the world are obviously very strong, influential, and widespread. Much later in the book, he realizes that the idea they are weak and paltry is absurd on the face of it ("--oh, really?," page 187), but he never explains how we may know they are weak and getting weaker. In my view, he simply gives mental assent to the notion. The New Testament (and particularly Revelation) maintains that the powers of evil will be overthrown by divine intervention, but nowhere that I know of does Scripture say the principalities and powers will be overcome by human effort. Wrestling with them is different from defeating them.

Although Camp is no doubt sincere, his book could be re-titled "Mere Yoderism." His constant use of quotation marks to indicate specific words or phrases that "good Christians" might use is obviously disapproving and ultimately contemptuous. His book is well-written, well-documented, and challenging, yet I for one find it more faithful to John Howard Yoder than to a balanced reading of scripture.