Christianity isn’t about adhering to a set of doctrinal beliefs as much as it is simply following Christ.

“Discipleship is commitment to Christ, because Christ exists, he must be followed.”

Bonhoeffer saw a Christless Christianity in his day. He came to recognize that following Christ was the very root of true Christianity

“…a Christianity without discipleship is always a Christianity without Jesus Christ.”

To say one is a Christian without actually following Christ in obedience is simply one choosing their own path. There can’t be a gap between Jesus and obedience. If he bids you come, the response is to come!

Bonhoeffer lays out the call to discipleship. First is the response. The call comes from Christ and you go. When you step toward Christ you create a separation between Christ and your former existence. You are truly stepping into a new situation.

The second step is to realize this is a situation where faith isn’t made by human hands. Discipleship is not a human offer. Then, the disciple understands the call alone creates the situation. You didn’t do this on your own. Christ called you. Faith alone created the situation. Faith alone enabled a response.

But there must be a response. When Jesus called his disciples, they responded. They didn’t always know what they were getting into, but they responded. The offer came, their hearts knew it was something they needed, faith arose and they followed.

Only the obedient believe. A concrete commandment has to be obeyed, in order to come to believe. A first step of obedience has to be taken, so that faith does not become pious self-deception, cheap grace. The first step is crucial. It is qualitatively different from all others that follow.

We need that urgency to obey Christ again. Create that first step separation that makes all the difference. It is Peter leaving his nets, Matthew closing up the tax booth, or Saul going into Damascus and waiting. That first step of obedience opens up the door for new direction.