“Some are indeed called to be missionaries, evangelists or pastors, and others to the great professions of law, education, medicine and the social sciences. But others are called to commerce, to industry and farming, to accountancy and banking . . . In all these spheres, and many others besides, it is possible for Christians to interpret their life work Christianly, and to see it neither as a necessary evil (necessary, that is, for survival), nor even as a useful place in which to evangelize . . . but as their Christian vocation, as the way Christ has called them to spend their lives in his service.”
“The astonishing paradox of Christ’s teaching and of Christian experience is this: if we lose ourselves in following Christ, we actually find ourselves. True self-denial is self-discovery. To live for ourselves is insanity and suicide; to live for God and for man is wisdom and life indeed. We do not begin to find ourselves until we have become willing to lose ourselves in the service of Christ and of our fellows.” -John Stott
In John Stott’s extensive pulpit-ministry, he had many themes, emphases, and hobby horses. In listening to old Stott sermons, one theme that stands out is that of “discipleship as humane living.” No matter the text, Stott was always quick to show that the given application won’t make you more “celestial,” but more “human.” Again and again, I find in Stott’s sermons an invitation to become more fully alive as a living, breathing, person. This emphasis can be best seen in his “The Integrated Christian” series. Here, Stott shows how discipleship (or what he calls “integrity”) is essentially becoming a more whole human being. Discipleship, says Stott, is the process of integrating the head, emotions, and will. In other words, a healthy Christian is a healthy human, and vice versa. I would strongly encourage you to listen to all three sermons (below), but the first is especially indispensable. For a book-length exploration of the theme, see Hans Bayer’s (wonderful!) A Theology of Mark: The Dynamic between Christology and Authentic Discipleship.
The Integrated Mind:
http://www.allsouls.org/Media/Player.aspx?media_id=51728&file_id=53916
The Integrated Emotions:
http://www.allsouls.org/Media/Player.aspx?media_id=51729&file_id=58443
The Integrated Will:
http://www.allsouls.org/Media/Player.aspx?media_id=51730&file_id=56074
As a bonus, here’s Stott’s “Called to full humanity,” which likewise captures the “human” element of discipleship:
http://www.allsouls.org/Media/Player.aspx?media_id=51875&file_id=58516
