A number of spiritual formation writers, under the influence of Dallas Willard, have sought to move us away from a solely forensic understanding of salvation.  Gary Moon is one of them.  His recent book, "Apprenticeship with Jesus" is a rich read, full of laugh-out-loud humor, moving stories, and wisdom on living as an apprentice of Jesus.  He invites us to see the gospel as more than a forgiven past and a future in heaven.  While not dismissing these facets of the gospel that address our guilty past and our future in heaven, he paints a compelling picture of the good news of the present opportunity offered to each of us to live as an apprentice of Jesus.  (Note:  Click here to read my previous post on the challenges of using the term "apprentice" for "disciple").

In his legitimate desire to take us beyond an exclusively forensic understanding of the Christian life to one that sees it as a deep, intimate relationship with Jesus, a move he describes as moving "from the courtroom to the bedroom," will Moon be misunderstood by some of his readers?  Could some of his readers inadvertently find themselves in an entirely different room:  the gymnasium?  Could they end up turning the good news of an apprenticeship with Jesus into the ultimate self-help project?  One that will finally shape up flabby souls and provide a place to hide their guilt and cover their shame?

Admittedly, Moon is definitely on to something. Without a gospel presentation that includes our present life, there is no natural connection to a life of discipleship or spiritual formation.  No clear connection to Christ's offer of an abundant life now (John 10:10).  But this must be communicated thoughtfully.  For those who erroneously view apprenticeship with Jesus as life in a gymnasium run the risk of either dropping out from exhaustion and failure, concluding that a life of apprenticeship to Jesus is beyond their reach, or they risk concluding that the journey of transformation into Christ-likeness is fully within their power and responsibility.  Tragically, those who find themselves in the gymnasium could end up as either exhausted dropouts or smug Pharisees. 

Ironically, Christ will be of no benefit to them (Galatians 5:2).  They run the risk of not realizing that Christians are called to a unique form of training.  Training that involves opening up to a person, not a procedure.  Training that ironically involves rest.  Resting in the reality of Christ in them, his work on the Cross, and their deep need for ongoing dependence upon the Spirit.  True, not every reader will face this temptation, and Moon has clearly chosen the apprentice metaphor as a way of helping his readers avoid turning a life of discipleship with Jesus into a self-help project.  However, this temptation is common enough to merit being specifically addressed and deserving of some suggestions on how to avoid it, including an understanding of how only the forensic elements of our salvation and the indwelling presence of the Spirit can adequately solve the problem of our guilt and shame and protect us from succumbing to this temptation.

What are your thoughts on how we can communicate a robust, past/present/future understanding of the gospel  in a way that navigates these tensions, both for those inside the kingdom and those seeking it?  How do we communicate the journey of discipleship in a way that prevents it from being turned into a self-help project?