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Cost of Commitment
Book by White, John
89 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
10 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
John White
67 books48 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
John White was an Evangelical Christian author, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and a pastor of Church of the Way.
John White was an Evangelical Christian author, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and a pastor of Church of the Way.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 24, 2022
"When Jesus tells you to take up your cross daily, He’s not telling you to find someway to suffer daily. He is simply giving forewarning of what happens to the person who follows Him."
"Freedom does not consist in doing what I want to do, but in doing what I was designed to do".
"Freedom does not consist in doing what I want to do, but in doing what I was designed to do".
November 23, 2023
I think I'll be reading this one again in a bit!
March 2, 2012
Wonderful small book that has really strengthen me. It talks about the cost of following Christ. The suffering which results from it. It's not a suffering because of our own sins and stupidity. It's not suffering arising from our disciplinary training. It's a suffering because of our loyalty to Christ. We might seen it to be very distant - being able to live in a country with very much freedom in religion, far from persecutions - but it's something that we must be ready at any time.. How much faith do we have? If we were ever to face those conditions faced by the early Christians in the Roman Empire, would we stand by our faith in Jesus?
Some quotes from this book that are dear to me:-
"God suffers with you. If you grasp that, and if you can really trust him that he knows what he is doing and that you are in very competent hands, the pain will not go away entirely, but it will be reduced by half. Fear doubles pain. Trust halves it."
"'Take up your cross' means something similar to 'take your life in your hands.' It means: 'be prepared to carry your own noose around with you, to run the risk of anything, even death itself. Don't seek death. Avoid it if you can, and get the gospel message to anyone who will listen.'"
"You learn best with the little waves right in front of you. Ask God to show you which they are. Commit yourself to learning on them."
"Some pig-headed enthusiasts 'witness,' not with courtesy and out of love, but from a need to triumph. They win arguments but lose people."
"God has permitted human political power to exist even though it is demonic. Insofar as the State opposes the advance of the kingdom, civil disobedience is sometimes called for."
"Social action in itself will never enlighten people. Therefore, the proclamation of the truth must always be our prime focus."
"We fear because we are unable to trust. Intellectually we know all the biblical answers. We could counsel someone else with the same fears. But because of our unbelief, our doubts remain."
Some quotes from this book that are dear to me:-
"God suffers with you. If you grasp that, and if you can really trust him that he knows what he is doing and that you are in very competent hands, the pain will not go away entirely, but it will be reduced by half. Fear doubles pain. Trust halves it."
"'Take up your cross' means something similar to 'take your life in your hands.' It means: 'be prepared to carry your own noose around with you, to run the risk of anything, even death itself. Don't seek death. Avoid it if you can, and get the gospel message to anyone who will listen.'"
"You learn best with the little waves right in front of you. Ask God to show you which they are. Commit yourself to learning on them."
"Some pig-headed enthusiasts 'witness,' not with courtesy and out of love, but from a need to triumph. They win arguments but lose people."
"God has permitted human political power to exist even though it is demonic. Insofar as the State opposes the advance of the kingdom, civil disobedience is sometimes called for."
"Social action in itself will never enlighten people. Therefore, the proclamation of the truth must always be our prime focus."
"We fear because we are unable to trust. Intellectually we know all the biblical answers. We could counsel someone else with the same fears. But because of our unbelief, our doubts remain."
May 27, 2024
A wonderful small book. Chapter 2: The Way of the Cross is my favorite chapter. A simple and insightful passage "Freedom does not consist in doing what I want to do but in doing what I am designed to do" - a reminder of what true commitment to Jesus Christ.
January 10, 2013
Good book with some refreshing themes. The author has a clear sense of Gods call and what it means to follow Christ. There were times I wished he explored certain themes more thoroughly, for example the topic of civil disobedience in the name of Christ is intriguing, there were moments I felt like I wished I could have asked him to explain more.
Today I think a simple call to following Christ *at all* seems more appropriate than a call to follow "at all costs". The world no longer professes to be a Christian world. if indeed it ever did.
Great discussion questions although at times very personal
Today I think a simple call to following Christ *at all* seems more appropriate than a call to follow "at all costs". The world no longer professes to be a Christian world. if indeed it ever did.
Great discussion questions although at times very personal
March 18, 2013
heard this book mentioned once in a sermon, had to read it. was the absolute best thing i could of read on the eve of our journey to africa as a family. this book deserves a revival in our generation. you just need to check it out.
September 9, 2016
White doesn't mince his words in this book discussing the cost of committing one's life to Jesus. Straightforward and concise, this book is a quick read but gives one plenty to think about and act on.
January 10, 2019
A Small book which you can easily finish with one sitting but instead I paused from time to time, pondered and meditated words that struck me. Good read indeed, it has given insights and motivated me to serve with my all heart.
September 4, 2007
Good book, but it didn't really grab me. I did learn from it, and I did like his stories.
January 1, 2013
The quote from the Communist in this book changed my life direction as a young Christian and gave me a vision of commuting my life to God no matter what the cost would be.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews