Sometimes Christianity feels impossible. The Bible’s commandments seem endless and its callings out of reach. It feels like we never pray enough, evangelize enough, or give enough. We know that we are forgiven, redeemed, and adopted into God’s family—but we wonder if our Heavenly Father is ever truly pleased with us.
In Impossible Christianity: Why Following Jesus Does Not Mean You Have to Change the World, Be an Expert in Everything, Accept Spiritual Failure, and Feel Miserable Pretty Much All the Time (get your copy this month of a gift of any amount), Kevin DeYoung clarifies that while following Jesus is hard, it is not impossible. We can please God; even with our imperfect, ordinary obedience.
Throughout the book, DeYoung tackles seven areas of the Christian life where believers often feel like they aren’t “enough.” Below, I’ve summarized DeYoung’s points and included key supporting verses.
1. Daily Quiet Time
We often assume that the only way to fulfill the Bible’s exhortations to pray and meditate on Scripture is what some call a daily “quiet time”, 15 or 30 minutes spent in Bible reading and prayer each morning. However, DeYoung maintains that we can carry out these callings in many other ways, including corporate worship, listening to sermons while driving, spiritual conversations, and prayers before meals. We must be devoted to God’s Word and persistent in prayer, but we should not feel pressure to keep a perfect daily streak or make quiet time the end-all-be-all of Christian discipleship.
Blessed is the man…[whose] delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. — Psalm 1:1-2
2. Evangelism
Are all believers called to share the gospel? In a careful study of the Great Commission and other passages of Scripture, DeYoung clarifies that the Bible commands believers to simply be “happy to talk about Jesus” when given the opportunity. This will take courage. We must know how to explain the gospel. But it is not an impossible calling. Some are called to be street preachers and apologists and missionaries; most are simply called to be ready when an opportunity comes.
In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. — 1 Peter 3:15
3. Wealth
If the rich being saved is like a camel going through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24), what does that mean for wealthy Christians? We know that “with God all things are possible” (19:26), but we still feel guilty about owning a large home, driving a functional car, and receiving so many Christmas presents. “Should we be giving more?” we wonder.
DeYoung uses examples of wealthy Christians in Luke’s Gospel and the Book of Acts to question the common assumption that wealth is inherently bad. Wealthy Christians will face a multitude of unique temptations, and they have a much greater financial responsibility than other believers. However, they need not automatically feel guilt for being wealthy.
“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. — Matthew 19:24-26
4. Corporate Responsibility
We are often told that the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and the sports we watch make us complicit in the world’s worst evils. Is that true? Does the fact that we live within systems that feed poverty, environmental degradation, and exploitation mean that we bear responsibility for these problems? DeYoung helpfully notes the way John the Baptist dealt with Roman tax collectors and soldiers, people involved in a brutal and exploitative Roman regime. He didn’t require them to fix or even leave the “system.” He simply called them to pursue godly lives and repay those they had wronged. We too are called to simple, straightforward obedience—not to end child labor, save the planet, or eradicate exploitation (although each of those would be nice!). We do not have to feel guilt for living in a society that inevitably contains countless connections to evil.
Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to [John the Baptist], “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages. — Luke 3:12-14
5. Discipleship: The Sermon on the Mount
DeYoung sums up this one aptly: “Christians often approach [the Sermon on the Mount] like they are stepping into the ring for a game of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out! We read each successive verse as if Jesus meant to trap us in a corner, pummel us into submission, and knock us to the ground. Don’t be angry in your heart—smack! Don’t look at someone lustfully—bam! Don’t store up treasures on earth—kapow!” According to DeYoung, however, this is not the best way (or the correct way) to understand the famous sermon. DeYoung’s close analysis reveals that the Sermon on the Mount is neither intended to make us feel bad nor crafted to give us an impossible standard for discipleship.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. — Matthew 5:3
6. Time Commitments
Many of us are stretched to the limit with time commitments at home and at work. On top of that, the internet and the news overwhelm us daily with global problems we must care about and “do something” about: a flood, a shooting, homelessness, racism, etc. DeYoung reminds readers that, while God does make demands on our time, the Bible puts more weight on our character than our time commitments. We should take time to stand for the oppressed and minister to the hurting—but we can do this as neighbors and friends, rather than activists and organizers.
Put on…compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another…forgiving each other…And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. — Colossians 3:12-14
7. Changing the World
Many of us are eager to win our nation back to God, to see the masses saved, to witness revival. These are good desires—but the Bible does not call us to be revolutionaries, radicals, or world-changers. DeYoung highlights 1 Timothy 2:1-2, where Paul instructs Timothy to pray “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life,” to show that God truly is pleased when we are faithful to Him in our ordinary lives. Make no mistake: following Jesus is hard. We must attack our sin. We must be willing to go wherever God calls us. But He often calls us to ordinary things: getting married, settling into a church, loving our (literal) neighbor, raising children, and training those children in godliness.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. — 1 Timothy 2:1-2
In Summary
Impossible Christianity helped me find joy in straightforward obedience, even when that obedience is hard. DeYoung puts words to many of the questions, feelings, and worries that I (and many Christians I know) have struggled with, answering in a clear and comforting way. Reading Impossible Christianity will make you think, laugh, and question your assumptions, but most of all, it will point you to Christ. We do not serve a “peevish and austere” God; our God is “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). The life He calls us to is hard, but it is not impossible.
Get your copy of Impossible Christianity by Kevin DeYoung this month for a gift of any amount.