But really to intend this is no trivial matter, of course. It means a huge change of direction. The weight of the tradition of client, or consumer, Christianity, which now without thought dominates the local congregations and denominations of Christian people—indeed, the entire Christian culture—stands against any such intention—not consciously, perhaps, but just by the inertia of “how things are,” of the daily rounds and what “has to get done.” This established order can actually keep pastors or teachers in a church setting from thinking of making disciples as an issue that concerns them at
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