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Recognizing the Essential Ingredients of Authentic Christian Discipleship

“If there’s no roux, it ain’t gumbo.”

Some ingredients are essential. Without them, a thing is not what it claims to be.

Someone recently told me, “I tried following Jesus, and it destroyed my life.”

I had to wonder: Where did you follow him? Where did he lead you? Were you following Jesus—or an imposter speaking in his name?

Your intentions may have been sincere. You may have given it your best effort. But some of what you were taught about following Jesus may not have been the voice of Jesus at all.

Because if there’s no love, joy, or peace—if there’s no welcome for the marginalized, no mercy for the wounded, and nothing but fear, exclusion, and bitterness—it may call itself Christian discipleship, but something essential is missing.

That does not mean followers of Jesus suddenly become perfect. We still struggle with bitterness, fear, prejudice, pride, and failure. Congregations that profess Jesus can also fall short of the Jesus they proclaim.

But at the core of Christian discipleship, there must be some roux. There must be something of the character, compassion, grace, and flavor of Jesus.

“If there’s no roux, it ain’t gumbo.”

And if there’s no love, it ain’t Jesus.