Deep Discipleship for Dark Days

– A Manual for Holding Fast to What is Good (Paul Dirks)

Book review by Jack A. Taylor

How does a follower of Jesus manage the seismic shifts in our western culture in a relevant and timely way? How do we prepare our next generations to apply Scriptural principles to their everyday life? Paul Dirks lays a strong foundation through his book, Deep Discipleship for Dark Days.

Dirks, a New Westminster pastor, says “Deep Discipleship for Dark Days was written for my church and especially to unify and prepare our people for whatever may lie around the corner, whether it is job losses for those who maintain biblical values on sexuality and gender, or costly decisions on biometrically-connected digital IDs. There were two groups of people I was particularly concerned about – well-meaning and sincere believers who may not be aware and prepared for increasing pressures, and those who are very aware, but for whom the results create a sense of anxiety or of feeling overwhelmed. We need an eyes-wide-open approach to our world that maintains optimism in light of Christ’s kingship and the power of His Word as a weapon in the hands of the faithful.”

Dirks is a proficient and studious prophetic voice on the cultural and spiritual realities impacting the followers of Jesus. As usual, his research, knowledge and awareness are evident. The seven principles of his book lay the foundation for how we engage with what we experience in our world. The need for truth in a world where spiritual forces promote falsehoods. The need to step back from the ease and entertainment which will face judgment. The need for disciplined minds in a world where we are spoon-fed propaganda and pagan ideology. The need to secure our families in an age undermining parental oversight of children. The need to build new structures that will withstand ideological compromises.  The need to unmask influences of evil infiltrating our culture and lastly the need to be faithful in the spiritual struggle that invades even the church. Deep Discipleship is a discovery and survival manual to assist believers in keeping their integrity in the coming cataclysm. It is not designed primarily for skeptics or conspiracy theorists and should be engaged with careful thought.

In his chapter entitled Flee the Carnival, the author draws on the Adventures of Pinocchio to make his point on the cost of our current enthralment with amusement. A donkey speaks to the puppet on fantasy island by saying, “Bear it in mind, simpleton! Boys who refuse to study and turn their backs upon books, schools and masters, to pass their time in play and amusement, sooner or later come to a bad end. I know it by experience, and I can tell you. A day will come when you will weep as I am weeping now, but then it will be too late!” (p. 51) Dirks adds this insightful comment (p. 57): “This everything-as-entertainment culture has a dehumanizing effect on man. We become donkeys, feeding on fodder, jumping through predetermined hoops, and incapable of mature living. Many are content to consume rather than build, to view rather than think, to play rather than work. Responsibilities are traded for handouts and purpose is traded for passing pleasure.”

Dirks says, “One of my greatest hopes for believers in reading the book is that they recover the costly discipleship principles found in scripture which in many cases have been slowly eroded by the subtle pressures by the world and the slow seep of poisonous ideologies. For the church, especially in Canada, my desire is that they gain courage and rediscover their prophetic voice in a wicked generation, so that many repent and find Christ. God may very well use the dark to bring many more to the light, if Christ’s church is faithful and bold. The verse that I recite every Sunday morning as I walk early to church (usually before sunrise), captures well my hope for these dark days:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1–2)”

Dirks’ writing isn’t coming from a place of theory. He has been active politically and culturally on issues of gender and sexuality, appearing before the Senate to speak against Bill C-16, organizing protests, and writing briefs and articles, especially on the peer-reviewed research around these topics. This involvement hasn’t come without cost, as his church has been protested by trans advocates, with the event being filmed by CBC news. 

Jack A. Taylor is the founder of 1heartcoaching.com – marriage coaching for seasoned leaders; He is the former pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Vancouver and the author of numerous award-winning books, short-stories and articles – see http://jackataylor.com