Disciple of Christ??

We are often times told of what the disciples of Christ did or said from the pages of the bible, but there is very little discussion about what a disciple of Christ is, and what the bible shows us on this point.

So earlier today in a discussion, this question came up and here is my response to some of the points made in the discussion.  Once you’ve read what is here revisit the bible and see what it is that the bible has been sharing with us all for a long time now.

My response in the discussion…

I agree with you that according to the bible writings, Jesus is shown to have said to His disciples that they were to go and make disciples and we have to define the word disciple based on what Jesus said about it to know what is recorded to have been what Jesus was referring to.

Jesus’ words in the bible tell us what it is that one that came to him to be a disciple of His was to do or he could not be His disciple. That is recorded to have been things like forsake all that one has, take up ones cross, be as one’s master is, hate family and friends, and even one’s own life… or one could not be His disciple.

Luk 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Luk 14:26 If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

So Jesus makes it clear that one cannot be His disciple that does not do these things, and we see from the writings that His disciples, did those things and were also shown to have taught others afterwards this same commandments as well.

So now comes the question, if one is to be a disciple of Christ, based on what the bible tells us… is this not what Jesus says first? How is it that one can be submitting himself/herself to the teaching of Christ in the bible, believing them to be true and accurate if one is not doing these things to become His disciple?

Wouldn’t we have to discount Jesus’ very words on these points in the pages of the bible to say that one can become His disciple not doing those things?

Next, if a disciple means being a dedicated follower of the teachings of Jesus Christ… and we have His teachings and His commandments in the pages of the bible… then why would we reject them and do something other than what it is that He says in them?

If the faithful servant is to submit and keep all the commandments and teachings of Jesus Christ… then how can one be a follower of His, or a disciple of His by following another?

If a disciple of Christ submits every area of life to Jesus.. then would that not begin with the forsaking all as outlined by Jesus to become a disciple… and wouldn’t that then mean that one would not go anywhere… not join a church, not be taught or led by anyone else other than Jesus Christ Himself?

So again it seems that the question here is whether or not we take the bible as it is written and take Jesus at His words within those pages as to what is a disciple and what it is that the writings tell us that Jesus said whosoever comes to him is to do or one cannot be His disciple….. or do we take what it is that someone else has to say on that point?

Why would we today have to have an “elder” teach us what it is that Christ commanded within those pages of the bible, when we have the bible and are able to read them for ourselves and follow them if we are drawn of God to Christ to be His disciple?

See once again saying that we have to have an elder or anyone else today to teach us what Jesus said seems to be negating the validity of the bible and the accurate record or the true and trustworthy record of those two or more mouths that share with us within those pages what it is that Jesus said and commanded His disciples to do.

It seems to either be saying that the bible is not to be trusted, or that we can’t read it and see what it says and simply do it if we are drawn of God to Christ as it says… or that as so often we’ve heard that there are only a few that know what it really means and thus we must go to a priest or preacher and have them to tell us what it means… doesn’t it???

For more on what I’ve shared on “What is a disciple-the Biblical perspective” Click Here!