Also, people are now more sceptic towards what’s written in the bible, due to the progress of science; making it difficult for a person now to seriously have faith in, and practice the word of God. For instance, a modern Christian may find it hard to accept the story about the cost of discipleship as it talks about eternal life.
Without having total faith in what’s written in Marks Gospel however, a Christian could show qualities of a disciple by doing the following things:
- charity work
- missionary work
- fighting prejudice
- campaigning for equal rights
- giving time to others
- dedicating their lives to help others
When looking at these qualities, a man who died in 1941 comes to my mind as being a disciple: Maximillian Kolbe. Throughout his life he established many associations and cities such as the City of Mary Immaculate, devised to aid others in need. He was ordained priest in 1918, thus giving him a duty to help people. Despite all his heroic work he was arrested in 1939 for his anti-Nazism, released, and then arrested again in February 1941 on charges of aiding Jews and the Polish. He was taken to Auschwitz where he gave up his life in place of another condemned inmate. In 1982 he was canonized by Pope John Paul and proclaimed a martyr.
I also believe that Jaime shows discipleship qualities because of the work he does with children in Bogotá. To great risk to his life and his family, Jaime goes down into the sewers with food and other provisions, which he buys with his own money for the families and young children living there. Jaime is at great risk of being shot, kidnapped or arrested for trying to help these people and he is thought of as a saint by the people he helps. He has established a shelter for some of the children and one day he is hoping to build a “children’s village,” therefore making him one of the most important figures in these peoples’ lives.
When I think of someone I know having discipleship qualities, my Aunt Molly comes to mind. Although she is a Jehovah’s Witness she shows the qualities that any regular Catholic or Church of England Christian disciple should have. For instance, she spends time and effort knocking on peoples’ doors in order to preach to them about her beliefs, and she is constantly practicing her religion, therefore she is a true example of how discipleship affects a modern Christian today.
