Some people also suffer a lot of great difficulties in their life. People who have lost loved ones may question their faith. They must think to themselves, why is this happening to me? Why is God not doing anything to help me? Where is God? Because of these thoughts they could turn against God and their religion.
These days there have been a lot of scandals happening within the church with regards to child abuse etc. This has since turned people away from the church and has made people’s faith weaken. They just feel that they cannot trust the church and eventually turn away from prayer altogether.
The media also plays a great part in my opinion, in making discipleship difficult for children. The media influences a lot of people to disregard religious teaching. In fact religion is held in a very poor light for instance take into account the recent statement by the Pope in which he quoted an ancient scripture, which Muslims took great offence to. As the leader of the worlds Catholics he is called out to speak out in the name of peace.
The influence of peers often lead young people to do things which they know are wrong and would not normally do, But because of peer pressure young people now days often just give into their peers, knowing that they are letting God down.
There is just so much evil in the world that people do not know how to go about their religion and they wonder who they can trust. People are even afraid to practice their religion due to fear of being attacked by people who do not support the teachings of their religion.
On the other hand there are also a lot of good things happening in the world, Such as the Missionaries in the third world who give up their whole lives to look after other people. They work in very dangerous conditions but still are prepared to risk it and to leave all behind to help other people and follow what Jesus taught.
Consider the number of priests, Nuns and lay people there are in the world that try and teach the word of God, even though they may have been persecuted, sent to prison and even killed. Just recently a Nun was killed in Italy in retaliation to Pope Benedict’s statement.
Take into account the lay people both Catholic and Protestant who give up their time to attend Church and even take part in the liturgy. People would argue and say how God could expect anymore from people who worship him like lay people do.
But just like priests they have to do their bit.
There are many great Christians who many people who consider to be true disciples of the modern day world. People such as:
Mother Teresa: was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian descent, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in India. She gave up who entire life to work with the the poor and sick people in India.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: was the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully-representative democratic elections. Before his presidency he was a prominent anti-apartheid activist who, while imprisoned for 27 years, was involved in the planning of underground armed resistance (terrorist) activities. Nelson Mandela was prepared to die for his rights and to speak up for everyone else who were too afraid to speak up. He achieved in getting black people equal rights.
Veronica Guerin: was an Irish journalist who was murdered in 1996 by Irish drug dealers. She knew that there where people out there who were making money from selling and dealing drugs, but the ring leader never got caught. She tracked down one of the drug lords and when they found out she was shot. She gave up her life to try and fight for something she believed and stop profit being made from illegal transactions that affect other people greatly.
In conclusion I believe that it is still possible to be a disiple the way jesus intended even with all the bad things that go on but people must be prepared to try and resist the modern day temptations of life, It is only the small minority who can truly do this.
