'Living as a Christian disciple in today's world is nowhere near as challenging as when Jesus recruited his first followers.' Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show you have thought about different points of view.

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Neha Jain                                                                                                  Part 3                                                                                            

‘Living as a Christian disciple in today’s world is nowhere near as challenging as when Jesus recruited his first followers.’

Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show you have thought about different points of view.

        At the time when Jesus was around there were many Christian disciples. They could be split up into two groups. One group would be the specific twelve and the second group would be everyone else who chose to be a follower. At present day there are many groups of Christian disciples not just two. These disciples can be grouped by how dedicated they want to be towards God. The word ‘challenging’ in the statement can have two meanings. A positive meaning, the challenge to be a disciple, fulfilling the obligations of discipleship, and a negative meaning, facing difficulties, opposition and hardship. It could also mean a challenge to grow in spirituality and a relationship with God.

Some would argue that it was easier at Jesus’ time to live as a Christian disciple as you were with Jesus the person who started the whole faith off. You were living amongst the founder of the religion. You were able to witness the miracles he performed. For example, when Jesus feeds five thousand people, Luke 9 vs.10. Most people would only believe things if they could see them with their own eyes and this was happening, so more and more people followed Jesus. People would also rely on Jesus and they have a closer bond with him as he was there with them so this made it easier. Their relationship with God was growing spiritually.

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There are those who would argue that it was more difficult at Jesus’ time because he was trying to introduce a new religion in a world where things were more traditional and where the people were not willing to accept change and new things. In those days if you were not Jewish then you were looked down on, you had a lower status. Yet Jesus was promoting this idea of a new faith, which is not Judaism, which made it harder for him. It was also much more difficult at that time, as Jesus originally was Jewish and now he ...

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