Explain the meaning of discipleship for: -1) The first Christians. 2) Christians today.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Knowledge and Understanding.

Explain the meaning of discipleship for: -

The first Christians.
Christians today.

In this essay, I am to characterize the meaning of discipleship, for the first Christians and for the Christians in the present day. The meaning of the word disciple is “one who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.” The word disciple is derived from the Latin words discipulus and discere meaning pupil and to learn. There are many differences between Christians today and the Christians 2000 years ago and their visions towards being a disciple. The very first Christians, professing belief in Christianity, were those of the remaining twelve apostles, for Judas had hung himself, and the three holy woman, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome who had come upon the empty tomb were Jesus had laid. At the beginning of Christianity, the Holy Lands were a part of the great Roman Empire. The people at that time who wished to be disciples had to do so secretly, underground. Their belief in Christianity, led to many of them being persecuted, Crucifixion was a real possibility.

At the start of Jesus’ vocation, he chose twelve disciples. This was very significant because twelve was the Jewish number of excellence. The men that Jesus chose were not exactly prefect. There was a combination of people from different walks of life. Men who most people thought were sinners and immoral. Among the men that Jesus called were Mathew (Levi), a dishonest tax collector, Simon, a member of the Zealots who were freedom fighters. They were fierce patriots who seen no hope for their people until the Romans were driven out, they tried to reach this goal by the means of violence and murder. And Judas the man that was destined to let down Jesus by betraying him. When Jesus called on his new Disciples they responded immediately, giving up everything and following Jesus in his cause. Jesus had the right to make absolute demands over these men. “Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men”. This means that Jesus was giving these new disciples the opportunity to guide people in to God’s Kingdom. One of these men had totally changed his ways in order to follow Jesus. The Tax collector, Levi, was believed to be a known ‘sinner’ among other citizens and was hated by his own people but still Jesus called him. “Follow me”. This conveys that you did not have to be perfect, irreproachable or guiltless to inherit the Kingdom of God. “It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners”.

The Apostles went out to do Jesus’ work as he had taught his apostles to preach and give them the power to drive out demons heal people and anoint the sick. They began to copy Jesus’ life style. They went out and preached that people should repent.

This is a preview of the whole essay

There is a great cost of being a disciple of Jesus. One has to be willing to tested on ones faith. It is these tests that really define the true nature of our discipleship. “The tests, in which you prove yourself, are the things that will build your character, and make your faith that little bit more stronger.” To involve discipleship in your life you have to be willing to “take up the cross”, and be able deal with many responsibilities, some of which that are unpleasant. Disciple must love Jesus, and loving someone means making sacrifices for him or her. People who love God deny themselves to do God’s will. In Mark’s gospel it says that anyone who is prepared to sacrifice something for God, such as food or money, for Christ will be rewarded, rewarded with eternal life. A good example of someone who was willing to do just that was the Widow at the treasury. She out of all the little she had in her poverty gave two small coins. She put in everything as an offering, “All she had to live on”.

In the time of Jesus there were still people that could not give up what they had to become a disciple, those men and woman represent the majority of people in today’s world. These people are all caught up in the materialistic things in the world.

“Christians are to live in the world but not with the world”.

Tertullian

In the story of “The Rich Young Man” Jesus was pleased that the young man had lived his life according to the Jewish Law, but when Jesus had requested of him to “go and sell all you have and give it to the poor”, gloom spread over his face. This was a truly good man that had always followed God but was unable to make the sacrifice of given up his riches.

A disciple must have the attitude of servants, putting themselves last if they wish to be first. And to be great, a true disciple would find him/herself must be the slave of all. “Even the son of man did not come to be served: he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.” Mark 10:45. James and John, two of Jesus’ own apostles did not see the translation between a true disciple and his Messiah with a victorious warrior and his triumphant King. Both James and John were blind to the true spiritual mean of the title ‘Messiah’.

Humans are, by their very nature, weak, and all of us fail at some time in our lives. Even the Great Peter, Jesus head disciple, failed during his life especially when Jesus needed him the most. Jesus said “I tell you solemnly, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will have denied me three times.” And then Peter replied, “If I have to die with you I will never disown you.” Peter who was to be the first Pope could not believe that he would let Jesus down. This was Peter’s test of faith. He makes a promise, which first he cannot keep. His heart ruled his head! Even though faith is strong all men have weakness and failure. “He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned” Mark 16 15-16.

Discipleship involves a commitment that demands sacrifice and as humans we find it commit ourselves if there is no reward for doing so. God has set aside a reward for all of us and that is, a place in the ‘Kingdom of God’ and to have eternal life.

There are many examples of modern day Christians around all of which who follow the ways and teachings of Jesus. Two well-known Christian Disciples are Mother Theresa of Calcutta and Fr Damian of Molokai.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta was an Albanian-born Roman Catholic nun, founder of the Missionaries of Charity, and Nobel laureate. Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, she entered the Order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto in Ireland at the age of 18. She trained in Dublin and Darjiling, India, before taking her religious vows in 1937. While serving as principal of a Roman Catholic high school in Calcutta, she was moved by the presence of the sick and dying on the city's streets. In 1948 she was granted permission to leave her post at the convent and begin a ministry among the sick.

“I realised that I had a call to take of the sick and dying, the hungry the naked and the homeless – to God’s love in action to the poorest of the poor.”

In 1950 Mother Teresa and her associates were approved within the archdiocese of Calcutta as the Missionaries of Charity. Later the order was recognized as a pontifical congregation under the jurisdiction of Rome. Members of the congregation take four vows on acceptance by the religious community. In addition to the three basic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, a fourth vow is required pledging service to the poor, whom Mother Teresa described as the embodiment of Christ.

In 1952 Mother Teresa opened the Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart) Home for Dying Destitutes in Calcutta.

“I wanted to do something beautiful for God”

Subsequently she extended her work worldwide. In recognition of her efforts she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

The Other Great Disciple I mentioned earlier was Fr Damian. Fr Damien, full name JOSEPH DAMIEN DE VEUSTER was born1840, a Belgian Roman Catholic missionary to the lepers of Hawaii. Born in Tremelo, Belgium, Damien was the son of a farmer. Following his elder brother Pamphile, he joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Damien had nearly finished his studies for the priesthood when his brother, about to embark for the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands, fell ill. At his own request, Damien was sent (1865) in his place. He was ordained (1866) in Honolulu, where he worked among the natives until 1873; then he was appointed to work among the lepers on the island of Molokai. Conditions there were deplorable, with lack of proper housing, medical aid, and sanitary conditions. Damien devoted himself entirely to the spiritual and physical care of the lepers, obtaining government aid for them and encouraging agriculture and local industry. Although he contracted leprosy in 1884, he continued his labors until his death in 1989 aged just 49 years old.

This calling is still evident today. This is what the vocation means; for some it is religious orders, marriage, some work or relationships with others. On a wider basis Discipleship in the Christian church is much the same as it was in Jesus' time.

Some people nowadays don’t answer this call of vocations and act rather like ‘the rich young man’. The danger with wealth is that it can separate a person from God. The reason for this is that if a person becomes obsessed with wealth then he has little time for God.

In this essay I have outlined the crucial significance and responsibilities of discipleship for the Christians of Jesus’ time and for Christians in this modern age. In a way the changes and the dangers have not changed. There are still some people who devote their life to follow God’s command and to be a true disciple, but not many. I believe that that the meaning has been hosed down over the last 2000 years, and many are not making the sacrifices considered necessary.