Feeling like a disciple…

Chris has some more good stuff out…

Is THAT the process of disciple-making?  Have we become so sensationalistic that being a disciple has to FEEL a certain way?  When Jesus called his disciples, he never said “Follow me, and I’ll make you feel really good!  It’ll be awesome.  We’ll talk about deep stuff and you’ll leave feeling empowered to go back and take on the challenges of life!” As I read it, He tells them simply to follow and when he does talk spiritual stuff they usually leave feeling…well, confused!

Okay, picture now Peter getting out of the boat, walking towards Jesus on the top of the waves, and then takes his eyes off Jesus and looks at the waves…

gurgle gurgle…

A true picture of a great disciple…

The kicker is of course that when he called for help, Jesus was immediately there, chiding him gently, “you of little faith, why did you doubt.”

There is a change and it takes place in the book of Acts.  Peter, the doubter, the proud proclaimer of staying Jesus, the scared rejecter at his trial is given the Holy Spirit.  Look at the picture painted after that.  Peter is fearless to the Pharisees, pronouncing Jesus as Messiah, being jailed and never stopping his preaching. 

The difference in a disciple is the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Chris also points out another essential in his quest.

I’m not looking for another meeting or another group Bible study, just a few relationships that are real and vulnerable and have a desire to live a deep life.  I don’t know what that looks like and I don’t think I have to because the point is obedience.

I’m no different than Chris, I’m often confused about how to live this Christian life, this blog if nothing else should show the struggle as well as the progression of a faith in Christ.  God’s gift to me, of not only salvation, but faith, and the helper that is there when I start to doubt.

The key is the real relationships.  The sharing of lives.  The helping, the building, the encouraging of others.  Those vital relationships can be had in many places, but they are essential to growing.  The monks tried to get closer to God by closing themselves off to others.  I think that is honorable, but not the calling of many of us that live day to day.  Our calling is to live with other people, and share the gift that God has given us.

I look forward to this discussion with Chris… we are seeking the same thing.

Posted by Jon in Christianity • Discipleship
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  brad  on  11/04  at  06:12 PM

  
  

  I was talking to a young friend who is looking into some emerging church type communities. He said the operative word is “more truthful”. i think he meant by this “more faithful to the new testament story”. I encourage people to get down and dirty with the text and deconstruct our concepts of what it means to be a Christian and to be church.
  I am not in a “emergant” community per se. But the getting real value is where we all need to challenge ourselves to stay.
  brad

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