Friday, April 19, 2013

Cost of Discipleship Pt 38 - Outward or Hidden?


Chapter 5- Discipleship and the Individual

Bonhoeffer- 'This is the second way of becoming an individual--to be a follower of Christ in the midst of society among our own kith and kin and in the enjoyment of all our worldly wealth. But note that it is Abraham who is called to this manner of life. Abraham who had already known what it was to make a visible breach with the past, Abraham who in the New Testament became the example of faith. We are easily tempted to generalize the possibility that was granted to Abraham, to understand it as a spiritual principle and without hesitation to apply it to ourselves. We would like to think that we had the same call to a Christian life, as a specially called follower of Christ who yet retrained the enjoyment of his worldly possessions. Yet the outward breach is most certainly easier than the hidden one. Unless we have learnt this from the Bible and from our experience, we are indeed deceiving ourselves. We shall fall back on our direct relationship s and forfeit our fellowship with Christ.

It is not for us to choose which way we shall follow. That depends on the will of Christ. But this at least is certain: in one way or the other we shall have to leave the immediacy of the world and become individuals, whether secretly or openly.

But the same Mediator who makes us individuals is also the founder of a new fellowship. He stands in the centre between my neighbour and myself. He divides, but he also unites. Thus find the new and only real way to him-- the way which passes through the Mediator.'

Mar 10:28  Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mar 10:29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mar 10:30  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mar 10:31  But many that are first shall be last; and the last first

My thoughts-

Remember this…

Luk 11:24  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
Luk 11:25  And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
Luk 11:26  Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Bonhoeffer- 'Yet the outward breach is most certainly easier than the hidden one. Unless we have learnt this from the Bible and from our experience, we are indeed deceiving ourselves. We shall fall back on our direct relationship s and forfeit our fellowship with Christ.'

True?

Being a monk, being a nun, being a priest, a pastor, a minister, being one who outwardly takes on the 'trappings' of being a Godly person- a follower of Christ- truly is EASIER than being a Christ follower surrounded by the world, expected to be as the world. One excuses the monk, the nun, the priest, the pastor, the minister, and so on - they say- they are men/women of God and of course they are NOT expected to be of the world. People make exceptions for those who outwardly walk the walk of a Christ follower. The person who doesn't wear the garb of a Christ follower isn't expected to be a Christ follower. Being a hidden follower and separating one self from the world seems all but impossible.

Because this needs much more discussion and attention, we're going to continue it tomorrow by the GRACE and MERCY of God.

We need to understand what it truly means to be a follower of Christ, not just a follower of a false Christ. If we want delusions, we will be given them. If we would rather believe a lie, we will be allowed to live a lie. If deception suits us because the truth is too difficult to bear, we will be allowed to be deceived. If we want truth God will give us truth! By the grace of our LORD we will know the truth and LIVE the truth.

Please LORD help us to know the truth and only Your truth, living that truth in YOU.


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