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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