To be a born again Christian is easy but to be a good disciple of Christ is very

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   nnmsposted 11 years ago

   To be a born again Christian is easy but to be a good disciple of Christ is very hard. Do you agree?

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   SimpleGiftsofLoveposted 11 years ago

   Yes, it can be hard because it requires sacrifice.  If we live by the power of the Holy Spirit, it can be done, and joyfully!

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   A K Turnerposted 11 years ago

   I think to put in the words "good" disciple is completely floored. If you read the bible correctly there is no such thing as a good disciple, peter definitely wasn't, Paul was a christian killer. Overall I think we have to appreciate that is always by grace that we are saved, that our good deeds are like filthy rags before the glory of God. Thus making his saving grace all the more glorious. "amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me."
   Jesus was very blunt when he called the people in the temple vipers. When he said "though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children." However if you want to be the best you can be, then you live by grace and are guided by the spirit, using the bible to discern where the spirit is quiet. Ultimately though, my advice is to mediate on grace, what Christ has done for you, the more you do this the more you turn from Peter into Paul, "who was the most fruitful of the disciples" if in doubt just count letters! lool. grace is the key to unlocking a Godly life. It comes from an overflow of feeling forgiven, for he who is forgiven much, loves much.

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      MsDoraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Good answer, A K.  You delivered my sermon for the day.
      
      Good question, nnms.  Shows that you're thinking seriously about your walk.

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   jstfishinmanposted 11 years ago

   A good disciple is a living sacrifice unto God. The problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the alter. The hard part is staying a sacrifice, Satan will use every temptation, to help us crawl off the alter.
   The highest highs as a Christian come when we stay on the alter of sacrifice and give ourselves completely over to God.
   Likewise, our lowest lows are when we have wandered away from the alter of sacrifice, and we find ourselves, like the Prodigal Son, wallowing with the pigs.
   It is a long walk back to the alter of sacrifice after being that low, not because of God not forgiving us, that is instantaneous, but because as Christians, we have trouble forgiving ourselves.

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      Jeff Porterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well said.

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   d.williamposted 11 years ago

   If your question is to be taken literally, the answer would have to be NO, i do not agree. 
   Yes, it is easy to fall into the trap of declaring yourself a "born again Christian", but that only satisfies the need for personal forgiveness for something that, that individual feels is disjointed in their life.  Whether it is real, or imagined is of little relevance.
   Declaring one's self as a "disciple" of Christ is also of little relevance.  If one beliefs in the concept of being a good person at heart, then that is the only definition of what it means to be Christ like, that IS relevant.  It really is not necessary for anyone to belong to, or join, any cult in order to live a life of decency. 
   There should be no "sacrifice" involved in being a good person.  If we do no harm to others, pass no judgments, or interfere in the lives of others, then there is nothing to sacrifice, or strive for, in order to be a "good person".   It simply comes naturally without effort.
   Way too much emphasis is place of what we should be presenting to others.  And that includes belonging to any religion.  Belonging to any cult is not a status symbol, and it does not automatically make anyone a good person. 
   That "goodness" comes from within the person, not from belonging to a religion.

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      miss_jkimposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunately d. william, you  have missed the point altogether. Being a Christian is not the act of "joining" an organization, it is the joining of oneself into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Christianity is not a religion or a cult.

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      ComfortBposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      d.william - no one is talking about 'belonging to a religion'. This is about having a relationship with the Giver of Life, Jesus Christ, and living by God's holy standard through the immeasurable power of His Holy spirit.

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      LoisRyan13903posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Good answer but a lot a people confuse Christianity with Religion.  And many of those organized religions can be called a cult because they follow man-made rules than what the Bible says

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      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry guys. i should not have commented here. All religions are cults & Jesus is only a savior 2 christians. No human is more godly than another. Goodness is not inherent in any religion or cult. Christianity is assuredly a cult in any sense.

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   Smirelesposted 11 years ago

   I do not agree exactly. God takes you where He finds you. Being a good disciple of Christ requires work and commitment. Commitment and surrender are the key words. If you can do that you will be a good disciple. Oh... and you have to absolutely be a believer.

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   miss_jkimposted 11 years ago

   It is a daily walk of giving of oneself, following the direction of the Holy Spirit, disciplining our flesh while, at the same time, feeding and strengthening our spirit man. It is difficult, but His burden is easy and His yoke is light and the reward far exceeds the struggle.

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   Jeff Porterposted 11 years ago

   Neither are particularly easy.
      Being born again is easy enough, if you believe.   But, apparently, having that sort of faith and belief is a tough thing for many people to find within themselves.    Our culture is so jaded, it's no wonder people feel this way.
   
      But for those of us know believe the truth, and become born again ...living the lifestyle can be difficult.    Especially at first.    When we are born again, we are, as the bible makes clear, a 'new creature'.   A baby.     As such, we are on the milk, but as we grow in the word, through studying God's word, and through prayer, and through the encouragement of a good church family (hopefully), we are to leave the milk for the 'strong meat' of sound doctrine.
     I think many many christians do not understand the progression, however.   Many seem to think that getting saved is the only step to Christianity.   However, after we get saved, we are to progress in our faith and live out our faith in a way that attracts others to Christ.   We are to share the gospel.
      But, if we remain as babes, and stay on the milk, we are unprepared to deal with the culture and society at large that opposes our views.   And we can get confused and lost in the wilderness.
      And, as imperfect creatures (even us saved ones), we will always struggle to live as Christ has called us to live, at least all the time.    Sin dwells within us, so, even being saved, we still struggle against it.
     Some people feel that Christians feel they're perfect.   Perhaps some do.   But, if they do, they truly do NOT understand what the word of God tells us.

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   ComfortBposted 11 years ago

   To be a born again Christian is not as easy as we may think it is "... For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph.2:8,9
   
   There are those who will find no place of repentance, though they seek it carefully with tears" Example Judas, Esau....
   
   To be a good disciple of Christ on the other hand is only made possible by the indwelling of his Holy Spirit. For ' it is not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord'. Romans 3:12 makes us to understand that there is none that can do good in a spiritual sense, without the grace of God Almighty.
   
   When our will is totally lost in His will, He lives through us to fulfill his call on our lives. Then and only then can we be a good disciple.

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      Allen Gordonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well said. Being born again by itself is difficult for us but not for God to make us born again. God send His Holy Spirit within us to cause us to have a desire to be born again to convict us of our sin nature and cause us to cry out to Him for mercy

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    delleaposted 11 years ago

    I totally agree and I've written hubs on being a narcissistic christian, which I can be at times. Its very easy to judge others and very hard to hold yourself to the same standards! So many old cleches (bad spelling on phone) address this very thing and I'm sure others here can think of them... anyways, excellent question! :-)

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    LoisRyan13903posted 11 years ago

    Yes mainly because there are too many distractions in today's society.  Mainly my distractions include new technology coming out each day, financial worries and my job.  I did right some hubs on this using my Experiencing God and Breaking Free bible Studies.

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       Jeff Porterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I agree.    There are so many distractions for Christians today.    In a culture full of rottenness, we are surrounded by temptations on every side.    And, true enough, each generation had their own temptations, I think this one is especially full.

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    JetterV7posted 11 years ago

    Absolutely. No matter what we believe, we are stil human and we will always make mistakes. Loving your enemies is probably the biggest struggle for me. I seem to be able to forgive them and pray for God to move in their lives, but I still have trouble "loving" them the way Jesus would.

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    Allen Gordonposted 11 years ago

    I agree to a certain extent. It is difficult for anyone to admit they are a hell deserving sinner, however once one humbles themselves enough to admit this it is easy for one to turn to God because Jesus is the only One that can cause the re-birth. Being a good disciple is very difficult, there is so much that attacks the Christian to get him/her to fall and not do that which they were called to do.

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    BuffaloGal1960posted 11 years ago

    If being a disciple was easy, the Ten Commandments would have been easy to keep and sufficient for our sins.  But it wasn't easy and so Christ came and died on the cross.  That's why we can't "earn" salvation by works only but need faith with works.
    
    There are many things that make the walk with Christ easier daily. 
    
    1) Starting out with thanksgiving and prayer each day.
    2) Reading the Word.
    3) Not being so caught up or distracted by "works" that we ignore our own family, but getting refilled regularly.  Just about anything can dry up over time if not refilled.  The Word and prayer refreshes us.
    4) Being around others who are encouraging helps too.  My mother, sister and BFF are those for me.
    
    A Christian walk is like a plant (and marriage is like a plant).  You weed out the bad, you give it nutrition, and put it in light and not darkness = healthy. Don't suffocate it in the closet, but let others see it.

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