In relation to the title for this post, there are two things. First, I want to apologize for the length of time since my last post. It was not intended, but I became distracted by another project. It goes to show that I need to strengthen and re-energize or reinvigorate my commitment to this project, which actually in the larger scheme of things is far more important than any other that I'm involved with. That said, the rest of this post covers the principle purpose of this post and its title.
A person who claims to be a Christian implicitly claims to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. The principle definition of being a disciple is
A person who claims to be a Christian implicitly claims to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. The principle definition of being a disciple is
One who embraces and is an adherent to and assists in spreading the teachings of another.
The above definition, however, doesn't encompass the full meaning of what being a disciple of Christ entails. Implicit in the claim of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is the claim to have made a permanent, eternal, irrevocable, total commitment to Jesus and all that He is, teaches, commands, represents and stands for. Furthermore, it is a commitment of love and obedience to Jesus and, therefore, to God since Jesus is God the Son and the three Divine Persons of the Godhead are inseparable.
Implicit in this commitment is the promise to faithfully and steadfastly obey and adhere to the teachings of the Word of God in its entirety. But Jesus is the definitive Word of God. It is He who speaks to mankind in both the Old and New Testaments, the Jewish and Christian Scriptures respectively. But Jesus teaches us by more than what is written in the Bible. He also teaches us by His actions, behavior, the earthly life He led and by the words He spoke that were not included in the Bible. The Bible, having been written down, is Sacred Scripture. That which was not written down, but was passed on to future generations of Christians by the stories told by Jesus' disciples form Sacred Tradition. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition together form Divine Revelation. This commitment, thus, requires obedience to all of God's teachings and commands, without exception. To knowingly and intentionally ignore, deny or reject any of the Truths of Divine Revelation is to reject and repudiate one's entire commitment to Christ. Doing so is a rejection of Jesus Himself and renders one's claim to be a Christian false and invalid.
I am sure there are those who will reject some or even all of the above. That, however, neither negates nor invalidates the truth of the foregoing assertions. Therefore, for example, those who claim to be Christian but support gay marriage or abortion deny the Truth of Divine Revelation and its condemnation of such practices. Until these individuals give firm and incontrovertible evidence of repentance and the reformation of their lives, their claims to be Christians must be rejected by true disciples of Christ.
Implicit in this commitment is the promise to faithfully and steadfastly obey and adhere to the teachings of the Word of God in its entirety. But Jesus is the definitive Word of God. It is He who speaks to mankind in both the Old and New Testaments, the Jewish and Christian Scriptures respectively. But Jesus teaches us by more than what is written in the Bible. He also teaches us by His actions, behavior, the earthly life He led and by the words He spoke that were not included in the Bible. The Bible, having been written down, is Sacred Scripture. That which was not written down, but was passed on to future generations of Christians by the stories told by Jesus' disciples form Sacred Tradition. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition together form Divine Revelation. This commitment, thus, requires obedience to all of God's teachings and commands, without exception. To knowingly and intentionally ignore, deny or reject any of the Truths of Divine Revelation is to reject and repudiate one's entire commitment to Christ. Doing so is a rejection of Jesus Himself and renders one's claim to be a Christian false and invalid.
I am sure there are those who will reject some or even all of the above. That, however, neither negates nor invalidates the truth of the foregoing assertions. Therefore, for example, those who claim to be Christian but support gay marriage or abortion deny the Truth of Divine Revelation and its condemnation of such practices. Until these individuals give firm and incontrovertible evidence of repentance and the reformation of their lives, their claims to be Christians must be rejected by true disciples of Christ.
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