(from Baguio City, Philippines)
What is a disciple?
Young men in the Jewish culture of higher learning sat under a Rabbi. He was their model and teacher. They followed him. Memorization of scripture and instruction in the law were emphasized, e.g., Paul was "educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law"... he was a disciple of Gamaliel before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.
Followers of Jesus understood this method and regarded Jesus as their teacher when He said, "Follow me." The meaning was clear--they would literally follow Jesus imitating what He did and said. They would become like the one they followed.
I've heard it said, "There are many Christians but not many followers." A Christian is one who literally follows Christ. This may seem a narrow theology but there is no logical way around it. It is impossible to be a Christian and not choose to be like Christ! We are caught by the Law of Noncontradiction--a basic principle of truth that says, in short, two contradictory similar claims cannot be both true.
A disciple is a literal follower of Christ, which is not difficult to understand, but the implications change everything we do and think!
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