Discipleship

Ever since I was thoughtfully given a copy of A Disciple's Life: The Biography of Neal A. Maxwell, I've returned time and time again to pondering and praying about what it means to be a disciple, and how I can become a true disciple. (His BYU speech, 'The Pathway of Discipleship', presents many of the concepts that are brought out in his biography; the balance of those concepts can be found in conference talks and the other speeches found at the linked site.)

That discipleship requires discipline should come as no surprise; after all, the two words look similar and have the same origin. When I came across 1 Cor 9:27 recently, I read the words of Paul with joy.

But I [rigorously discipline] my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

(I've included the greek translation in square brackets, rather than the common reading found in the KJV.) This scripture brings to mind a number of scriptures, all of which help me understand discipleship. For example, when Paul writes of the works of the flesh as opposed to the fruits of the spirit (I wonder whether there is something to the use of works vs. fruits?), he gives us:

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things ye would.

Gal 5:17

This then calls to mind the scripture found in Romans 5:1-5, in which a wonderful journey of tribulation is described by Paul - for a disciple in taking up the cross remembers that we are here to be tried and tested. Perhaps, when I don't recognise what is trying or testing me, I have strayed from the path of discipleship. (I have had the thought many times lately that comfort was never the purpose of our coming here; neither, then, should I be pursuing a comfortable lifestyle, but rather that rigorous discipline of my flesh to the spirit that Paul described above.)

And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

Abr 3:25

Of course, what I love most about the journey Paul describes in the Romans passage, is the promise of the love of God - Charity - being shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. And is that not the end of discipleship?

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon us all who are true followers (i.e. disciples - see etymology of the word below the break) of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God (think of the temple); that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Mor 7:48

But if I had to pick the best teaching on what is required and what it means to be a disciple, then I would consider salvific ordinances - and the Endowment in particular - as the most eloquent scripture of all. Of course, I can't write about that in any detail here!

I do want to finish my musings on the counter-Endowment, though - the process by which we removed ourselves from the influence of Godliness in this world, until we are left in the end to the buffetings of Satan, 'beyond feeling'.

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Etymology of DISCIPLE

O.E. discipul (fem. discipula), Biblical borrowing from L. discipulus "pupil, student, follower," from a lost compound *discipere "to grasp intellectually, analyze thoroughly," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + capere "to take, take hold of" (see capable).

(My note: note the correlation with studying things out in our minds, and asking of God, so that we can learn by study and by faith. Should probably throw the word "ponder" in here, too.)