Do you consider yourself a Disciple of Jesus?

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If so, what do you find most challenging about it?

For me it is the moment to moment application of his teachings through daily events. It takes ongoing mindfulness not to get swept up and forget who I am trying to follow.
 
Shakuhachi said:
If so, what do you find most challenging about it?

For me it is the moment to moment application of his teachings through daily events. It takes ongoing mindfulness not to get swept up and forget who I am trying to follow.
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I’m not a very good one at all, so my answer prolly doesn’t mean a whole lot, but: Remembering not to be combative and dismissive of non-Catholic viewpoints is the hardest part for me. Some days I do okay, others not as much. It’s a work in progress.
 
"Disciples’ or “followers”? Jesus speaks of disciples or students, pupils, learners. Paul speaks of followers, imitators. Of course we should be both.

Luke 14:27
“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

But we must first learn and understand before we can follow.

I am bringing this up because I find it helpful to renew my commitment.

In order t do that I must understand what am committing to.

Perhaps we take it for granted.
 
Shakuhachi said:
In order t do that I must understand what am committing to.

Perhaps we take it for granted.
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Yes we must grow in Him. Meaning we must want to grow in Him. Requiring that we meet Him, truly encounter Him, begin to learn from Him, and then - crucial - remain, that is abide in Him.
See how Jesus stresses this truth:
Joh 15:3 You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.
Joh 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
Joh 15:8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.
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Exactly, abide. That takes daily, moment to moment mindfulness, walking with him.
 
Too often I’m like St. Paul in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” I do consider myself a disciple and a follower of Jesus, but too often I miss the mark. I sometimes wish the Church was more open to the idea of the Fundamental Option. I think my basic orientation is always toward Our Lord, but then I fail and fall in many ways. Thank God for his mercy and the sacrament of confession!
 
Living the Gospel values is not easy given our weak state. However the Sacraments combined with prayer does amazing things.

Letting go our of our will is quite challenging.
 
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christofirst said:
I sometimes wish the Church was more open to the idea of the Fundamental Option. I think my basic orientation is always toward Our Lord, but then I fail and fall in many ways. Thank God for his mercy and the sacrament of confession!
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I remember that but don’t recall the issue. As long as we try our best.
 
As I learned it, the fundamental option was more like the scales of justice. If the good you did in life outweighs the bad, if your basic orientation is toward God, then you recieve your eternal reward. This goes against the Church teaching that if you should die in a state of mortal sin, regardless of whatever good you’ve done in life, you’re bound for hell. It’s just one of the Church teachings I struggle with.
 
According to fundamental option theory, each person makes a deep and basic choice for or against God. Individual acts we perform may or may not be in accordance with that fundamental choice. For example, when a person who has made a basic choice in favor of God sins, this choice to sin is not in accord with his fundamental orientation in favor of God.

The key claims of fundamental option theory are that individual acts do not change our basic orientation and that only when our fundamental option changes against God do we fall out of a state of grace. A person can commit particular sins without losing a state of grace.

Some go so far as to imply that no single act of sin one commits changes one’s fundamental option; only a prolonged pattern of sinful behavior can do so.

 
Yeah that’s it. It’s those “valid elements” that appeal to me, even though I’m taught I can’t officially hold the fundamental option theory. I just wish it was so. It makes sense to me.
 
I do.
Biggest challenge? Patience in suffering, humbleness, love for enemies and accepting God’s will.
 
Do you consider yourself a Disciple of Jesus?

Yes, but not in a way that would confer any honour or reflect any credit me. In other words, indeed yes, but one unworthy of the name. Below the threshold for a good or skilled or dedicated or even passable disciple.

Good servants — and so disciples too, I guess, by extension? — do more than expected. Useless servants just do their job. I can’t say I get anywhere close to fully doing my job. This kinda nets me a failing grade without being thrown out of the school. This is the reason I can say yes, I consider myself one, but I have no right to any pride about it.
 
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