According to the advanced English dictionary, philosophy is the examination of the
essence and significance of the universe and human existence. For those who follow God,
comprehending His nature is essential for effective discipleship. It is crucial to delve into His
character and identity; a thorough understanding of God's nature empowers us as His disciples to
grasp the significance of the task He has entrusted to us—to spread the gospel to all nations.
In our diversity, each of us possesses a unique philosophy of evangelism. Despite our
differences, what unites all followers of Christ is Jesus and the great commission. Our approach
and perspective on discipleship are deeply personal. Apostle Paul serves as a prime example of
someone whose philosophy of discipleship centered on mentoring others in the gospel. In 2
Timothy 2:2, Paul emphasizes the importance of passing on what he has taught to trustworthy
individuals who can in turn teach others. According to Earley, "Second Timothy 2:2 exemplifies
Paul's approach to ministry and the vital role of mentoring multipliers."1
This paper seeks to present the student's viewpoint on the philosophy of discipleship,
focusing specifically on the themes of obedience and the sacrifices inherent in discipleship. The
writer will draw upon course materials and additional relevant sources to support the arguments
presented.
Philosophy of Discipleship
In today's fast-paced society, many individuals, including the writer of this paper, often
find themselves making excuses for incomplete tasks. Personally, the student frequently laments
a shortage of time to fulfill my responsibilities. As a parent, constant distractions divert attention
from carefully laid plans. Similarly, as a soldier, unexpected last-minute changes can fragment
1 Earley, Dave., and Rod, Dempsey, Disciple Making Is ... : How to Live the Great Commission with
Passion and Confidence, (Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2013), 122
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plans, requiring swift adaptation to accomplish missions. These unforeseen events disrupt
meticulously organized schedules, throwing everything off course. Moreover, time constraints
are commonly cited as a reason for unfinished tasks. It often feels like there's never enough time
in a day, with twenty-four hours seeming insufficient to complete all necessary activities.
Regardless humanities excuses, God calls mankind to obey the Great Commission
without offering reasons or justifications.2 If anyone in history had grounds to complain about
time constraints and the need for more time to accomplish tasks, it would be the Apostle Paul.
Despite his busy schedule as a disciple of Christ, he devoted all his resources and time to
spreading the gospel because he obeyed. As Bonhoeffer states, "only the obedient truly believe.
To engage in genuine thought, we must adhere to a specific command.3 Without this initial act of
obedience, our faith will merely be a superficial facade, leading us to a grace that comes without
sacrifice."
In reality, if men persistently make excuses for needing more time to share the message
of God with those around them, humanity will never have sufficient time to convey the
magnificent nature of God. Had Jesus made excuses, there would be no salvation, and there
would be no fervent disciples driven to spread the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the earth.
Apostle Paul, who devoted his entire life to nurturing disciples for Christ and played an active
role in establishing churches, understood the value of time and wasted no opportunity, alongside
other disciples, to spread the message of Christ to nations.
The cost of discipleship
2 Steve Keith, Watch: Theology of Evangelism (Video), Liberty University,
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/597855/pages/watch-theology-of-evangelism?module_item_id=61102800
3 Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The cost of discipleship. (Simon and Schuster, 2012), 40.
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In life, everything comes with a price. Some things carry a higher cost due to their
perceived value. Similarly, in Christianity, being a disciple of Christ often requires a significant
sacrifice. The cost of discipleship has led many individuals to lose their lives, be abandoned by
their families and friends, ostracized from society and the communities they once belonged to,
and left to face whatever challenges come their way alone. Jesus himself warned in Matthew
10:22, "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end
will be saved."4
In today's society, there is increasing hostility towards the Gospel, with many people
unwilling to listen to preaching. Prayer in schools has become optional in some places and
outright banned in others, partly due to the rise of alternative faiths. Metzger observes that due to
the widespread acceptance of a new definition of tolerance, many Christians are hesitant to speak
about the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.5 Regardless of societal acceptance, followers of Christ are
called to share the Gospel because Jesus sacrificed himself for all humanity, not just for
Christians.
Conclusion
The world is facing a myriad of challenges, with heinous crimes occurring daily. In such
turbulent times, urgent gospel preaching, and disciple-making are more crucial than ever. Society
cannot turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed against fellow human beings out of jealousy,
the abduction of children, and the blatant disrespect shown to elders, especially on social media
platforms. God calls upon mankind to respond obediently to the call of discipleship and to go out
4 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New International Version.
5 Will Metzger, Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel Wholly by Grace Communicated Truthfully Lovingly,
Fourth Edition. (Westmont, IL: IVP Books, 2012), 193.
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into the unsaved world to share the good news. There is an urgent need for more laborers to enter
the field and bring in the harvest, as stated in Matthew 9:35.
While obedience to the Gospel may come at a price, the ultimate result is rejoicing when
more individuals become disciples of Christ, living godly lives, and spreading the message of
Christ to others. Christ expects his disciples to live lives characterized by obedience, without
counting the cost.
Bibliography
Bonhoeffer Dietrich, The Cost of Discipleship, (New York: Touchstone, 2018), 40
4
Keith Steve, Watch: Theology of Evangelism (Video), Liberty University,
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/597855/pages/watch-theology-of evangelism?
module_item_id=61102800
Metzger Will, Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel Wholly by Grace Communicated
Truthfully Lovingly, Fourth Edition. (Westmont, IL: IVP Books, 2012), 193.
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