All Christians are called to Radical Discipleship
The call to follow Jesus Christ is not a casual invitation but a radical summons to a transformed life. From the earliest days of Christianity, discipleship has meant far more than mere church attendance or moral respectability—it represents a total reorientation of one’s priorities, loyalties, and values around the person and mission of Jesus. Every Christian, without exception, is called to this depth of commitment.
To be a disciple literally means to be a learner or follower. In the New Testament, discipleship is much more than intellectual learning—it involves imitation of Christ continually. Jesus did not simply impart knowledge; He invited people to model their lives after His. He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The language of self-denial and the cross underscores the radical nature of Christian discipleship. Following Christ requires the surrender of one’s own will, ambitions, and comforts for the sake of loving God and serving others. On the face of it, it extracts a heavy cost of self-denial. This is very real to a worldly person, which we all were before we know Christ. But it is also God’s gracious process of turning us into the new creation that He redeems us to become. Only the new life so created can be abundant as Christ promised. Bonhoeffer wrote: “Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has (denying the old self… It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.”
Radical discipleship is not limited to a select group of “super-Christians.” It is the expectation for all who name Christ as Lord. Too often, modern Christianity has been reduced to a set of beliefs or spiritual rituals.
One of the practical fruits of radical discipleship is love—radical love for God and others. Radical discipleship also manifests in everyday life through generosity, integrity, and a desire to put God’s kingdom first. These things should not be pursued for self-righteousness and can only be achieved though total commitment and obedience to Christ.
In a world marked by self-interest and moral compromise, radical discipleship stands as a countercultural witness. It is not a burdensome obligation but a joyful response to God’s grace when we learn to rely totally on Him to change us.
I pray that all members of CPC will take seriously this year that we are called not merely to participate in a church, but to become like Christ as we continue to grow. That is true discipleship: a radical, lifelong journey of faith, obedience, and love. That is becoming what Christ has redeemed us to become.
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回應主的恩召作徹底的門徒
跟隨耶穌基督的呼召並非隨便的邀請，而是一個徹底的呼喚，要人進入一個嶄新的生命。從基督信仰最初的日子起，作門徒的意義遠超過單單參加教會聚會或維持道德體面——它代表著一種徹底生命的轉化，把人的優先次序、忠誠與價值觀完全建基於耶穌基督及其使命之上。沒有任何基督徒可以例外，每一位信徒都被呼召進入這樣深度的委身。
「門徒」一詞在字義上是「學徒」或「跟隨者」。在新約聖經中，門徒生命遠不止於知識上的學習——而是持續效法基督的生命。耶穌不僅僅是傳授真理；祂邀請人以祂的生命為榜樣。祂說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，天天背起他的十字架來跟從我。」捨己與背十字架的語言顯示出作基督徒門徒生命的徹底改變。跟隨基督意味著因愛神與服事他人，而願意捨棄自己的意志、雄心與安逸。表面上看，這代價似乎沉重，對仍以世界與自我為中心的人來說尤為明顯。然而，這捨己的過程卻是神的恩典，使我們漸漸被塑造成祂所救贖的「新造之人」。唯有這樣的新生命，才能經歷基督所應許的豐盛生命。正如神學家朋番霍華（Dietrich Bonhoeffer）所說：「昂貴的恩典，就像藏在地裡的寶貝，為了得到它，人願意變賣一切所有[比喻捨己]這是基督的王權統治，為了祂，一個人願意除去使他跌倒的眼睛；這是耶穌基督的呼召，使門徒離開漁網而跟隨祂。」
徹底的門徒生命並非僅限於某些「超級基督徒」，而是所有稱耶穌為主的人都應有的生命態度。可惜，現代的基督信仰時常被簡化為一套信念或宗教活動。
徹底門徒生命其中一個最實際的果子，就是「徹底的愛」——對神與他人深切之愛。這樣的門徒生命，也會在日常生活中展現出慷慨、誠信，並以神國度為首要的渴望。這些絕不能是為了追求自義，而是出於對基督全然的委身與順服，並要依靠祂的恩典而成就。
在一個充滿自我中心並與道德妥協的世界裡，徹底的門徒生命是一種強烈的反文化見證。當我們學會完全依靠神讓祂改變我們時，這呼召不再是沉重的責任，而是對祂恩典的喜樂回應。
我祈求主CPC的每一位弟兄姊妹，今年都能認真領受這個呼召——我們被呼召的不僅是參與教會活動，而是要效法基督，持續在祂裡面成長。這就是真正的門徒生命：一個徹底、終身的信心、順服與愛的旅程，成為基督救贖我們所要成就的樣式。
Rev. Christopher Chan
