₦airaland Forum

Michael547:
Explain with scriptures why a Christian cannot be a true disciple of Christ.

Said by someone who has not even quoted a single scripture. If you do not have Bible, go and buy one. It is cheaper than data. Stop asking me to quote as if this is a Law Court. I obliged you earlier, but I am not a fan of bible quotations. Read it and understand what you are being directed to do. Not jumping around with chapter this verse that, as if that will change the price of garri in the market.

Michael547:
Explain with scriptures why a Christian cannot be a true disciple of Christ.

Dont ask me for scriptures again. If and when I see any need to reference any passage, I will.

Meanwhile, I never said a Christian cannot be a true disciple of Christ. If you read that, please tag it where I said so.

For the purpose of clarity, all I have been saying is this: A "Christian" focuses on Self. salvation of his soul, prayer for personal problems, etc.

A true disciple of Jesus Christ focuses on others. Living a life of service, a life of charity, in fact a disciple must die, and Christ will be born in the person, not spiritually, but practically and you may even say physically. A true disciple of Jesus Christ can belong to a church denomination, so as not to forsake the gathering of the brethren, but his or her true place of serving and imitating Christ, is in all Humanity. Not bounded by any religious rules, practices, or observances.

By now, even someone in JSS1 should have understood clearly my point.

essentialone:
Dont ask me for scriptures again. If and when I see any need to reference any passage, I will.

Meanwhile, I never said a Christian cannot be a true disciple of Christ. If you read that, please tag it where I said so.

You clearly said that a Christian may necessarily not be a disciple of Christ. So i have asked you what can make a Christian not to be necessarily a disciple of Christ. Explain.

essentialone:
Said by someone who has not even quoted a single scripture. If you do not have Bible, go and buy one. It is cheaper than data. Stop asking me to quote as if this is a Law Court. I obliged you earlier, but I am not a fan of bible quotations. Read it and understand what you are being directed to do. Not jumping around with chapter this verse that, as if that will change the price of garri in the market.

Oh is coming here to tell us who a Christian is and who a disciple of Christ is going to change the price of garri?

Michael547:
You clearly said that a Christian may necessarily not be a disciple of Christ. So i have asked you what can make a Christian not to be necessarily a disciple of Christ. Explain.

It's not everyone that stands to be corrected so my advice, let sleeping dog lie in peace!

Michael547:
You clearly said that a Christian may necessarily not be a disciple of Christ. So i have asked you what can make a Christian not to be necessarily a disciple of Christ. Explain.

Lol. I no get strength to gist with someone hard of understanding. But in case of next time, what you do if you are really learning, is to state the points you have understood so far from what is being discussed. Then state the areas where you need further clarification, pointing out why that or those area is not yet clear to you. Anything other than that, na argument you dey find, and I am so not having the strength for it.

MaxInDHouse:
It's not everyone that stands to be corrected so my advice, let sleeping dog lie in peace!

Thanks

essentialone:
Lol. I no get strength to gist with someone hard of understanding. But in case of next time, what you do if you are really learning, is to state the points you have understood so far from what is being discussed. Then state the areas where you need further clarification, pointing out why that or those area is not yet clear to you. Anything other than that, na argument you dey find, and I am so not having the strength for it.

You are funny. You made a point and I asked a question. So how is that looking for argument. Is it not better you just admit that you can't explain the point you made?

Michael547:
You are funny. You made a point and I asked a question. So how is that looking for argument. Is it not better you just admit that you can't explain the point you made?

I admit I cannot explain the point I made.

Tell me any other thing you want me to admit to, I surely and clearly will do so.

essentialone:
I admit I cannot explain the point I made.

Tell me any other thing you want me to admit to, I surely and clearly will do so.

That's fine if you cannot. You cannot force a point on people's throat without explanation.

Michael547:
That's fine if you cannot. You cannot force a point on people's throat without explanation.

No one was forcing anything on anyone.

What I mentioned was my personal opinion, which if you must know, is an opinion that I clearly believe in. If it aligns with your personal views, you say so. If it does not align with your personal views, you disagree with it and tell us what your own personal opinions are about the subject matter.

Asking me questions and for bible passages to prove this or that isn't necessary. This is neither a law court, nor a project defense center.

essentialone:
Thanks

You're welcome.

Christians and disciples of Christ means the same thing!

MaxInDHouse:
You're welcome.

Christians and disciples of Christ means the same thing!

Ok thanks for sharing your own personal opinion on this. The beauty of knowledge is that it is like a big elephant with several blind persons touching different parts of it, and each describing how the elephant is, based on the part of the elephant that they experienced. None was totally correct and none was totally wrong.

Once again thanks.

[quote author=essentialone post=133160194]No one was forcing anything on anyone.

What I mentioned was my personal opinion, which if you must know, is an opinion that I clearly believe in. If it aligns with your personal views, you say so. If it does not align with your personal views, you disagree with it and tell us what your own personal opinions are about the subject matter.

Asking me questions and for bible passages to prove this or that isn't necessary. This is neither a law court, nor a project defense center.[/quote
So you mean asking for a Bible verse for an opinion of the Bible is not necessary? Really?

[quote author=Michael547 post=133160388][/quote]It was totally unnecessary. I was not preaching. If I was preaching, then I may need to refer you to bible passages. But I was not. I was stating my opinion, which has been borne out of several factors such as experience, observation, understanding, etc.

Asking for Bible verse was irrelevant on the discourse.

essentialone:
Ok thanks for sharing your own personal opinion on this. The beauty of knowledge is that it is like a big elephant with several blind persons touching different parts of it, and each describing how the elephant is, based on the part of the elephant that they experienced. None was totally correct and none was totally wrong. Once again thanks.

The truth about Jesus is knowledge that makes it's bearers TEACHERS {Matthew 28:20} unlike Judaism where the knowledge of their God fits your illustration of several blind men {Matthew 7:28-28} a disciple of Christ lacks nothing when it comes to the knowledge of God {Psalms 23:1} that's why Jesus could confidently say they are the light of the world {Matthew 5:14-16} they are not blind because they have Jesus they can't walk like blind men.

And with the ultimate truth taught by Jesus they all have the same line of thought {John 17:22; 1Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:3} that's what makes the bond they have so strong that onlookers often say about them:
"They have LOVE among themselves" John 13:34-35

Once again you're welcome!

essentialone:
➜Dont ask me for scriptures again. If and when I see any need to reference any passage, I will. Meanwhile, I never said a Christian cannot be a true disciple of Christ. If you read that, please tag it where I said so.

Christianity was founded by those Jesus Christ of Israel referred to as dogs — Non-Israelites—, the same people He warned His very own disciples not to give that which is Holy to as they would trample it and then turn around and tear them too. This essentially means that everything Christianity is unholy and that which is unholy cannot be of Jesus Christ of Israel — Holiness Himself. Therefore, it is impossible for one who is a Christian to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ of Israel. it is of course impossible for starters for one who is a non-israelite to be of Jesus Christ. You cannot be of that which is against God of Israel and that which of God of Israel at the same time. Jesus Christ of Israel made this abundantly clear in His Gospel.

essentialone:
It was totally unnecessary. I was not preaching. If I was preaching, then I may need to refer you to bible passages. But I was not. I was stating my opinion, which has been borne out of several factors such as experience, observation, understanding, etc.

Asking for Bible verse was irrelevant on the discourse.

So your opinion was not bible based....you were just dishing out thoughts and expecting us to make sense out of it?

Michael547:
So your opinion was not bible based....you were just dishing out thoughts and expecting us to make sense out of it?

Meaning any opinion not bible based is nonsense. Right?

essentialone:
Meaning any opinion not bible based is nonsense. Right?

That's what Jesus meant when he prayed for his disciples saying:

"Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth" John 17:17

And apostle Paul said:

"All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." 2Timothy 3:16-17

If opinions from different sources could fly in the midst of Christ's disciples how can they benefit through teaching, reproving, setting matters straight and disciplining in righteousness without a single source of guidance?

essentialone:
Meaning any opinion not bible based is nonsense. Right?

Only you can answer that question since you are telling us the difference between a Christian and a disciple of Christ.

All Church Denominations started, or Founded by Nigerians, are Fraud Centers.

We go back to the main topic of the thread.

*Stop using prayer as a substitute for Planning and Taking Responsibility.*

Prayer without planning is wishful thinking. Planning without prayer is arrogance. The problem is when people swing so far into the “God will handle it” side that they don’t pick up their own role in the process.

*1. Why The Balance Matters*
*Planning is your responsibility.* It’s research, risk assessment, budgeting, learning the skill, setting the timeline, preparing for what can go wrong. That’s the work.
*Prayer is surrendering what you can’t control.* You can’t control the economy, policy shifts, or whether your investor shows up. That’s where faith comes in.

When you flip it — spending 3 hours praying for a business to succeed but zero hours doing market research — you’re not being spiritual, you’re being passive. And life doesn’t reward passivity.

*2. What It Looks Like In Real Life*
- *In business*: You pray for sales but haven’t defined your target customer or pricing. That’s sentimental. Strategic is building a marketing plan, testing the product, and tracking cashflow.
- *In career*: You pray for a better job but haven’t updated your CV or learned a new skill. That’s sentimental. Strategic is networking, applying consistently, and upskilling.
- *In relationships*: You pray for a good partner but haven’t worked on your own character or clarified what you want. That’s sentimental. Strategic is self-reflection and setting boundaries.

*3. The Nigerian Context Angle*
We have a culture that often spiritualizes everything. “It is well” becomes the answer to lack of preparation. But even in scripture, the principle is “faith without works is dead.” Noah didn’t just pray for rain — he built the ark for 100 years.

Planning doesn’t mean you don’t trust God. It means you’re respecting the process God gave you — intelligence, time, and free will — to act.

*4. The Practical Takeaway*
Use prayer for clarity, peace, and guidance. Use planning for execution.
If you’ve prayed about something for 30 days and you’re still stuck at the same point, that’s your cue to sit down and make a plan.

*Bottom line*: God gives the vision, but He expects you to draw the blueprint. If you don’t build, nothing gets built.