As believers in Christ, we are called to be his disciples. For some that sounds scary and weird but that's only because we don't understand the meaning. To be a disciple means you are a follower, a learner, a student. Jesus called us to be his students and to learn from Him. But what was He teaching us? John 13:34: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." The reason why Jesus came to the earth was to teach us about God's unconditional love. God loved us so much that while we were still sinners, non-perfect people which we still are, He decided to lay down His life for us and to pay for all our mistakes.
His teaching and His message has become murky and unclear based on all our own personal comfort zones or cultural and dogmatic differences. But let us make this as clear as we possibly can: Jesus called us, believers, the church, His disciples, to love people. His whole ministry was to show us and teach us how to love.
That is not offensive or weird - that's simply hard to do. This is because we are to love not only those who deserve to be loved, but all people. No matter your race or your gender, your political views or your church affiliation. No matter your addictions, your mistakes or your failures. God says we are to love each other as He loved us.
So that is what a disciple is - that's not weird or scary. That's simply hard to do and that is why we need him to teach us how to do it. Be a disciple and love people.
