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LET ME DIE IN IRELAND  /  Chapter 2: From Master to Slave  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 8
Sid describes choosing lifelong singleness “to devote my life to Christ’s service,” obtaining education through the church, and being ordained a deacon; what early-Christian assumptions about discipleship, sacrifice, and vocation are embedded here, and which parts collide with the way modern evangelical culture frames “calling” and the cost of following Jesus?
Another way to ask: Sid stays single to serve Christ, gets educated through the church, and becomes a deacon. What does this show about early Christian views of following Jesus and sacrifice, and what parts clash with how evangelicals today talk about “calling” and cost?

Direct Answer Sid’s story assumes that serious discipleship can mean costly, concrete choices—like lifelong singleness—and that the church actively trains and ordains people for service, even from poor backgrounds. The transcript doesn’t compare this to modern evangelical culture directly, but it implicitly challenges any low-cost view of “calling.”

Support from Transcript:

  • Sid says, “I resolved never to marry so that I could devote my life to Christ’s service,” linking vocation with sacrifice.
  • He came from “a poor family of fishermen,” yet spiritual commitment wasn’t reserved for elites.
  • “Through the help of the church, I obtained a basic education,” showing the church as a training community.
  • He was “eventually ordained as a deacon,” implying recognized ministry roles and accountability.
  • Sid identifies family faith: “we were all devout Christians,” normalizing deep devotion among ordinary people.
  • Sid’s current reality—“I’ve been a slave… about twenty years”—shows discipleship continuing under suffering.
Discussion Follow-ups Which parts of Sid’s mindset feel foreign today: choosing singleness for service, letting the church shape your life path, or accepting hardship without quitting your “calling”? What sacrifices do we tend to label as “optional extras” rather than normal obedience?

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