Throughout the world today, it is not uncommon to find people who claim to be Christians but not necessarily identify themselves as disciples. In fact, I fear that if we were to ask those who attend our Sunday worship services whether they are Christians, most would probably respond with an emphatic yes but many from this same group of people may not be so ready to say that they are Christ’s disciples.
To some extent, this is an unfortunate result of us being brought up with a mistaken two-tiered understanding of the Christian faith and identity. According to this worldview, all it takes to be Christian is for someone to respond positively to the Gospel and believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, who has died and risen for our sins.
In contrast, only those who are serious about their faith, those who have been baptised, those who read their Bibles faithfully, attend worship service regularly and are actively involved in church ministry, only those are considered as disciples.
Such dichotomy is rather problematic. This is because in the Bible, we will not find any distinction between a Christian and a disciple of Christ. Christians are disciples. During the time of early church, no one would be identifying himself or herself as a Christian merely because he or she gives mental assent to the Gospel message but is not ready to follow Jesus. Indeed, the call of Jesus is clear: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34-35, Matthew 16:24).
It may surprise us that the word “Christian” appears only three times in the Bible (Acts 11:26, 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16) whereas “disciple/s” is used 281 times in the New Testament. What is perhaps more ironic is that the first followers of Jesus didn’t even call themselves “Christians”. Instead, they were generally referred to as disciples or as “people belonging to the Way” (Acts 9:2).
In contrast to how we use the word “Christian” today, scholars tell us that this word was a derisive term used by those outside of the faith community to describe the people in Antioch who have turned away from their former religious practices and started to worship and follow Jesus (Acts 11:26). Nevertheless, as much as the term “Christian” was likely intended as an offense, the label can also be seen as an honor insofar that it indicated that these individuals were living Christ-like lives. To put it simply, their testimony to Jesus as the Risen Lord and Saviour was so noteworthy such that others recognised that they were more than just a motley bunch of individuals professing a different religious belief.
Sometimes I do wonder if describing ourselves as Christian today rather than as a disciple has somehow obscured the clarity about what a follower of Jesus actually is and is called to do. Perhaps, it is time to regain the proper use of the words “disciple/s” and “Christian” and not to perpetuate this two-tier category of believers. For us today, if we identify ourselves as Christians, it is only right that our lives demonstrate commitment to trusting in Jesus and imitating Jesus in his love for God and people. Indeed, for all who identify as Christians, discipleship is not optional. Being a Christian is to be a disciple.
Since the word “disciple” basically means a learner, or apprentice, a disciple of Jesus Christ is essentially someone who believes that Jesus is worth following and delights in learning from Him and obeying His teachings. And as we do so sustained by God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will become more and more like our Lord and “Teacher”.
To be sure, we are all at different stages of our discipleship journey. But let us be clear that we cannot be a Christian and not be a disciple, at least not in the same sense that the term “Christian” was used and understood in the Bible. The important question then is whether we are maturing in our faith, whether we are stagnating in our discipleship endeavour or worse, deceiving ourselves that we are really Christians.
The Bible teaches us that those who repent from their sins and trust in Jesus have the Holy Spirit in them (Eph 1:13-14). This means that over the years of our lives as a follower of Christ, God’s grace should have a visible impact upon us, bringing transformation to our worldviews, priorities and behaviour. Unless of course, we are merely self-identifying as a Christian and not truly living as a Christian.
For some of us, our first step towards being a disciple might mean taking heed of God’s instructions through passages such as Hebrews 5:11-6:3 and 1 Peter 2:1-2. For others, it could involve taking that step of faith and not hesitating in coming forward for baptism. After all, in the time of the early church, baptism was the first step to publicly profess that you have decided to follow Christ. If we have no qualms about wearing a cross or telling others we are Christians, we should not be tarrying over baptism.
In the Great Commission, we are reminded that Jesus also calls his followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). His call to make disciples includes not only engaging in evangelism but also labouring to ensure that those who have been united to Christ are properly discipled.
Admittedly, this is where followers of Christ have often struggled with throughout the centuries, both in the local churches as well as on the mission field around the world. We may have made many converts and many may be busy with all kinds of church activities. But we may have not been as intentional or fruitful in the task of disciple-making.
But let us not lose heart. Just as it is by God’s sovereign grace that we became Christ’s disciples, it will be through the same unfailing grace that will enable us to press on in making disciples in our homes, churches, communities and nations. After all, Jesus also addresses his disciples as his friends (John 15:15) and what a privilege it is that Jesus himself has promised that his friends will bear fruit (John 15:16), all to the glory of God the Father.
