jonasio archive

Discipleship

I follow Jesus Christ.

If you ask me if I am a Christian, I will admit that I am. But I don't identify myself only as a Christian, although that is true. I am a disciple of Christ.

A disciple is a follower and a student. He has a teacher, someone who guides him to the truth.

Plato had disciples. So did Confucius. Learned men have had led their disciples on paths of enlightment, truth or some specific purpose for centuries. Learned men still lead their disciples today, all over the world.

So what is the difference between a Christian and a disciple? There is no difference. They are the same. Why is this important? Because of the way people look at Christianity.

Try this:

Stand outside of an average commuity church as the service ends and people begin to come out. As the people egress, ask each one this question: "Hello, are you a Christian?"

If you asked this of a number of people, I think a fairly high percentage of the people leaving that church would say "yes, I am a Christian." Let's say seventy percent, allowing for a reasonable number of guests and pagans or whatever. :-)

Now, the next week go back to the same church and ask another bunch of people: "Hello, are you a disciple of Christ?"

Images of bald-headed monks tumble through their minds. They think of mysticism and strange eastern lands. I think a significantly smaller percentage of people exiting that church would say "I am a disciple" than said "I am a Christian."

The point is that most people do not equate Christianity with discipleship of Christ. They are either misled or just don't think about it. But the Bible that I read (the New International Version is the one I usually read, a very popular and common edition) hardly ever mentions the word "Christian." It uses the C-word only three times from cover to cover. "Disciple," on the other hand, is used all over the New Testament -- over 270 times.

Here's a quote from Acts, where the word "Christian" is used for the first time.

"Then Barnabus went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabus and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."
ACTS 11:25-26

This is a time in the church several years after Christ died and was resurrected. Up until this time Christians were always called "the disciples" or "followers of the Way." Not until now was the name "Christian" ever used. What does this mean? That the word "Christians" is a name that was given to the disciples. Christian was the name, but disciple was the identity.

So what about these people who think of themselves as Christians and not as disciples of Christ? When they read the Bible, they don't see Christ challenging Christians to do this and that and the other. Instead, they see him challenging his disciples to do this and that and the other, and in their minds they say "Oh, well, he's talking to his special followers, his apostles or something. That doesn't apply to me."

So "Christian" becomes a sort of sub-follower status, one where you can follow but don't have to really FOLLOW. What have we done? We have created a way to define our own version of faith, our own rules for following Christ. And that's why we get all of this mumbo-jumbo and false doctrine in different denominations. Everyone follows his own mind, because they do not hold themselves to the standard of discipleship which is clearly found in the New Testament. Do you want to be a Christian? Not just a good Christian, or an excellent Christian, but a Christian at all? Then be a disciple of Christ.

The equation is simple. Christian = Disciple = Saved.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Matthew 28:19-20

Jonas Miller

Revised 18 June 1998