What a question to ask. Are not all believers disciples? Are believers and disciples not the same thing? Let me reply in this statement, “All disciples are believers but not all believers are disciples.” Does this confuse you? Why is this distinction important? The Scriptures help in clarifying these issues for us.
“Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. To the Jews who had
believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold on to my teaching, you are really my
disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8: 30 – 32
Jesus
was telling them that continuing in his Word was proof of their discipleship
not just believing in him. Even the devil and demons believe in God but they
are not disciples of Jesus.
“You believe that there
is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder.”[1]
Discipleship
is a lifelong process. The Greek word for disciple is mathetes (math-ay-tes’). Literally, it means a learner or student.
We get the word discipline from disciple. Thus, a good working definition for
disciple would be, “a disciplined learner.” While there are many who claim to
be “born again” Christians there are fewer who exemplify true discipleship.
Jesus tells us what we must do to become his disciple in Luke 14: 25 – 33.
[Find time and read this]
There
are three qualifications listed in these Scriptures for true discipleship.
·
We
must love him more than everyone else.
·
We
must carry our cross [obey – choose his will over our will] and follow him.
·
We
must count the cost and be willing to give up everything we have for him.
Discipleship
demands a ‘sold-out’ life to Jesus. He truly is Lord of our life. Statistics
looks at some 79, 8% of South Africans as Christians and about 832 495
being Presbyterian [about 1, 9%] – off course counting from the Stats of 2001
of 44 819 778. One can draw a conclusion that one out of every four
if not five Christians are willing to live what they believe. This is both sad
and startling indictment against the church. Remember, the church is
commissioned to make disciples not just converts.
At
the UPCSA we are committed to making disciples. We take the biblical mandate to
do so seriously through our Presbyteries and mostly our congregations. It is
our desire to look at the way we doing church and theological reference to
contemporary times, adherence to the dictum – semper Reformanda. We speak of the Missional Church more than
anything else as the way forward for our Denomination. As such, I believe that
it should be our desire to see our every member
· Experience
a changed future through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ as Lord
and Saviour and the Christian faith as their defining philosophy of life.
· Experience
a changed lifestyle that is manifested through Christ-oriented values, goals,
perspective, activities and relationships.
· Experience
the on-going process of pursuing God’s truth as expressed in the Bible thereby
developing a biblical worldview.
We
are encouraged in the Scriptures to: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are
in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you –
unless, of course, you fail the test?”[1]
Discipleship
demands evaluating ourselves to see whether we are bearing fruit. It does not
allow for a lukewarm Christian lifestyle. It commands us to become like our
master – Jesus, the Christ.[2] It
is the enemy of mediocrity, the end of complacency and the defender of the zeal
of God. Discipleship says Jesus is Lord of my life.
The question is => Are you a believer or a
disciple?
