Are you a believer or a disciple?

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?