Believers or Disciples ?

If you are reading this ‘Gospel News’, you probably consider yourself a Christian. Which of the following would best describe your Christianity: Christian believer or Christian disciple? The book of Acts uses the term ‘believers’ once to refer to Christians, “and believers were the more added to the Lord, mulititudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14). The book of Acts uses the term ‘disciple’ (or ‘disciples’) thirty-one times. Herein is a lesson for us.

When Jesus called his disciples, He did not ask them to go into ministry training, he asked them to follow him. The disciples did that. Peter told Jesus, “Lo, we have left all and have followed thee” (Mark 10:28). They left their jobs and even family members behind and followed in the step of the lowly Master. Jesus calls to “all who labour and are heavy laden: take my yoke upon you and learn of me” (Matthew 11:29).

A disciple of Christ is one who follows him and learns from him, and cultivates a humble and teachable spirit. He goes to Christ to learn from him, not to find support for a pet position. He sits at Jesus’ feet and he hears him. There is much more to believing in Christ than simply accepting in our heads the fact of his existence. The belief must move from the head to the heart, and result in genuine repentance and cross-bearing. When Saul, he was struck down on the road to Damascus, he asked “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). A disciple hears what Jesus teaches, “He heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them?” (Matthew 7:24). Too many Christian believers do not really believe Jesus enough to obey him. Rather, they hear these sayings and do not do them (See 2 Peter 3:11, which poses a question for each of us to answer: what manner of persons ought we to be?) To preach on the radio, in the street, and to understand all the signs of the times without really showing the excellencies of God manifested to the world as Jesus manifested them. In fact, such ‘believers’ are not true believers. Believers should not only be disciples, they should also make disciples. Our work now is to make disciples whether by words or deeds. It is a pity that many of us can preach the gospel, but be far from the life of Christ.

Bro Uka Egwu (Abia, Nigeria)