Introduction

Can you be a Christian without being a disciple?  A lot of discussion exists on this topic today.  The thought is common in our world today that a disciple of Jesus is a “spiritual guru.”  Some say that being a “disciple” is for the “spiritual elite”—perhaps pastors and missionaries, but not the average professing believer.  But this creates a problem, because too many professing believers want to commit without the commitment!  Is this really what Jesus wants?  Does He really consider following Him as a disciple to be optional?  Where does this dichotomy come from?

Addressing the Issue

Let me address a few of these questions.  First of all, where does the idea come from that one could be a Christian and not a disciple?  I believe this mentality comes from a misunderstanding of salvation.  God saved us to conform us to His image, Romans 8:29 makes this clear.  Oftentimes, the desire to be a Christian and not a disciple comes from a place of not wanting to be changed into Christ’s image.  People want life on their own terms; they want to do what they want yet still enjoy the benefits of salvation.  But this mentality is not a Gospel mentality.  Christ did not come to be added to our lifestyle, He came to change our lifestyle!  Someone who says “I want Jesus without the requirements” has a terrible misunderstanding of salvation and is likely not one of His.  When considering if one can be a Christian without being a disciple, I would simply pose the question “why would you want to?”  Someone who has truly been changed by Christ will want to follow and please Him with their life; someone who has no desire for this is seriously spiritually deficient!

So, does Jesus consider following Him as a disciple to be optional?  Can you believe in Jesus for salvation but leave following Him as a disciple for the spiritual elite?  I do not think so!  In our contemporary model of Christianity, I think we have made an unbiblical distinction between a “Christian” and a “disciple.”  But God wants all of His followers to be disciples!  Obviously, we cannot judge hearts, so we need to be careful in labeling the person who wants to become a Christian without it costing them anything.  But this certainly does not fit with Christ’s expectations of His followers as described in the pages of Scripture.  In Luke 9:23, Jesus gives the requirements for anyone who follows Him, not just spiritual gurus.  He states: If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  There is no avoiding this requirement!  You are either a follower of Jesus, or you are not—there is no in-between category.  If you are, there is some cost involved.  Christ expects that those who believe in Christ will follow Him as a disciple.       

Final Thoughts

So where does this leave us?  To expect to be a Christian and not a disciple does not mesh with what is found in the pages of Scripture.  I John 2:6 reminds us—whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.  To create the categories of “Christian” and “disciple” as two separate options does not fit with Christ’s call to follow Him.  Certainly, we may not know everything that is entailed in following Christ when we first believe in Him, but there needs to be the intent to live our lives in obedience to Him.  Without that intent, we must wonder if true, genuine heart change has really taken place!  Following Jesus is not intended to be easy.  There are things we have to forego, passions we may not be able to pursue, and even relationships that must be left behind.  But a true believer in Jesus will not consider these a burden, but rather a privilege to give their lives in service to the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (I Peter2:9).