What Does it Mean to be a Follower of Jesus?

Introduction

In many churches today, discipleship has been reduced to a mere program consisting of multiple weeks of bible study with the intent of understanding the many doctrinal facets of the faith.  However, Barna suggests that, “Discipleship connotes that you are being prepared for a particular lifestyle more than for a specialized occupation.”[1]  From his perspective, becoming a disciple of Christ is to become a zealot for Christ.[2] This is to mean that becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is to have an “all consuming obsession” of Him.[3]  Therefore, discipleship is not a program or a ministry; rather it is a lifelong commitment to a lifestyle that honors the Lord.

Requirements of Being Christ’s Disciple

            Upon reading Luke 14:25-35, one can get a glimpse of what it takes to be one of Jesus’ followers.  According to the passage, there is a high price for following Jesus.  Money cannot buy it, merit will not earn it and man alone cannot secure it,[4] but if a man is to be a real Christian (a true Christ like one) it will cost him dearly.  Examining Luke one will discover that God’s grace will cost man nothing, but Godly growth will cost man everything.

            “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”[5]  This is a radical statement from the Lord and could be offensive it taken out of context.  To love one’s family and one’s life is proper and commendable.  The Lord is not advocating hatred; rather one cannot let natural love and affection come between their relationship with Christ.  In essence, Christ is saying that if one wants to be His follower the disciple must choose Him above all other relationships, even above one’s own life.  This is consistent with other teachings of Christ found within the Gospels.  For example, Matthew records what is said to be the greatest commandment in the Law.  Man is to love God with all of his heart, soul and mind.[6]  Mathew goes on to say that loving others is a close second.[7]  But let it be clear, it is second.  The Lord is to have first place in the life of a believer as well as have their total allegiance.  Nothing should become a stumbling block in man’s relationship with the Lord.   

            The Lord compares becoming a disciple as building a tower.[8]  Discipleship is about building a stone upon a stone.  In fact Peter wrote, “…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”[9]  Discipleship is to grow day by day by taking the necessary steps to follow Christ.

            The Lord also likens warfare to true discipleship.[10]  Authentic Christianity is not cheap. On the contrary, the Christian faith is expensive.  Christ following requires self-denial and giving up the carnal appetites of man.  In a culture that inundates the public with images and advertisements that appeal to the flesh, this can be very difficult.  American’s are exposed to every sort of illicit image and told that, “You deserve a break today” and “You should have it your way” and “Obey your thirst” and “Just do it.”   This proves to be a constant struggle for the Christian believer to not be conformed to this world but be transformed into the image of Christ.[11]  However, the call for him to renew his mind by having the mind of Christ is clear.[12]  The disciple is to lay down his life as Christ laid down His life and forsake the world at all cost.

The disciple is to learn how to stand for Christ.  There is a cross to bear[13] and call to hear.[14]  In today’s society the cross has been made into a romanticized symbol that many dangle around their neck.  However, in the days of the Lord, the cross was the very symbol of Roman oppression and cruelty.  The cross was the instrument of unbelievable suffering and shame.  There was nothing glamorous about the cross.  It was a cursed symbol.  In fact Paul told the Galatians that everyone that hangs on a cross is cursed.[15]  In essence, the disciple must count the cost of bearing the cross of Christ.  Ultimately we must learn to, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication (sexual immorality), uncleanness (impurity), inordinate affection (improper lust and passions), evil concupiscence (forbidden or wrongful desire), and covetousness (greediness), which is idolatry.”[16] 

Conclusion

     Therefore a disciple is someone who is an authentic learner or follower of Christ.  Barna defines a disciple as one “becoming a complete and competent follower of Jesus.”[17]  A disciple is a student that listens, imitates and obeys his teacher and ultimately helps spread his teacher’s teachings.  No person can be considered a true disciple who only intellectually agrees with some of his teacher’s ideas but fails to practice them.  Perhaps the Lord defined it best when He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”[18]  No doubt the Lord knows that it takes a crucified church to bring a crucified Christ before the eyes of the world.  Therefore, the Lord is looking for individuals to be willing to forsake all in order to follow Him.  Only then will the church perform as the salt of the earth and produce as the salt of the earth.

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[1] George Barna, Growing True Disciples: New Strategies for Producing Genuine Followers of Christ, (Colorado Springs, Waterbrook Press), 2001, 17.

[2] Ibid., 18.

[3] Ibid., 19.

[4] Ephesians 2:8-9

[5] Luke 14:26

[6] Matthew 22:37

[7] Matthew 22:38

[8] Luke 14:28-29

[9] II Peter 1:5-7

[10] Luke 14:31

[11] Romans 12:2

[12] Phil 2:5

[13]  Luke 14:27

[14] Luke 14:34-35

[15] Gal 3:13

[16] Col 3:5

[17] Barna 17

[18] Luke 9:23