3. The Crisis of Emphasis Believers or Disciples?
Alliance Witness, 1980-02-20, P.24-25.

ONE of the characteristics of the book of Acts is the almost exclusive use of the word disciple for Christians.

Disciple appears forty times while believer is used only once. Brother or brethren is found twenty-five times, saint four times.

Is there any significance in this prominent use of disciple? I think so.

It evidently reflects the popular use of the term in the early church. It was preferred by the Christian community to all other names such as believer, saint or Christian. Obviously disciple was approved by the apostles, or it would not have been adopted. The fact that Dr. Luke, the author of this book, was a follower of Paul leads us to the conclusion that Paul himself also favored the word.

There must be reasons for the preference for this title. The most logical inference is that the early Christians chose disciple because they thought it best represented the true nature of being a Christian-a Christian was a follower of Christ. This shows that the emphasis of the early church, under the leadership of the apostles, was on discipleship.

It is a great revelation to realize that the early church, when faced with the crisis of emphasis, made the wise choice of placing discipleship at the foundation of their church life. This discovery constitutes a great challenge to us today.

Evangelical Christianity, reacting to theological liberalism, has to a large extent fallen prey to a kind of “believism,” making belief the most essential factor of the Christian faith, forgetting that faith is only a means to an end, only the gateway into a vast and beautiful garden of fellowship with God. Owing to this misunderstanding of Biblical perspectives, many churches have deviated from apostolic tradition by laying emphasis on the wrong thing, with a resultant loss of spiritual power.

I believe a substantial part of the secret of the strength of the early church was its emphasis on discipleship. The church followed the apostles’ example of responding to the Lord’s call to discipleship: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” The believers expressed their willingness and readiness to deny themselves by giving everything to Christ, including their lives. This spirit was evidenced not only in the church at Jerusalem but also in

churches in Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

The Lord’s call to discipleship is eightfold, as we gather from the four Gospels:

1. A call to true repentance (Matthew 4:17; 9:13).

2. A call to learn of Christ (Matthew 11 :28-29).

3. A call to a life of self-denial and cross-bearing (Luke 9:23).

4. A call to a life of service (Matthew 11:29).

5. A call to live a life of blessing to others-an overflowing life (John 7:37-38).

6. A call to a life of witness to Christ (Matthew 4:19).

7. A call to walk with Christ in light-in a life of purity and fellowship with Him (John 8:12).

8. A call to a life of absolute dedication to Christ (Matthew 10:37).

Every true disciple is thus sure to be spiritual dynamite, able to accomplish great things for God. The real strength of a church is not in the number of its baptized members but rather in the number of its disciples.

It is most encouraging that in recent years a growing number of churches have awakened to the great need of discipleship and have shown a desire to start, or have already started, discipleship training programs. This is something that all church leaders should encourage so that it will become a general movement.

In putting emphasis on discipleship, we of course should not belittle or neglect the other titles applied to Christians in Acts, as well as in other books of the New Testament. Five terms have been used: believer, saint, Christian, brother and disciple. Each one has its own value and importance and should be properly understood when put together, they form a complete picture of the Biblical concept of a Christian.

The Christian is a believer: one who believes and appropriates all God’s promises to him. He is a saint one who is sanctified and separated unto God. He is a Christian: one who is possessed by Christ. He is a brother: one who enjoys close fellowship with other children of God. And he is a disciple: one who is a student and follower of Christ.

Keep the right emphasis without losing the balance. Maintain the balance, but with a special emphasis on discipleship.