Disciples or Followers?

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ‘Tis the difference between the lightning bug

and the lightning.”  Mark Twain

  Even a single word has the power to move people forward or backward. Using the right words can inspire, embrace, acknowledge, intrigue, validate, and include others in a godly, positive way.  A word, even only one word, can make a vast difference.

  Picture this scene: You’re in the checkout line at Walmart and it’s very crowded. A big snow storm is coming and everyone is in a hurry. You have fifteen items in your cart and can’t wait to go through the line to get home. Someone though taps you on the shoulder and says, “Can I go in front of you? I only have seven items and I’m in a hurry.” Just picture your response.

  Now, picture the same scene. Again a tap on your shoulder with the same question, “Can I get in front of you because I just got a call from the school nurse that my son is sick. I only have seven items.” Which scene is more likely to change your behavior and motivate you to move aside?

  Social psychologist, Ellen Langer tested this type of situation and discovered that adding that one word because made a major difference. She tested this in many situations. When you add because, and a reason, people are more apt to do what you request. The bottom line – one word can make a big difference.

  Last Sunday we announced that we’ve changed one word in our purpose statement. Previously our purpose statement said: Grace Church exists to glorify our Heavenly Father by continually making more disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Recently, our church leadership decided to change one word. We’ve changed “disciples” to “followers.” Why? Why did we believe that this was an important change? Because “followers” denotes forward movement as you follow Christ. You can’t follow without moving.

  So, are we splitting hairs? Perhaps a bit. Yet, we live in a day when many profess to be Christians and would be very comfortable with the label “disciple,” yet never grow, change or move spiritually forward.

  Many Christians think that being a Christian simply means that you call yourself one or are associated with a certain church or denomination. At most you attend church regularly, give financially and occasionally serve.

  The New Testament teaches that being a Christian is to be life-altering. It’s to be nothing short of a personal revolution. While the New Testament does teach that we should faithfully attend worship services and be a member of a church, one can easily be part of a church without having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Every week professing Christians go in one door of their church and leave the same way. The tragedy is that they’re the same person that went in. True worship means that there is life change. A “disciple” could do their religious thing each week with no forward movement. A Christ-follower could not.

  Because of our focus on education in American culture, often we’re satisfied with teaching and even learning the right things. A disciple can be content to be a student. In fact, our churches are filled with those who have heads brimming over with biblical facts. But God does not want us to be just learners. As James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

  Many Christians are little more than professional students. They know so many facts about the Bible and about God, but there is little or no life change. One can’t be a follower without life change.

  A Christ-follower is described for us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.” If you’re a Christ-follower, there will be clear changes. C. S. Lewis wisely said, “If conversion makes no improvements in a man’s outward actions then I think his ‘conversion’ was largely imaginary.”

  In other words, a Christ-follower is to both be with Jesus and be like Jesus. We spend time with Jesus as we read the Bible, pray, worship with fellow believers at church. Authentic, growing Christ-followers are always focused on spending more and more time with the Lord, letting His Spirit guide our study of His written Word, spending time in His presence in worship, spending time in prayer.

  Following means that it changes both our thinking and our actions. Because we are Christ-followers we respond differently to the inevitable trials and tribulations of life. We know that there are no accidents and that our Lord is Sovereign. As Christ-followers, we’re empowered and resist temptation in its various forms.

  A Christ-follower is someone who lives out exactly what Jesus taught in Matthew 5-7 in the Sermon on the Mount. Christ followers strive to be merciful, peaceful, forgiving, compassionate, strong in their faith, honoring the commandments, praying for their enemies, giving to those in need, constantly in prayer, free from worry and not filled with judgment.

  Jesus didn’t call us to wear a tag like “Christian.” No, He called us to become followers of Him. It’s easy to be labeled a “Christian,” because you go to church, or are pro-life, etc… Too often Christians are known for what they’re against. A Christ-follower though is known for who they are because the fruit of the Spirit is seen being produced in their lives as described in Galatians 5:22-23, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”

  When Jesus said to His disciples, “Follow Me.” These two words contained radical implications for their lives. That’s really what it means to be a Christ-follower. It’s to live a life that a lost world would call radical. It’s selfless and sacrificial and stands in stark contrast to a self-absorbed world. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer so powerfully wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” That’s what it means to be a Christ-follower. It’s a death to self to follow the living Lord. Being a Christ-follower not only means to know Jesus and know about Him, it means to let His life flow through us so that we live like Jesus. Grace Church exists to glorify our Heavenly Father by continually making more followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.