By adopting genuine discipleship and refuting pseudo-discipleship, a church can become healthier and stronger. Rev Lawrence Koo exposes these myths on discipleship and brings the truths on genuine discipleship.
In Christian discipleship, we must stay away from pseudo-discipleship. Therefore, to embrace genuine discipleship, first we need to expose the myths of discipleship. Basically, there are four myths about discipleship:
1. I Just Want to be a Christian But Not a Disciple.
In the Bible, there is no distinction between a Christian and a disciple of Christ. Every Christian is a disciple, every disciple is a Christian. Unfortunately, we have bought into the myth, “Every disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian is a disciple.” While we know this is a sad reality, it’s not biblically correct.
People who say “I just want to be a Christian but not a disciple” only show their lack of biblical understanding of discipleship and their shallowness in their relationship with Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”
Every Christian is a disciple, every disciple is a Christian.
2. Jesus Only Asked Me to Believe in Him But He Didn’t Call Me to be a Disciple.
Is it true that Jesus offers two kinds of call—one call to people to just believe in Him, and the other call to people to follow Him?
If we have bought into this myth, then there are two serious problems. Firstly, we have created a caste system in the Kingdom of God. Secondly, we have put words into the mouth of Jesus what He did not say.
The fact is whenever Jesus calls people, He calls people to follow Him FIRST.
3. Discipleship is for Mature Christians.
“Discipleship is for the special elites and the serious Christians who want to go deep…” is another myth. While we all start our Christian journey as spiritual babes, we cannot remain as babes forever. For Christians not wanting to grow is abnormal and unscriptural (1 Peter 2:2, Ephesians 4:13)
Discipleship is for both the immature and mature Christians. In fact, discipleship is even more crucial for the immature Christians.
The fact is whenever Jesus calls people, He calls people to follow Him FIRST.
4. “Don’t Follow Me, But Follow Jesus.”
It’s a cop-out to tell people, “Follow Jesus, do not follow me.” It is simply shirking our responsibility as Christians. Instead, we should say, “Follow me, as I follow Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
It does not mean Christians are perfect. On the contrary, it is because we are imperfect that we need to follow Christ. As we follow Christ in all our imperfections, we will discover the amazing grace of God.
What Then is Genuine Discipleship?
1. Discipleship is a Command, Not an Option.
Jesus made it explicitly clear that discipleship is a command, not an option. He did not say, “go and make converts of all nations…” He said, “Go and make DISCIPLES of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)
No one likes to be commanded. We want to be our own lords. Jack Dawson in the movie, ‘Titanic’, steps up to the bow of the Titanic, throws up his arms and shouts, “I am the king of the world!” Little did he know that he was shouting from a sinking ship.
In Christian discipleship, there is only ONE KING. That king is Jesus, the KING of kings. Therefore, if Jesus is our King, then we must obey His commands.
Genuine discipleship always comes with a price.
2. Discipleship is Costly, and Not to be Taken Lightly.
Sadly, today, many people want a comfortable Christianity, a Christianity with no cross, no corrections, and no change. Genuine discipleship always comes with a price.
The fact is, following Jesus requires us to make hard choices—choices between earthly and eternal values. For Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) If we want to follow Jesus, our eyes must always be fixed on the Kingdom of God—things pertaining to eternal values. This would inadvertently cost us the temporal pleasure and earthly benefits.
3. Discipleship can only Happen Within a Community, and it’s Never an Individual Business.
We live in an individualistic world where personal rights are over emphasized. While God values every individual because we are made in His image, God’s image is never completely found and grasped in individuality but in the unity of His people.
Therefore, Christian discipleship can never happen outside the community of faith. No one can truly be a disciple of Christ on their own. That is why we gather corporately to worship God as a church; that is why we get connected with people in a small group; and that is why we serve as a team in the ministry; and subject ourselves to the teaching and correction of people whom God has placed over us.
The truth is, if the goal of discipleship is about becoming like Christ, we can never be like Jesus on our own.
Genuine discipleship begins and ends with Christ because He is the founder and perfecter of our faith.
4. Discipleship is all About Christ and Not About Us.
Discipleship is NOT primarily about our spiritual growth, not about knowing the Bible, not about being prayerful, serving or worshiping, etc. All these are only means to the end of knowing Jesus Christ. There is no such thing as too much discipleship or over-emphasis of discipleship, just as there is no such thing as too much of following Jesus because discipleship is all about Jesus.
Genuine discipleship begins and ends with Christ because He is the founder and perfecter of our faith.
Churches become healthier and stronger when Christians are real disciples of Christ. Conversely, churches become sicker and weaker when believers embrace pseudo-discipleship. So, will the real disciples please
stand up!
Rev Lawrence Koo stepped down as the senior pastor of New Horizon Church since June 2024. Currently, he is involved in itinerant ministry and missions.
