There is a much confusion in the Christian world regarding believers and disciples and the relationship between the two.  If you google “believers and disciples”, you will see a bunch of topics that attempt to address these questions:

  • Is a believer a disciple?
  • Is a disciple a believer?
  • Are they the same?
  • Is there a difference?
  • Which one is saved?

This is one topic I choose not to “die on a hill” to defend.  Many of the differing viewpoints leave no room for disagreement on this matter and judge the others as wrong, or worse, heretics.  So let me jump in to this mess and declare my own faith in this matter:

Every disciple is a believer and every believer is a disciple.

Most of the viewpoints seem to agree on what is the definition of a believer, but there is disagreement from many on what is a disciple.

I think there are various levels of discipleship.  Some are based on growing in discipleship and/or others are based on what degree of commitment we are willing to make.  But first, let’s just take one example of a command that Jesus gave to His disciples: sell everything you have.  Jesus said that in Luke 12: 22-34:

22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “…33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

The KJV says: Sell that ye have, and give alms;  Now ask yourself this question: Have you done that: sold all your possessions? If you are like me, the answer is no. So what are we to make of this predicament we are in? If you are reading this, I’m confident you want to do the same thing as me: obey the Lord. But what is the Lord’s Will for us?  Should we obey everything that Jesus said to the apostles in the Gospels as if He is speaking to us right now?  I think the correct answer is: IT DEPENDS.  As we see below in references to the writings of Paul to the churches, he gives practical advice to the members of the church, married and unmarried.

It is obvious to anyone who is married and has a family that you cannot sell everything you have or else you put your family in a desperate position.  If fact Paul says that if you do not provide for your own family, you are worse that an unbeliever.  As 1 Timothy 5:8 says:

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

In another place (1 Corinthians 7:32-33),  Paul says that he recommends believers to not get married since being married will cause you to be devoted less to the Lord since you have other obligations then.

32 But I want you to be without [b]care. He who is unmarried [c]cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 

But Paul is careful to say that neither choice is wrong.  He is just being practical about the level of commitment that can be made by one in or not in a marriage.  Furthermore, Paul says to stay in the “state” you were when you first got converted (1 Corinthians 7: 17-24).

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I [a]ordain in all the churches.  …, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it…. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

That last verse says it all: let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.  If you are married, stay married.  If you are a business man, stay a business man, etc.

That “state” limits or expands what kind of commitment you are able to make in your daily walk with the Lord.  Some might be so unlimited in their current state that they could conceivably sell everything they have and work fulltime for the Lord if they choose.  Others are constrained as shown above in the example of marriage.

It is my opinion in the Lord and mostly based upon my readings of Paul, that God gives us free reign to decide how we will serve Him.  Of course, there might be circumstances in which the Lord may have a more direct role in determining what we do for Him.  But in general, it seems the Lord wants to work with us in a way that is acceptable to us. Just as the Lord wants cheerful givers, not grudging givers (2 Corinthians 9:7), so do I think also that the Lord wants willing disciples in whatever capacity makes us willing.  Maybe there is some relevance here to the “parable of the talents” in Matthew 25: 14-30.  Perhaps the differing levels of willingness of the servants is what led to how many talents each was given to invest. Or consider the “parable of the Sower” (Matthew 13: 1-23), where the good soil produced varying harvests: 30%, 60%, 100% . Or maybe there is no expectation of being a disciple at all and the Lord just wants to show mercy and receive gratitude in return as in the story of the 10 lepers that were healed  (see Luke 17: 11-19):

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

In summary, each of us is responsible for determining what a disciple is.  We could easily hurt others and cause divisions if we try to force others to accept our own ideas of discipleship.  It really comes down to your personal walk with the Lord.  What is God telling you through His Spirit and Word in conjunction with your present circumstances? Be blessed in your walk with God!