Lately, I’ve been thinking more specifically about the lifestyle of following Jesus Christ I adhere to as a disciple, and the calling I’ve surrendered to in making disciples of Him. What is a disciple of Jesus Christ?

I’ve come to a simplified Scriptural understanding of a disciple: Someone that publically and privately lives according to the Great Commandment, while living out the Great Commission for God’s glory in everything they do (1 Corinthians 10:31), ALL in response to God’s mercy as the motive not guilt, works based Christianity or religion, etc (Romans 12:1-2).

Reflecting on this caused me to reflect over my journey. When I was hired into the full-time vocational ministry, I wasn’t personally discipling anyone consistently (nor had I ever), wasn’t living as a witness of Jesus Christ to anyone (word or deed) consistently, nor was I loving my neighbor (no matter how you defined who my neighbor was). And truth be told, in the little efforts I had put forth ended up “making disciples” of Aaron and not Jesus. And to think I was supposed to be a public example for other Christians of a disciple in a local church? OUCH!

Obviously, the Lord found use for me , but so much wasted time as I focused to run church programs and not building people first.

Understand, that answering this question about what is a disciple is truly the main thing in our Christian faith! Initially, being a Christian was an accusation based on a lifestyle so counter to culture and committed to modeling what Jesus Christ. We don’t see different levels of the Christian, a disciple of Christ, from the Scripture. There is one standard we are held to as people who publically proclaim ourselves as Christians. What we see in much of Christianity today is legalistic external lifestyle management or the “sin patrol,” religious people who call themselves Christians, or settling completely for less and simply “going to church.”

At Indy Metro Church, we are seeking to redefine what the “the norm” of what both the church and the Christian (a disciple) are to be in our beautiful city. While Acts 2:42-47 describes what happens mostly inside the Christian community in broader public, Acts 11:19-30 describes best what should be happening publically, corporately, outwardly. Both texts provide a great contrast for our modern understanding of what we see being a disciple is around us. Hard swallow to see that as “the norm” based on what we see a disciple to be.

So my encouragement for you is to consider, if you call yourselves a Christian, does your lifestyle mirror His? Ask the hard questions. Are you a disciple of Christ or just attending some “religious” events? How will you know the difference? It is a journey. God’s grace has covered my journey, administered through many people over the years.