That Ain’t Christianity: What Is Biblical Discipleship?
What would you say if I told you that I, as a pastor and professing Christian, believed that the majority of people that identify as Christian aren’t actually true believers at all? Would you believe me to be judgmental? Hypocritical? I’m sorry to confess that is actually my belief. And the reason is because I don’t even think most people understand what being a Christian means.
Christian. Disciple. Believer. Born Again. These terms are all used interchangeably, but one of those names in particular has completely lost it’s meaning in the 21st century. Discipleship. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? When you start to understand this term, I think you’ll come to the same conclusion I do.
What True Biblical Discipleship Really Means
Discipleship. It’s a word we hear often in churches, Bible studies, and Christian conversations, but do we really understand what it means? More importantly, are we living it out? I want to invite you into a conversation that might challenge your perspective—and that’s okay. Growth often starts with a little discomfort.
Let’s be honest: the term “Christian” has become diluted over the centuries. In the time of Jesus, being His disciple wasn’t just a title; it was a lifestyle—one deeply rooted in the traditions and practices of first-century Jewish culture. To be a disciple of a rabbi was to commit every aspect of your life to learning from and imitating your teacher. It wasn’t a part-time endeavor or a side pursuit; it was an all-encompassing way of life that required absolute dedication.
In the Jewish tradition, discipleship began with a rigorous process. Young boys would study the Torah from an early age, memorizing large portions of Scripture and learning its interpretations. By their teenage years, only the most exceptional students would seek to become disciples of a rabbi, known as “Talmidim.” These students would approach a rabbi they admired and ask to follow him. If accepted, the disciple would leave behind their family, occupation, and any sense of personal autonomy to fully immerse themselves in the rabbi’s teachings and way of life.
Disciples didn’t just learn the rabbi’s teachings; they sought to emulate his character, mannerisms, and worldview. This meant observing the rabbi’s behavior in every situation—how he prayed, how he interpreted Scripture, how he responded to challenges, and even how he interacted with others. A disciple’s ultimate goal was to become like their rabbi in every way. As the saying goes, they aspired to be “covered in the dust of their rabbi,” a reference to walking so closely behind their teacher that the dust kicked up by his feet would settle on them.
This sounds exactly like what modern ‘Christians’ lives look like, right?
This intimate, demanding relationship highlights the weight of Jesus’ invitation, “Follow Me.” When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John, they immediately left their nets, their families, and their livelihoods. They understood that following Him wasn’t merely about agreeing with His teachings but about surrendering their entire lives to learn from and become like Him. It was a call to radical transformation, prioritizing Jesus above all else.
Contrast this with today’s common understanding of Christianity. Many of us have reduced it to Sunday morning attendance and a handful of moral guidelines. We associate being a Christian with identifying as such on a census form or attending church sporadically. But is this what Jesus had in mind when He said, “Follow Me”? The answer, unequivocally, is no. Jesus’ call to discipleship is as radical today as it was 2,000 years ago. It’s an invitation to leave behind anything that competes for our allegiance and to walk so closely with Him that His life transforms ours.
The Radical Invitation of Jesus
In Luke 14:26-27, Jesus laid it out plainly: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (NIV).
These words are startling. They’re not an invitation to a comfortable faith or a casual association. Jesus is calling us to a radical reorientation of our lives, one where He becomes the absolute priority.
The early disciples understood the context of this invitation. They left their nets, their tax booths, and their old lives behind to follow Jesus. They weren’t perfect, but they were committed. They knew that discipleship wasn’t a part-time job; it was their entire identity. To become Jesus’ disciple was to completely give up their own life, their own comforts, their own priorities, their own desires. To be a disciple was to be 100% completely surrendered.
What Discipleship Should Look Like Today
The call to discipleship is the exact same for us as it was for the 12 original apostles; therefore, our response should look extremely similar to theirs. True discipleship involves three key commitments:
Following Jesus Daily Discipleship is not about checking a box or adding Jesus to an already busy life. It’s about surrendering everything to Him. While He is no longer physically walking our streets, we still intimately follow Him and relate with Him. This means spending time in His Word, not just skimming through it, but meditating on it, studying it, and letting it shape our thoughts and actions. Listening to His voice in prayer becomes a priority, where we seek His guidance, confess our shortcomings, and realign our hearts with His will. Aligning our decisions with His teachings requires us to consistently evaluate our lives through the lens of Scripture, asking, “What would Jesus do?” and then courageously doing it. Following Jesus daily demands intentionality, discipline, and a heart that continually says “yes” to Him.
Living in Community In the Gospels, discipleship was always relational. Jesus called His followers to live and learn together, building a close-knit community that shared joys, struggles, and growth. Today, this means engaging deeply with your church family, finding accountability partners who will lovingly challenge and encourage you, and pouring into others as mentors and friends. Discipleship thrives in authentic relationships where vulnerability and trust create an environment for mutual growth. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…but encouraging one another” (NIV). Living in community also means bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and celebrating each other’s victories. It’s about stepping out of isolation and into the messiness and beauty of doing life together as the Body of Christ.
Making Disciples True disciples make disciples. Jesus’ final command to His followers was, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19, NIV). Discipleship is not just about personal growth; it’s about multiplying your faith in others. This doesn’t require a theology degree or a perfect life. It’s about being intentional in your relationships—teaching a Bible class, mentoring a younger believer, sharing your faith at work, or walking alongside someone who is exploring Christianity. Making disciples means investing your time, energy, and love into helping others know Jesus, grow in their faith, and make disciples themselves. It’s a cycle of spiritual reproduction that reflects the heart of Jesus. Your discipleship is incomplete until you’re actively pouring into others, equipping them to follow and imitate Christ.
Discipleship Costs Something
We live in a culture that values convenience and comfort, but Jesus offers us something far greater: the chance to find true life by giving ours away. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, NIV).
To the apostles, taking up their cross was not a metaphorical suggestion. It meant enduring real hardship, persecution, and even death. Peter was crucified upside down, James was executed by the sword, and John spent years in exile on Patmos. For them, following Jesus demanded their very lives. They willingly walked this path, not because it was easy, but because they believed Jesus was worth everything.
In contrast, modern Christians often view discipleship through the lens of convenience. For many, “sacrificing” for Christ might mean skipping a favorite TV show to attend a Bible study, tithing a portion of their income, or occasionally stepping out of their comfort zone to serve others. While these actions are meaningful, they pale in comparison to the radical sacrifices made by the early disciples. The modern challenge is to recognize that the call to take up our cross is just as relevant today as it was in the first century.
Carrying a cross means more than enduring life’s inconveniences; it means dying to self. It involves laying down our ambitions, preferences, and even relationships that compete with our allegiance to Christ. It might look like choosing integrity at work when it costs you a promotion, forgiving someone who deeply hurt you, or surrendering your dreams to pursue God’s calling. For some, it could mean relocating to a distant land to share the Gospel, while for others, it might mean faithfully serving in their local church despite feeling unnoticed.
Discipleship is a high calling to give up our lives, and yet so many of us can’t even give up certain language, movies, or habits. Some of us can’t carve out one day a week, where NOTHING is allowed to interfere, to fellowship and worship with other Believers. While we’re called to die to ourselves, for many they are not even willing to die to a few temporary conveniences. This is not discipleship. This is not Christianity.
Jesus doesn’t promise that this path will be easy, but He assures us that it will be worth it. “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” (Luke 9:24, NIV). True discipleship costs something—but in losing our lives, we find the abundant, eternal life that only Jesus can give.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: What am I willing to give up to follow Jesus? Are we content with comfortable Christianity, or will we embrace the radical, life-altering path of true discipleship? Again, this comfortable, cultural Christianity is no Christianity at all. It’s a fake replica where we worship ourselves in the name of Jesus. The apostles gave everything because they believed Jesus was worth it. Do we?
An Invitation to Reflect
Can I please compel you to take a moment to examine your life. Are you truly following Jesus, or are you merely associating with Him? Are you sacrificing your desires, comforts, and conveniences in order to become more like Jesus? Are you actively a part of a community that challenges and encourages you to grow? Are you investing in others, helping them know and love Jesus? I’m not asking if you attend church services. I’m asking are you actively, purposefully engaged and submitting to one another.
If these questions stir something within you, don’t ignore them. Discipleship is a journey, and it’s never too late to take the next step. Plead with God for a truly repentant heart and ask Him to lead you in walking sacrificially. Seek out a mentor or ask God to reveal someone you can disciple, committing to grow in faith and obedience to Him.
Encouragement for the Journey
The path of discipleship is not easy, but you are not alone. The Holy Spirit empowers you, and Jesus Himself walks with you. As you take up your cross and follow Him, you’ll discover a life richer and more fulfilling than anything the world can offer. You’ll also find the joy of knowing that you are part of something eternal—a Kingdom that will never fade.
So, let’s step into this together. Let’s live as true disciples of Jesus Christ, fully surrendered, deeply connected, and passionately committed to making Him known. This is what it means to follow Him. This is what it means to be a Christian.