The Difference between an Apostle and Disciple

Part 2

What is the difference between an apostle and a disciple of Christ?

Wow this is a good question that Edgardo began with in Honduras.   Honestly I don’t like to get hung up on definitions; often they lead people into circles, and very little good comes from any honest discussion that just goes around and around the same thing.   But in this case I think it is important that people know that there are differing definitions of the term, for this one reason alone.    Apostles are treated differently – often very differently.  

What is an apostle? 

Some denominations – not the denomination of which I am a part – define an apostle as “a messenger from God,”   And within these kinds of groups you may hear the term apostle as an identifier for someone who may just happen to be the guest speaker at their church on any given Sunday.    Maybe this is a special guest speaker of some influence and is well respected in their denominational circles.    Other denominations will give a more specific definition. For instance, C. Peter Wagner defines an ‘Apostle’ as a: “Christian leader who is gifted, taught, and commissioned by God with the authority to establish the foundational government of the Church within an assigned sphere of ministry by hearing what the Spirit is saying to the churches and by setting things in order accordingly for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.”   The groups that use this definition of an apostle believe that all apostles share at least three basic characteristics: they are ambassadors, generals-governors, and patriarchs.    These characteristics were taught by Paul himself.   I am not going to look where, but I believe that Paul taught this in the letters to the Corinthians.   But as you might expect I have a few problems with both those definitions of the term.   One I believe is much too loose a term, and the other gives much too authority.  

The simple definition given above is the lowest denominator of the word.   I don’t feel like this definition causes any harm per se, but it often just confuses people and causes dissention among Christian brothers of the same denomination which shouldn’t be there at all.    On the other hand I see a lot potential danger in using Wagner’s definition.    Sometimes when the term is used in this way an autocratic – dictatorial religious ruler arises.    One that might be the decider of marriages and families.   One that may demand certain things from people, such as money or other very dear personal things.   I believe that those who use this definition on themselves will sometimes lead to the addition of Scriptures, and the Bible teaches us clearly that God’s Word is complete.   If you don’t believe me, then argue with the Bible itself in Revelation 22:18-19.    Let me be honest though when I have seen this happen it usually arose from someone who gave themselves that title, and who most likely began their own denomination or group.    But I also fear the way that definition says “hearing what the Spirit is saying.”   Well, a lot of people hear what the Spirit is saying.   It’s not hard to hear what God says, if you know Jesus Christ personally, and you pray for clarity and understanding when you read your scriptures.     His Truth was written down for us and it never, ever changes.    Another problem that I have with those that may use this term are those who call themselves apostles.  For instance, I have tried over the years to form friendships with some of them when I happened to be in their communities, but they have never allowed me to associate with them or spend much more time with them than what is allotted for a simple greeting.    Am I to be feared?   We may disagree with the definition of various terms, but if we are both believers in Christ, and do our best to follow him, then are we not brothers.    It seems to me that families ought to be able to share a meal with each other occasionally.   Perhaps work together on some project for the betterment of others.   For those reasons as well as a few more the definition that I use as an apostle is this: an apostle is a follower of Christ who was specifically given the task to lose his life in the pursuit of sharing the Gospel with theultimate intent of establishing the one true church.     You can read the story of the establishment of the church in the book of Acts.   You can read the corrections that the Apostles made to those churches and groups with the Letters in the New Testament.    Some theologians include early church fathers, such as: Clement, Polycarp or Ignatius as apostles because they had so much to do with the development of church doctrine.   Maybe so, I won't argue with them.   But bottom line our doctrine is established.   The church is alive.    We may still need martyrs in order to grow the church, but we don't need them to give their lives in order to create new doctrines or any new form of church governance.   My denomination doesn't add the phrase "lose their life:, but I did, because in all the traditions of the church and in many Biblical stories you will read -- the apostles gave up everything in order to establish the church.   So with my definition, do I believe that there are official “apostles” today?   No, I don’t.  They ceased to exist sometime in the second century.   By then the truth was known and a church was established to see that it spread.         

What is a disciple?

This is something that most Christians can agree upon at least enough so as to not argue very much.   But with that thought in mind, let’s sit camp here for a moment or two.    A disciple is someone who follows a person or an idea according to the dictionary.   But for the disciple of Christ this idea goes much deeper and becomes a lifestyle instead of just a path to follow.    A disciple of Christ embraces all that Jesus was and is and tries to live his life following His principles, and because of the principle that Jesus taught to share the Gospel with others a disciple of Christ will go and make more disciples.   What this means is that if you are not actively sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others then you are not a disciple.   Let me add this, a casserole that you baked for the sick cousin down the street is very nice and very hospitable, but it is not sharing the message of Jesus Christ unless you explained the ulterior motive behind bringing the casserole to them.   

Just saying. . .

Steve DuVall