Isn't It Enough to Just Follow Jesus? Or Must You Also "Disciple"? (Is ?This? the Difference?)

Unfortunately there is a great amount of linguistic confusion and fuzzy theological thinking, even among pastors, as pop Christianity is often reduced to short pitch phrases. The Hebrew and Greek terms for disciple (talmid/mathetes), mean student. To say one is a follower of Christ, implies that they are following the person in that teaching, as in the Gospels Jesus says "Follow me", that is, it is the same concept with different terms. But when ppl ask the question, a disciple, or just a believer, they mean the difference between someone who is active in their faith and commitment, as opposed to one who conceptually believes yet does not actively follow. If that question is sincere...then it's valid and, in fact, wisely asked-the question can be inspiring, challenging us to become more sincere, better, more serious in our love for one another and that is honestly, really great but... In the church, and in particular among the industry to which church life is sometimes reduced to, I have sometimes noticed that sometimes the issues raised like that are kinda akin to ppl setting themselves up as distinct from the rest, ie, the "true" believers as opposed to those less then perfect ones...along with their ministries or their church (that is, their brand, their product)-and I am saying that as a minister, ordained, who has worked in vocational ministry in a mainline denomination... That is, many say it in a way which...actually...kinda mimics the self righteous religious who in the Gospel Jesus was often at odds with for their hypocrisy. The test, the sign, which Jesus gave by which ppl would know we are His disciples, is if we loved one another. And...we don't really collectively have the greatest track record for that.

The word 'disciple' comes from the Latin root 'discere' meaning to learn. A disciple is one who doesn't merely follow like a sheep but seeks to learn as well. The whole point of being a Christian (or the disciple of any great teacher) is to learn the principles and ethos being taught and then to follow them.

There is difference surely!