"Being a disciple is necessary to be a Christian."
This doctrine of the International Church of Christ is both true and false. Matt Slick from CARM lists it as an aberrant doctrine, but fails to explain why he thinks it is an aberrant doctrine. I surmise he does not know what he is talking about. Every genuine Christian is a disciple of Jesus, but not every disciple of Jesus is a Christian. Therefore, being a disciple is necessary to be a Christian.You cannot be a Christian if you are not a disciple.
"As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore." John 6:66What we have in this verse is apostasy. This is not speaking of His twelve disciples. It is speaking of the multitudes that followed him. Disciple means learner. Every genuine Christian is a disciple of Jesus, but not every disciple of Jesus is a Christian. This verse proves it. In conjuction with this verse, John wrote:
"They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us." 1 John 2:19I would like to know how Matt Slick figures that this teaching is false and aberrant when Scripture clearly teaches contrary to his presumption. The International Church of Christ may indeed be a cult, but this teaching, at least properly understood, is true. To say that you can be a Christian and not be a disciple is false. That is like saying Jesus can be your Saviour without being your Lord. That, too, is false. If He is not Lord of your life, He is not Saviour of your life. The two go hand-in-hand. He saves you to command you. Look at these statements made by Jesus in regard to being a disciple.
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26Look up the words "disciple" and "disciples" in the Bible and read every passage. Read the surrounding verses for the context. Scripture makes it quite clear. Someone who sits under and learns from Jesus is a disciple. Christians are to sit under and learn from Jesus. Ergo, we are disciples. Being a disciple is necessary to be a Christian.You cannot be a Christian if you are not a disciple.
"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:27
"So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions." Luke 14:33