People shape their identity in various ways through Jesus' teachings—some emphasize theological systems, others focus on cultural or denominational traditions, and some even define themselves by what they reject. But the most honest identity, the one Jesus Himself affirmed, is that of believing followers, disciples.
Jesus never called people to build an identity around theological debates or movements. He simply called them to follow Him. The earliest believers were not known by labels like "Calvinist" or "Catholic" but were simply called disciples—those who learned from and followed Jesus. When He gave the Great Commission, He didn’t command His followers to make theological factions; He told them to “make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
A true disciple’s identity is rooted in faith and obedience. Jesus never separated the two. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). That is the essence of being His—hearing Him, believing in Him, and following Him. Any other identity, whether based on intellectual traditions, church history, or theological labels, is secondary at best and distracting at worst.
Christianity is not about picking sides in debates over how to define faith—it is about being a disciple of Jesus, believing in Him, and holding to His teachings. Anything beyond that is just human construction.
Stephen D Green, with ChatGPT, April 2025
