07/09/2026
Consumer Christian or Authentic Disciple of Jesus?
There’s a question I think the Church needs to ask itself—not to condemn one another, but to honestly examine our own hearts:
Am I following Jesus, or have I simply learned how to consume Christianity?
It’s possible to attend church, listen to sermons, sing worship songs, receive prayer, enjoy community and still have quietly made Christianity about what God can give me, rather than who He is calling me to become.
A consumer asks, “What am I getting out of this?”
A disciple asks, “Lord, what are You asking of me?”
A consumer wants comfort without cost, blessing without obedience, teaching without application, community without commitment, and revival without surrender.
But Jesus never called us to be consumers. He called us to follow Him.
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
That doesn’t mean earning our salvation. We are saved by grace through faith. But the grace that saves us also calls us into a life of surrender, obedience, service, generosity, holiness, love and mission.
Paul puts it even more radically:
“He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
2 Corinthians 5:15
So perhaps the question isn’t simply, “Am I a Christian?”
Perhaps we need to ask:
Is my life increasingly centred around Jesus—or increasingly centred around me?
Am I willing to serve when nobody notices?
To give when it costs me?
To forgive when it’s difficult?
To obey when it’s uncomfortable?
To share Jesus when it’s inconvenient?
To receive correction rather than only affirmation?
To remain committed to His people rather than treating church like a service provider?
To allow God to change not just my circumstances, but me?
And if the honest answer exposes something in us, the response isn’t shame.
It’s repentance.
Turn back to Jesus. Seek Him again. Lay down the consumer mindset/idol. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and renew your desires.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Romans 12:2
We don’t need more Christianity built around our preferences.
We need disciples who make disciples.
People who don’t simply come to receive, but come ready to give.
People who don’t merely hear the Word, but obey it.
People who don’t simply attend church, but become family.
People who don’t just want to be blessed, but become a blessing.
So here’s the challenge:
Jesus, search my heart.
Show me where I’ve become a consumer.
Forgive me. Renew my mind.
Teach me to follow You again—not merely for what You can give me, but because You are worthy.
Less consumption. More surrender.
Less spectatorship. More discipleship.
Less “What can I get?”
More “Jesus, what can I give?”
