Following the Way of Christ
Beyond a Belief System
One of the questions that naturally arises when people hear the name The Way of Christ is this: Why choose this name?
Some may wonder why we would use a designation other than simply "Christian" or "Church of Christ." The answer is not because those names are unimportant, nor because we want to distance ourselves from other followers of Jesus. Quite the opposite. Our desire is to choose a name that clearly points to Jesus Christ and reflects the identity and mission of His earliest followers.
The New Testament gives us several descriptions for those who belong to Jesus. Each one reveals something beautiful about our relationship with Him.
Disciples: Followers of Jesus
The most common designation for Jesus' followers in the New Testament is disciples.
The word disciple appears more than 260 times throughout the New Testament, especially in the Gospels and the book of Acts. Jesus did not begin His ministry by asking people simply to agree with His teachings. He called people to follow Him.
"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)
A disciple is not merely someone who believes certain facts about Jesus. A disciple is someone who rearranges their entire life around Jesus. A disciple learns from Him, becomes like Him, and joins Him in His mission.
When Jesus gave His final command to His followers, He said:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19)
The mission of Jesus was never simply to create people who agreed with His message. His mission was to form people who would live His message.
Christians: Those Who Belong to Christ
The followers of Jesus were also called Christians.
This designation appears three times in the New Testament:
Acts 11:26
Acts 26:28
1 Peter 4:16
Luke tells us:
"And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." (Acts 11:26)
The name Christian means someone who belongs to Christ. It is a beautiful and biblical name because it identifies us with Jesus Himself. However, it is worth noting that the New Testament writers did not use this title as frequently as we might expect today. The earliest followers of Jesus were more often identified by their relationship with Christ, their commitment to His teachings, and the way they lived.
Church of Christ: A People Who Belong to Him
The phrase “churches of Christ” appears only once in the New Testament:
"All the churches of Christ greet you." (Romans 16:16)
This expression emphasizes a foundational truth: the church belongs to Christ.
Jesus said:
"I will build my church." (Matthew 16:18)
The church is not something we create for ourselves. It belongs to Jesus. Every faithful congregation exists because of Him, belongs to Him, and must remain centered on Him. The New Testament also uses other descriptions such as Church of God, saints, and believers to describe God's people, each emphasizing a different aspect of our identity in Christ.
The Way: A Life Centered on Jesus
Among the descriptions of Jesus' followers in the New Testament, one of the most fascinating is "The Way."
While disciple is clearly the most common term used for followers of Jesus, The Way uniquely captures something essential about what it means to follow Christ: Christianity is not merely a set of beliefs to affirm—it is a way of life to embrace.
Throughout the book of Acts, Luke repeatedly refers to the followers of Jesus as belonging to The Way:
Acts 9:2
Acts 19:9
Acts 19:23
Acts 22:4
Acts 24:14
Acts 24:22
For example, Saul was given authority to arrest:
"any belonging to the Way, men or women..." (Acts 9:2)
Later, Paul testified:
"But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers..." (Acts 24:14)
Why would the earliest followers of Jesus be known this way? Because following Jesus was never intended to be merely an intellectual agreement with a religious message. Jesus did not come simply to provide information about God. He came to invite people into a transformed relationship with God.
When Jesus said:
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
He was not describing a religious philosophy. He was revealing His own identity. Jesus Himself is the Way. To follow Jesus meant walking in His way.
It meant loving enemies.
It meant forgiving those who wrong us.
It meant serving rather than seeking status.
It meant carrying a cross.
It meant dying to an old way of life and being raised into something new.
Jesus' invitation was never simply, "Believe these ideas about me."
His invitation was:
"Follow me."
Jesus Did Not Just Teach a Doctrine—He Modeled a Life
The earliest disciples understood that following Jesus meant more than accepting correct beliefs. It meant becoming a different kind of people. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42).
They cared for one another.
They shared generously.
They welcomed outsiders.
They served the poor.
They proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus.
Their faith was not simply something they practiced in a gathering. It shaped how they lived every day. They were not merely people who believed in Jesus. They were people who were learning to live like Jesus. This is why "The Way" is such a powerful description. It reminds us that Jesus did not come merely to start another religion. He came to restore humanity into the life God intended.
Why "The Way of Christ"?
The name The Way of Christ is meant to communicate this central truth: Jesus is not merely the subject of our faith—He is the center of our life.
He is the Way to the Father.
He is the Truth we proclaim.
He is the Life we receive.
The purpose of the church is not simply to help people know about Jesus. It is to help people walk with Jesus. The world does not simply need more religious activity. It needs people who embody the life, love, grace, and truth of Christ. The earliest followers of Jesus were recognized as people of "The Way" because they were walking in the way of Christ.
That remains our calling today.
"Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:6)
