There is no dichotomy between being a Christian and being Jesus’ disciple. In fact, the word “Christian” only appears three times in the whole Bible. Every time, it was in reference to those who follow Jesus and his teachings.
Acts 11:26 records the first reference where the two terms were equated. Barnabas and Paul had been staying for a whole year with the church in Antioch, passing on to the believers what Jesus taught where verse 26 comes into play. “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” Up until this time, everyone referenced followers of Christ as disciples and rightfully so, since the definition of a disciple is a follower.
The context of Acts 26:28 is Paul conducting his defence before King Agrippa, explaining how he came to follow Jesus and became a teacher of his word. This was after Jesus’ death and took place as the church began to boldly spread the gospel. King Agrippa said to Paul “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Used by an outsider at a time when Christians were viewed with much suspicion and vilified, this was meant in an offensive manner. Nevertheless, it reflects the label that King Agrippa (and the larger society) put on those identified with Jesus and his teachings.
Lastly, 1 Peter 4:16 records the exhortation Peter gave to those who follow Jesus. Here, Peter encouraged Jesus’ disciples to embrace and take pride in the derogatory label society had given them, giving the term a noble meaning, encouraging them to “not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
All these square with the teaching of Jesus in Luke 14:26-27: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” This extreme idiomatic language to signify loving and following Jesus over loving all else (even life itself) shows us that authentic discipleship may exact from you and I the highest price relationally and physically.
Disciples/Christians are all in, or they’re not in at all. Yet, we must get this in the right perspective, because just a few paragraphs earlier, after Jesus had laid down the high costs involved, he said, “You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:14). Christ is the greatest treasure (Phil 3:8).