Book Report: Disciple by Juan Carlos Ortiz > 제자학교

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Disciple by Juan Carlos Ortiz Book Report

March 2026

The book Disciple was written by a Pentacostal, Argentine Pastor named Juan Carlos Ortiz. A quick Google search says he was an influential member of the 1970s charismatic movement.  In reading the book, I had mixed thoughts and feelings.

First the good. It seems Juan Carlos Ortiz was passionate, all-in and loved God. He spent the first part of the book discussing how many in the modern church had distorted the Gospel with which I agree. He said a “5th gospel” has been created. ‘We have made a man-centered, human gospel replacing the Christ-centered Gospel. We think we need to accept Jesus but it’s Jesus who accepts us.’ We don’t make Jesus Lord; He is Lord. ‘We have put man in the place of Jesus, so man is very important now.’. Our services, meetings, etc. are man-centered. We think about the congregation and seekers more than God. “We think we are the center of the universe, and God and Jesus Christ and the angels all revolve around us. Heaven is for us; everything is for our benefit. We are wrong. God is the center. We must change our center of gravity. He is the sun, and we revolve around Him.”. “You must come and give yourself to Jesus and fulfill His demands when He speaks as Lord.” 

In the 5th gospel, as it relates to justification, Ortiz says “Many people think salvation means to be made free. “Oh, praise the Lord - now I’m free, free, free!” Well, not quite. “Having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness" (Romans 6:18) You see there are two masters in this world, and each has a kingdom. We were born into the kingdom of darkness. We were natural citizens of the kingdom of selfishness. It is a place where everyone does his own will. That is the way Satan runs his kingdom, “in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind” (Eph. 2:3) “In this new Kingdom, you cannot do whatever you like. You are part of the Kingdom of God. He is the King. He rules. We live according to His wants and wishes.”. Martin Luther said “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” John MacArthur says “Once I was free in the shackles of sin: Free to be tempted, just bound to give in; Free to be captive to any desire; Free to eternally burn in hell’s fire. ‘Til Someone bought me and called me His slave: Bound by commands I am free to obey; Captive by beauty I’m free to adore– Sentenced to sit at His feet evermore.”.

Ortiz goes on to say regarding the 5th Gospel, ‘We take all the verses we like,all the verses that offer something or promise something and we make a systematic theology from these verses, while we forget the other verses that present the demands of Jesus Christ’. (ex; James 2:14-22, Lk 6:43-46, Mt. 7:17-20, Mt. 7:21-23, Mt. 10:37-39, Lk. 18:18-30, Jn 15:5-6, 1 Cor. 16:22, Heb. 12:14-17, 1 Jn 2:15-17, Mt. 6:19-24, ). “Who authorized that? Who said we are allowed to present only one side of Jesus?” “Who has the right to decide which commandments are compulsory and which are optional? You see, the Fifth Gospel has made a strange thing: an optional commandment! You do it if you want; if you don’t, that’s all right too. But that’s not the gospel of the Kingdom.” Note: God says in His Word that it is not all right and we are in very dangerous territory if we think or live as if it is. ‘Repentance is a commandment, not an invitation. Otherwise, Jesus shouldn’t punish people who refuse (eternal damnation)’ (Reminder: Repentance is more than just asking for forgiveness, it is a constant,active fighting against sin and turning away.) Ortiz continues ‘The Fifth Gospel is composed of all the verses we have underlined in our Bible “If you want to read the gospel of the Kingdom, go back and read the verses you never underlined, because that is the truth you lack.’. 

In terms of disagreements, the book started off where Ortiz making a distinction between a Christian and a Disciple says the following “What is a disciple? A disciple is one who follows Jesus Christ. But because we are Christians does not necessarily mean we are His disciples, even though we are members of His Kingdom. Following Christ means acknowledging Him as Lord; it means serving Him as a slave.” I wholeheartedly disagree. Throughout Scripture, “Christian” and “disciple” are synonymous. In fact, the term “Christian” is rarely mentioned in the New Testament but “disciple” is used over 250 times indicating all true Christians are disciples. Disciples are not a subset of true believers; they are one in the same. Scripture explicitly states saving faith inevitably leads to a changed life; one marked by a turning away, constant fight against sin and the world and although far from perfect, growing love, submission and obedience to God. Christians cannot have Jesus as Savior but not as Lord. Christians cannot love God and love the world. (ex. Luke 6:46, 1 John 2:15-17). All Christians are bond servants/slaves to God. There are countless Bible passages that support these statements and none that explicitly say otherwise. 

I also disagreed with several of his interpretations or usages of Scripture passages as the basis for his points.  In the context of breaking away from church traditions, he references the first part of Romans 12:2” Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”, where “transformed by the renewing of your mind” means we must be continually open to change. I disagree with this interpretation. My understanding of the transformation by the renewing of our mind means we are to know God’s Word and the Holy Spirit will use God’s Word to renew our mind rather than us becoming more open-minded/flexible to change.  

I generally agreed with the beginning of the book but in my opinion, it became more of his personal thoughts loosely supported by scripture and, at times, in disagreement to my understanding of what those passages mean. (I acknowledge that my understanding of some of those passages could be incorrect but based on what I understand these passages to mean, supported by scripture and other commentaries, etc. from respected forefathers of the faith, I disagreed with some of his interpretations and usages of passages to support his points.)  

A few other observations and areas of disagreement: In my opinion, he seemed to downplay the importance of the Bible and doctrine in the Christian’s life and almost spoke of them as at odds with life in the Spirit.  Some of his examples he used to get his point across were confusing or perhaps cultural which didn’t translate well.  He also seemed to imply that Catholics are Christians which I disagree. Lastly, Ortiz being part of the pentecostal/charismatic movement does raise various questions and concerns for me.

Overall, I do agree with some of the points Ortiz made particularly early in the book and I admire his passion for God and the church but there were areas of disagreement and I would not recommend this book.