Fan or Follower?

“What’ll we do on Sunday if there’s no football? What’ll we do?” So exclaimed one news reporter, commenting on the NFL owners and players negotiations last week.

Now I like football. But I can live without it. So my first thought was, “Get a life.” My second thought was, “If only people that call themselves Christians were as passionate about their faith as football fans are about football!”

In America three quarters of the population identify themselves as Christians. And 81% say they believe Jesus was the Son of God who came to earth and died for our sins. Even people of other religions admire Jesus and consider him to be a spiritual leader, a prophet or great teacher.

So let me ask you a question: “Are you a fan or a follower of Jesus Christ?”

“Now hold on just a minute!” you say. “What difference does that make?”

Jesus put it this way “If anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” What did he mean? That a follower says “No” to self, leaves the old way of life behind and follows Jesus Christ. But a fan is simply an enthusiastic admirer.

It’s obvious Jesus was a celebrity. He healed the sick and did miracles. People loved him. And as a result, he had many fans. Everywhere he went there were crowds of adoring people.

But Jesus was never impressed by the size of a crowd. It was the commitment level he cared about. So Jesus asked people to make a choice. To decide if they were a fan or a follower.

One concern I have with churches today is that, when we gather together, it’s possible that instead of a community of followers we’re no different than a stadium of fans. We may wear a cross but we don’t want to bear the cross. We don’t want to give up our old selfish way of life.

You can go to church, know the songs by heart, take notes in your Bible and say grace before meals--but that doesn’t make you a follower of Jesus Christ. Many churchgoers are just fans.

What keeps people from becoming true followers? Jesus showed us in several conversations with would-be followers. One loved comfort more than anything. Another wanted to follow Christ, but only if it was convenient. A third wanted to take care of family matters first.

Jesus said the time to follow him was now. He doesn’t want to be just one of many in our lives. He wants to be our ‘One and only.’ He wants us to have no other gods before him.

I’ve known many grown children that were raised in church but were only fans of Jesus. They are rarely seen in church. Often the parents will ask, “What happened?”

The best answer I’ve heard came from a father of a wayward college student. He said, “We raised her in Church, but we didn’t raise her in Christ.” When I read that I wondered how many parents brought their children to church but were only fans of Jesus themselves.

One of the most dangerous ways to be raised is with a little bit of Jesus. Like marriage, it doesn’t work if you aren’t completely committed. And kids know if their parents worship comfort, career or family and aren’t committed to Christ. Kids can spot hypocrisy a mile away.

For me one of the most sobering verses in the Bible is when Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Jesus wants our full obedience not just our admiration and respect.

Today Jesus Christ calls to us from the pages of the Bible. He asks us to choose our relationship with him. What will it be? Will you be a fan or a follower?

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!