Just to be clear, when it comes to Jesus Christ, I'm not a fan; I'm a follower.
"Not A Fan" is the title of a book I read recently while on vacation. It's written by Kyle Idleman, teaching pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky. In it he challenges everyone who identifies as "Christian" to examine whether they're fans or followers.
Jesus, Kyle points out, called people to follow Him. Following requires a far greater sacrifice and commitment than simply believing or trusting. The fan gives up little, if anything, to say they believe in God or in Jesus. Although some fans are more recognizable than others because they literally wear their Jesus fan T-shirts, put fish decals on their car and wear crosses as jewelry, it's not much different than the degrees to which sports fans wear their team pride.
I am, proudly, a fan of the Green Bay Packers. I have car stickers, flags, mugs, caps, jerseys, and more. I've been able to attend a few games at storied Lambeau Field. But I know fans who are far more fanatic than me about the green and gold. And yet, not one of us has ever actually played a down or contributed to their success on the field. And if, for some reason, I had to give up watching the Packers play, I could. It's not life, it's football.
Though Jesus did not want to gain fans, the Bible describes many who became just that, and only that. Thousands came to see Him, to hear Him, and hopefully to see some dramatic miracle or be fed fish and bread. But when challenged by Him to define their relationship with Him, most of the fans "un-friended" and "un-followed" Him (John 6:60-70).
Jesus didn't soften His message for those fans who thought it too hard. In fact, He said "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). Any public relations firm will tell you that as slogans go that might build a huge following, that one will never work. Who's going to jump at the opportunity to follow a man who promises a life of self-denial, sacrifice, servanthood and, on top of it, ridicule, humiliation, persecution, rejection, and maybe even a violent death?
There was a time in my life I would have been proud to be identified as one of Jesus' fans. There was a time I would have thought myself a better fan than many and would have worn that as proof of being a good Christian. But the better I know Jesus and the more I experience what it means to follow Him, I have no desire to simply be a fan. I want to be known to Him and others as a follower, not by the stuff I wear or put on public display, but by the character of Christ that people perceive in me. I'm Mark Voll, and I'm not a fan.
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Mark Voll is pastor of the Village Bible Evangelical Free Church. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Religion on 05/04/2016