Fans
Our culture is full of fans.
We’ve got…
Trekkies (I’ve never seen the show)
Cheeseheads (Dead to me since Favre left)
Deadheads (Couldn’t tell you a single song)
Losties (I might be one of them)
Gleeks (I’ll never be one of them)
But I think the biggest group of fans has to be those of Jesus. We love our t-shirts, church membership, bumper stickers and jewelry. My fear is that the church has helped produce a lot of fans of Jesus but very few followers. We have once a week fans who love the idea of what Jesus does for us but we don’t have, nor have we ever, had any real intentions of actually following him with our lives.
Nobody can make this decision for you.
Not your spouse.
Not your pastor.
Not your community group.
You have to own this.
Do you want to be a fan or follower?
I want to be both! Following him and sharing Him like a true fan!
I never considered this but you’re right! Remember when WWJD was all over the place?
Put me down for follower.
(and I am kind of a Gleek too, only kinda)
I don’t know – deadheads border on being followers! (I live in Oregon where half the population are deadheads active or retired)
What is gleek? I’ve never heard of it and I don’t own a TV.
Fans of a show called Glee. I’m proud of you that you don’t know what it is.
Pete – seriously, you need to learn a Grateful Dead song for culture’s sake…and i’m convinced you would thoroughly enjoy Sue Sylvester on Glee… but with Jesus, a follower please.
You’re right there is a huge difference between following & being a fan. Following requires some change.
Expecting a lot of twitter jokes today?
I like Amy’s answer.
And I might be a bit of a Gleek. No apologies.
Really? I will be praying for you.
Over the weekend, I went to a Keith Urban concert. At one point, he walked into the crowd to play part of a song. People went CRAZY, trying to touch him as he walked by. It was insane. And…weird. When I told my husband about it, he said, “That’s dumb. It’s not like he’s Jesus.”
I thought that was brilliant. Mainly because I thought the same thing except MY thought was, “It’s not like he’s Elvis.”
When did it become so acceptable to go so crazy over a PERSON???
The Lord gave me guidance through your post today to a question I was praying about. How incredible is our savior. Thanks!
Pete,
I’ve struggled with this ever since reading “Crazy Love” by F. Chan and his discription of the lukewarm christian (still haunted by that chapter.) I’m sooo guilty of migrating back and forth between both camps, fans and followers… when its “cool” to be a believer and also sacrificing to extent of divine dependency.
My regular struggle is against drifting back into the “fan” category comprised of mediocrity, wastefulness, and self dependence.
That chapter is still messing with me too Jonathan.
Ya really don’t have to be one or the other. I mean, I CANNOT be a fan and not a follower. It’s just not in my DNA. I love me some Chicago Cubs….I’m a fan, but I could also tell you anything you wanted to know about them….I’m a follower. Love me some Pittsburgh Steelers….I’m a fan, but I could also list, from memory, team members, by number, for the past 15-20 years. I love me some Jesus Christ….I wear T-Shirts and have bumper stickers telling you all about my love for him, but I also study and pray and live my life like a person who wears those shirts should.
To answer your question: Both
Cheesehead always (team over one former player). Love The Dead! So much great music.
Star trek, Lost, Glee – No thanks to any of them.
Follower and Fan of Jesus!
Follower is what I desire.
And deadheads…”knockin on heavens door”
And gleeks…you just added to my vocabulary
I want to be more of a follower (yes, I’m a fan too)…I really do. So why then, do I let the fears, etc. get in the way? Why do I care what others think? Why do I fear not getting what I want instead of getting what God wants to give me? Why do I feel so weak as a Christian? Yeah, I need to do a lot of work, lol.
Oh, I should mention that I’m feeling a little down today…that’s probably why all the negative thoughts.
I wanna follow! I want my ‘I am Second’ shirt to be true, not just ‘fashionable’!
“We’ve created fans but not followers”
Fans need giveaways and chatchkis… followers will follow even when they are starving
Fans need constant stimulation… followers hear God even in the silence
Fans need reminders of their idolization of Jesus… followers know Jesus is in their hearts even when they can’t feel Him around them
oooo I love this… I wonder how many times I’ve “liked” Jesus without fully engaging in following Him. Ugh.
Fan AND follower. I pray to continue to learn to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He inspires me.
The way I see it (and I am guilty of this too):
We’re followers when it’s “comfortable” Christianity. Like Jonathon pointed out, Francis Chan’s description of “lukewarm” Christianity fits in this.
We’re fans when it’s uncomfortable, particularly when biblical truth must prevail over love when the two collide.
Ah so true Jay. As I said in my most recent blog post… I know that there are situations in our world that make me uncomfortable and I shrink back more into “fan” status of Jesus than “follower” status.
I asked the question… do we need to feel discomfort to really make a difference? To really be “followers” instead of just “fans”.
I agree completely. Christianity has become more of a fashion statement than a religion. Jesus didn’t come to earth to get His face on a T-shirt, He came to earth to teach and raise up disciples to follow Him. Follwers, not Fans! I often wonder what Jesus thinks of all of this Christian merchandise. It’s really quite sad.
Definitely a follower of Jesus. Not big on the whole Christian “gear” thing. But even in the Bible he had a lot of fans and not so many followers.
I think I need to read that Francis Chan book.
Oh yeah, and I’m a total Gleek. Not ashamed of it either.
I think since Adam and Eve we all have the tendancy to be fans and not followers, not because we do not believe but because of the every presence of Satin tugging at our hearts. We can go to Church on Sundays and maybe even Sunday night and get spiritually energized ready to be a follower but if we do not make a real concerted effort to remain prayerfully focused then Satin intervenes and we once again become a fan because so much to the time Satin’s way is easier and more fun. I wish I could say I am a follower and while I do try to be one, if I am honest with myself I know I am a fan.
I’m a Gomer – Huge Third Day fan.
I so had this conversation with someone last night. I have been a fan, but am transforming to a follower.
I agree with you 100%! Definitely a follower here. There are too many people treating Christ as Jesus Christ Superstar and not Jesus Christ Lord.
Admittedly, this is way deeper than you’re intending and completely semantics.
If I’m simply a fan, like you stated, I’m merely a tinkling cymbal – hyped and no power. If I’m a follower, I’m still trying to catch up. The disciples were “followers” because the Gospels are still Old Testament. That speaks of a promise to come.
After the resurrection, we entered a New Testament reality – the provision. I’m identified in Christ, I express, manifest and reveal the fullness of the gospel tangibly. Col. 1:27 “…the mystery of the gospel is this, Christ in you the hope of glory.” There is resurrection power inside of me… I am a royal priesthood, a holy nation… God does in me the exceedingly, abundantly, above all I can ask, think, dream, or dare imagine.
But I have to die to myself – a process of yielding myself to this reality. This causes me to express a contagious joy, love, peace, and confidence. That’s what causes the world to notice, transformation – “What’s different about you?”
Unfortunately, you’re correct, most people would rather spectate and suffer in their humanity than to pursue this mystery for themselves.
Most want Pastor to change their diapers, wash their hands, and give them a formula for being good… is that too blunt?
Alright, off my soap box.
And for the record, I was raised in Wisconsin – Cheesehead. Go Packers!!!
God stuff bro!!
Nicely put.
I feel like sometimes I’m a follower of church than a follower of Christ. Does that make sense. I know we (the church) are the body of Christ but sometimes I feel like the church gets wrapped up in it’s programs and it’s inner self than going out and being like Christ.
I’m with you on the Cheeseheads. How could you leave off the crazy vampire people.
thank you for posting this I have been struggling with the whole “follower of Church” and not of Christ!
“My fear is that the church has helped produce a lot of fans of Jesus but very few followers.”
i agree. i think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we’re not really about disciple-making. we talk a lot about winning souls and planting churches, and little about being disciples. when we “do” evangelism, it’s about getting someone to believe a particular doctrine and savior — not about becoming a follower. when we send people to plant churches (which very rarely actually happens), they begin with the church — not with making disciples.
when we make disciples, we make followers. when we promote personal saviors and churches before discipleship, we make fans.
WOW!! Good stuff!!! Follower ALL the way!!!!
Shocker…I’m a Cheesehead, but a Cheesehead that loves, follows and is a total fan of Jesus!!!
Oh…bro! Now you’re talking! Thanks for this!
That’s SOOO good Pastor Pete!! I love it.
But seriously, don’t admit you’ve NEVER seen a Star Trek episode!! What is wrong with you?
I got to Visit SouthEastChristian (?) in Louisville on their last night of “notafan” series and loved it. I try to follow the blog an twitter to keep me reminded to not just be a fan but a Follower. Love it!
You’re the second person to mention that series to me. Going to have to look it up.
Great post Pete! Thanks for the thought provoking question. Definitely a follower!
Not a fan by your definition. Definitely not into swag.
Yes, I am a follower…wanting to be more like Him every day.
But, I am also a passionate fan also. I am so thankful that I still get giddy excited about Jesus, even after 20+ years.
My vision: love God, love others, it’s simple…
My mission: entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm & ignite passion in the believer (to go into the world)
My calling is reaching the pierced, tattooed, lost (no pun intended) and disenfranchised young people.
I am a proud GLeek. I personally enjoy the show. But more importantly, it also allows me to connect with a very interesting group of people that isn’t being reached.
p.s. 4 8 15 16 23 42
Thanks for posting that. Thought provoking… We spend lots of time in “hurray” for Jesus rallies (Sunday services, conferences, live music etc) but what about Monday through Saturday? I’m definitely a fan, but want to me MORE of a follower!
My husband calls this the “happy Jesus” club. The trouble is, sometimes following isn’t so “happy”! T-shirts and other garb just make so many Christian appear like “actors” by knowing the Word but not putting any real priority on what it actually means and applying it. Where also is the community that holds other believers accountable for their actions?
Where has true discipleship gone….? Praying for a revival on that one…
Definitely working on being a follower… actually find it a bit hard to be a fan (of Jesus)… his teachings really are very hard and difficult for the sinful nature to grasp…thankfully there’s the Holy Spirit to work it all out!
And totally a Cheesehead! The heck with Favre. #12 is THE MAN now! #XLVorDie