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You should have seen the look on their faces when I took that shirt out of my shopping bag. I really caught my family off-guard. You see, in Kentucky, we have a saying that goes like this, “I bleed blue!” Of course, that is referring to being a University of Kentucky Wildcat fan. And I admit that I am a “fan.” But that is during basketball season. Now that I am living and pastoring in Missouri, well, let's just say that a few months ago during college football season, I came home with a Missouri Tigers shirt. You should have seen the look in my families eyes when they saw that shirt! It was hilarious. A few weeks later when my oldest daughter was visiting from KY, she gave me a silent stare and then finally asked what I was doing. She couldn’t understand her daddy!
I have learned that I am a pretty-good fan, but I’m not a very good follower of sports teams. I have my favorites, but I also catch myself turning the channel when the score isn’t what I want it to be, or the coach is running some plays that I disagree with, or if the players aren't performing up to my “expert” opinion.
There is a big difference between being a fan and being a follower. That’s true in our relationship with Christ too. Kyle Idleman has a great book out entitled, "Not a Fan." I was recommend it. It poses a great question for us to ask ourselves. Are we "fans" of Jesus, or "followers?" Being a "fan" sounds good on the surface, but when you really look at the differences between being a fan or a follower, the differences are many.
Fans love to go to the arena and soak in the excitment. Fans know how to talk the lingo and brag on their favorites, but fans also can be tempermental. Fans cheer as long as everything is going their way, but when they aren't, fans usually stay away.
We can easily become spiritual fans of Jesus too. We love to go to Church, enjoy of the music and preaching, get involved, talk the lingo and even brag on Jesus, but what about when God doesn't do things the way you want? When God doesn't make sense? What about when the Church doesn't do things just the way "you" think they should? What about when people laugh and mock Christians? Or when being a Christian isn't the popular position to take? It's at those moments we find the seperation from "fans" and "followers of Jesus.
Kyle Idleman makes the statement, "Jesus doesn't want fans." How true. Jesus wants followers.
As we enter into 2012, let's each take a good look in our spiritual mirror and make sure that we are following Jesus out of love and devotion, committment and trust. Let's follow Him not for what He can give us, or do for us, but simply because of who He is, He is God!
