Fan or Follower

I was listening to the radio the other day when I heard them mention an article on their webiste titled Fan or Follower and it got me thinking about that concept. I'll admit I never went and read the article. Mainly becuase I decided I wanted to write a blog about it and figured if I read the article it probably said most of what I wanted to say and then it would be plagarism. So now even if our articles are similar it is not plagarism since I have never read the article. Did you follow that?

Anyway, fan or follower? Would you say you are a fan or a follower of Jesus Christ? What's the difference you ask? (Great question by the way) The difference is huge! The way you answer that question makes all the difference.

Let me try to explain the difference, at least in my mind.

A fan is someone who goes to church, sings the songs, smiles, and looks like they have it all together.

A follower is someone who goes to work on Monday and their co-workers wonder what is different about them.

A fan has a nice little silver fish on their car or maybe a bumper sticker with a catchy slogan.

A follower lives in such a way that fish or no fish others know they are different.

A fan has multiple bibles in the latest designer covers, maybe even one to match their outift.

A follower has a bible that is beat up and worn out from all the use.

A fan hears of the injustices in our world and prays a prayer for them.

A follower asks God to use them to be the answers to those prayers.

A fan knows Jesus' teachings, talks about Jesus' teachings and maybe even studies Jesus' teachings.

A follower lives Jesus' teachings.

A follower loves people the way Jesus loves people.

A follower stands up for the truth even when it isn't popular.

A follower knows life isn't about what you can get but what you can give and actually lives that out.

A follower takes up his cross daily and follows the One who is worthy of all our praise and adoration. The One who, "being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! " (Phil. 2:6-8)

That's a follower. Which are you?

Now let me also be clear. Followers are also fans. Followers may or may not have all the "dressings" but they are fans. Nothing is wrong with the things fans do. Since I love food let me use a food analogy here.

The things I listed that fans do are like the gravy. Gravy is good but if there aren't any potatoes or biscuits or french fries underneath it, it isn't very appealing. Right? Who wants a bowl of gravy? Gravy is there to add to something not to be something. The fish on your car, the designer bibles, the going to church, etc are all good but they aren't supposed to be it. They aren't what Jesus calls us to.

When Jesus said "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full" He was talking about a lot more than a shiny fish and a duo tone ostrich leather bible. If you haven't experienced that life to the full, maybe it's time you become a follower isntead of simply a fan.