Fan or Follower?
When I was
younger, I admired Princess Diana.
Actually, I more than admired her—I read articles about her, followed
news stories, and stayed up all night to watch the royal wedding. I probably knew more about Princess Diana
than many Brits. I felt like I was her
close friend. But I’ve come to accept
that she didn’t have any idea I existed.
The truth is, I didn’t really know Princess Diana—I knew about her.
Many people are
fans—often big fans—of someone. In his
book Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman, explains that when fans learn everything they can
about the person they admire. Fans know
all about the person’s professional life and even personal life. Fans feel like they are intimately acquainted
with that person. But if they
encountered their hero face-to-face, it would be obvious that fans don’t really
know that celebrity—they only know about them.
Fans tend to
confuse their knowledge with intimacy, says Idleman. And many, many people in who call themselves
Christians do this with Jesus. They
might huge admirers of Jesus. They may
have scripture memorized about him, and belt out hymns of worship every Sunday,
but do they really know him? One of the
most troubling passages is in Matthew 7:21-23—
“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. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Ouch! The implications of this verse are startling
and demand serious soul searching.
Idleman goes on to outline the importance of moving beyond belief in
Jesus, and becoming genuine followers.
He points out that almost everyone knows John 3:16, about believing in
Jesus, but many Christians ignore Luke 9:23 (“If anyone would come after me, he
must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”). There is no believing in Jesus without
following him.
Don’t assume that
you’re a follower of Jesus
It is dangerous
to assume that we are followers. The
people Jesus mentions in Luke 9:23 are shocked that Jesus doesn’t know
them. The time has come to move from
being avid fans in the grand stands, to becoming committed followers out on the
field with Jesus. He really doesn’t want
us to know more about him as much as he wants us to get to know him for
real—personally, warmly, thoroughly.
Start today,
right now by turning off the computer, the TV, the music, the phone. Put down the book or newsletter, even put
down the Bible, and present yourself to God in humble silence. Tell him that you don’t want to be just a
fan—you want to be close to him—as a real son or daughter, not just as an
admirer. Then sit quietly. It may not feel comfortable because we are so
used to being in control, but this is a first step in denying ourselves in
order to follow him. And he desperately
and eagerly waits for you!
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