Fan or Follower

I listened to a podcast by Rich Atchley recently titled "Opening Day: Home  "Improvement".  It had to do with whether or not we are going to be "fans" of Jesus or be his "followers". There is a difference. Fans show up when they feel like it. They share their feelings about what is going on - and fanclubs do a lot of work to keep fans. Feedback drives the fan club. Why? Cause they gotta keep the fans. "Churchclubs" can do that too... following Christ isn't about membership in a club.  Membership is involved - let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater - but it's about a whole lot more. 

Followers are different... they are there for the thick and the thin... whether they fell  like it or not. They are guided by something higher than their feelings at the moment. Their calendars are not their god, their calendars are guided by their God. Surely, this is what Jesus was talking about when he said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). It's so much more than a church saying...

I think this is our battle. Most of us aren't on a "how do I survive today" level of life - that could come - but we live in a time blessed  more than any other - even with all the woes in the news.

I'm convicted personally by the question of whether I'm a fan or a follower. I'm not immune to the cares and the deceitfulness of the world choking out my faith any more than anyone else. I think about that for my wife, for  my kids, and for the kids I minister to at church.


I've for sometime felt this was the question of the day for ministry. I haven't had this set or words to describe it.  I think the church is in a "battle" over this question and has been for a while. 

It does really come down to the question Rich posed in his message, are we 'fans' or 'followers'?