A fan or follower?

Have you really ever thought about the difference between a fan or a follower of Jesus? Really though. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with being a fan of Jesus. And a follower? Aren't we all?

I've come to learn there is a huge difference between the two. Huge.

A fan. A fan is when your favorite football team plays. You're front row, spirited and ready to cheer.
A fan is when you start a countdown to go see your favorite artist live. The dictionary definition is:
Fan (noun) -an enthusiastic devotee or admirer of a sport.

A fan of Christianity?
They go to church. They sing the worship songs. They lead a Bible study. They know their facts.
In the big picture, that doesn't mean anything.

Don't let that be deceiving, anyone can go to church and sing.

Jesus doesn't want us to be a fan.
Jesus doesn't want us to be a noun. He want's us to follow.
See, a fan is just a fan for certain times of a day, month, year.. it's not an ongoing life style.
That would mean, we like the things Jesus does sometimes. Every now and then we get excited about it. We worship Him when we feel like it, other wise it's whatever. When we're happy, we love Him. When our life is difficult, we don't really want anything to do with Him.

That's from hell. 
Jesus doesn't want a "fan." A fan of Jesus, bluntly put, has no set eternity in Heaven.

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters- yes, even his own life- he cannot (will not) be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26, 27.

Follow me.
Don't cheer me on. 
Don't come see me. 
Follow me. 

We should be so dedicated and ready to follow Jesus.. nothing else could compare.
In fact, He tells us our relationship with everyone and everything here on earth should appear as hatred compared to love we have in Christ. Harsh? No. Some translations say to "love more." Love Christ more than you will ever come close to loving this earth.

How can we sit back, look at the cross and be okay with just clapping?

The Church today misses this. A lot of 'Christians' across the earth are being led on by false hope and false affirmation. We don't need to hear from a preacher as to what this looks like. Jesus makes it plain and clear. Follow Him.

It's sacrifice. It may mean no friends, no family, no job, no money. It may mean losing your life. It's going to mean hard work. Life style changes. Finding the joy of coming in last. But that is what Jesus expects of us. He expects nothing less than the willingness to give everything up.

That's not a fan.
Jesus doesn't want fans.
Jesus doesn't know fans.


Why waste time cheering Him on when we can be there first hand?
Don't just get in the game. Go through what it takes to get in the game. 

"Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." -Luke 14:33

start now. 

Go.