Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny
themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23
Are you a follower or are you a fan? I was sure I was a follower until I read Kyle Idleman’s book, Not a Fan. His book challenged me – forced me to examine my relationship with Christ in all areas of my life so I would know if I am truly a follower or just a fan.
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!
But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
Rev 3:15-16
The further into the book I read, the more agitated I became. My emotions bounced all over the place from irritation to confusion to frustration and panic. It affected my sleep and consumed my thoughts. And this is exactly what I believe Kyle Idleman hoped this book would do for the readers. In his prologue, he invites us to take the same journey on which he is traveling:
I want you to know that the journey I’m inviting you on is one that I’ve been traveling. It’s a journey I continue to be on, and I should tell you it hasn’t been easy. It was more comfortable to be part of the crowd. Pg 14
The first six words of the book, “Are you a Follower of Jesus,”are examined in Part 1 of this book. From D.T.R. (defining the relationship) to helping us understand what it means to have a real relationship with Christ, from following the rules to following Jesus, Kyle challenges us to look deeply at our relationship with our Savior so we may know if he is Lord only of our Sundays, or Lord of our life fully and completely.
But… What if? Would you pause for a moment and ask yourself, what if all of life comes down to this one question? What if there really is a heaven and there really is a hell, and where I spend eternity comes down to this one question? As you read this book I hope, you would at least consider that this may be the most important question you ever answer. I believe that the reason we were put on this earth is to answer this one question And the truth is, whether or not we do so consciously or intentionally, we all answer this question. Pg 21
At the end of each chapter there is a ‘not a fan story.’ These are short stories of someone who learned what it means to be a follower of Christ. Some tell stories where God got their attention in a big way and dramatic way, while others show God working on their hearts patiently and consistently through friends, and family without them realizing it was happening until they gave themselves absolutely and totally to Christ.
Kyle explains the difference between knowing about God and being in intimate relationship with him. He shares relatable stories, provides understandable analogies, and asks the tough questions to allow one to understand what is keeping them from being a wholly committed follower of Jesus.
Part 2 of Not a Fan is an invitation to anyone and everyone to follow Christ. This is not an elite club. There is no application to fill out or resume to submit. Jesus used two words to call Matthew, a tax collector for the Romans, to follow him, and he uses those same two words to call each of us – “Follow me.”
So who is invited to follow Jesus Anyone. (Pg 125)
Sexual past? Anyone.
Ex-con? Anyone. Current con? Anyone.
Recently divorced? Anyone.
Republican? Democrat? Anyone.
Alcoholic? Anyone.
Pothead? Anyone.
Addict? Anyone.
Hypocrite? Anyone.
Kyle makes it quite clear the task laid out before us is not an easy one. For many Christians, denying themselves means “giving up” something for the Lenton season (usually something they don’t like anyway so not much of a sacrifice in truth). The reality is that dying to ourselves everyday and taking up the cross is not for the faint of heart. In this way, capitalism and Christianity collide. Is your Christianity centered around what Christ can do for you or what you can do for Christ?
Using Ken Blanchard’s book, Raving Fans, Kyle demonstrates clearly what it means to be a fan. Sadly, many churches utilize techniques from Ken’s book to recruit members by making them feel comfortable, happy, and important. Jesus doesn’t ask us to make others feel this way. Instead, he says give up everything, deny yourself, and follow me.
Biblically, a Christ follower is described by the Greek word, Doulos – a slave, without rights, without possessions of their own, without a personal identity. Yet, this is how many Christ followers described themselves.
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:1 NLT)
Simon Peter, a slave (2 Peter 1:1 NLT)
Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1 NLT)
Instead, Kyle points out we prefer a “Snuggie Theology.” We want the warm, comfortable blanket and our Lazy Boy, not the pain and suffering that comes with being a fully committed follow of Jesus. Too many Pastors preach the Snuggie Theology advocating only the popular, feel good parts of the bible and omitting those parts that might cause members to try the competition down the street.
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (John 6:66)
Slavery has a negative connotation in our society. In biblical terms, however, we don’t miss out as slaves to Christ. Rather, in becoming slaves to him and denying ourselves, we find true freedom. As our master, he provides for us, he takes care of our needs, he protects us, and forgives our sins. He turns the pieces of our lives into a mosaic and gives us rest from our burdens. And best of all, he makes us a son, a daughter, an heir, his friend.
Not a Fan concludes with ‘following Jesus’ – wherever. whenever. whatever. We follow Jesus wherever we go, wherever we are. We follow him whenever – today, tomorrow, right now. Whatever we have, we give to God – our time, our finances, our relationships. We give him everything and every area of our lives. We keep nothing for ourselves; we give it all to God.
I’m sure you can now understand why the emotional upset from reading this book. Do I sell everything I have and give it to the poor? Then what? Do I live on the streets? Do I travel from town-to-town preaching on street corners? Just what does denying myself look like in practical terms? I had to have a conversation with my Pastor to wrap my head around this and get control of the anxiety I was feeling.
Here was my takeaway from that conversation. God has blessed me with a wonderful home. Do I own the home in a selfish way, or do I use it for the glory of God’s kingdom? This could mean I host bible studies or other functions within my home to share about Christ. I use my kitchen to cook food for the sick, those who are struggling financially, or just need a hand because life is difficult. Maybe I use my car to run an elderly neighbor to the grocery store or a doctor’s appointment. Do I view the things I have as mine or as things God has loaned to me for the purpose of serving his kingdom?
Kyle finishes up his book by first asking us to fill in this sentence (you know, from the nametags you are often given at conferences and such…)
Hello, I am…
How will you complete the sentence? I am a wife, a husband, an engineer, a painter? I pray that after reading this book, your answer will be “Hello, I am a follower of Jesus.”
David Lomas defines our core identity in his book, The Truest Thing About You, as who are in Christ. The truest thing about you and me is not that we are divorced, addicts, or even how we are treated by others. The truest thing about us is not our failures or our successes. These things make up our past.
They were wrong about you. (Pg 222)
You are adopted (Eph 2:19)
You are chosen (Col 3:12)
You are called (Eph 4:1)
You are a follower (Luke 9:23)
That’s who you are.
Now go live it out.
So, are you a fan or are you a follower?
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17
Blessings,
– psg –
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