A couple of things I have recently come across have challenged me. They have driven me to ponder a few questions. Song Writer Michael Card has a line in a song that affects the way I think. The line says, “The questions often tell us more than answers ever will”. I am a “ponderer”. I ask questions and seek to better understand myself, others, my world and especially my God and His call on my life.
The first thing that challenged me was a book I read; “Not a Fan”. It challenges “believers” to ask themselves the question, “Are you a Fan of Jesus or a Follower of Jesus?” Because I love sports I get the analogy. Fans come and go. When the team is doing well they show up to enjoy the “good times”, but where are they in the hard times (like the Detroit Lions’ 2013 season) or when the team has multiple losing seasons? Followers on the other hand are committed to the team good times and bad. They support the efforts even when the results are less than desirable. They stay faithful “in the valleys” and “on the mountain tops”. I love the question: Are you a fan or a follower? It makes me reflect on my own faith. It is not asking me what I “do” for my faith. It is asking me who I follow; who leads my decision making.
The second was a message I heard on television. A Pastor, Chip Ingram, asked the question, “Why are there so many decisions but so few disciples?” He proceeded with his message which was very similar to the fan/ follower concept. People make ”decisions” in the passion of the moment like following the new “hot” sports team but when things become challenging and less exciting they fade away. They are not disciples, only fans.
I have led Bible studies. I say I led Bible studies, not taught Bible studies, because I believe what Jesus said, “There is only one Teacher and that is the Holy Spirit”. If we are teachable, the Holy Spirit takes us from where we are to where He wants us to be in small steps. The message in a particular Bible study may or may not touch a given person at that moment in time. It may not be an area that they have been given “ears to hear” yet. The great thing is that the message may be recalled later at the Spirit’s prompting. He is the Teacher, the Bible study leader is only the facilitator.
The question is as facilitators what messages are we “planting” for future “watering”. What kind of message is the Church giving the world today? Some messages have been called “getting fire insurance”. Others seem to be offering a “life filled with prosperity”. Still others seem to teach that denying yourself everything will give you a great reward later. All these thoughts are based in Biblical truth. The problem is context and communicating the meaning of the message. Is Jesus looking for fans or followers?
I believe the problem starts with how some people see God. Is God here to please us or are we here to please Him? Are we here to focus on pleasing our self or to serve God? Look around the room you are in right now. Are you the center of what you can see? Of course you are. By nature we see ourselves as the center of our world. That is why Biblical passages like the following seem backwards; you must give to receive, you must die in order to really live, turn the other cheek, pray for you enemy, etc. These statements make me think of another Michael Card line, “The power of paradox will open your eyes, and blind those who think they can see”. (As you can probably tell, I like this “word-smith”.)
The scripture list goes on and on. We tend to gloss over them because they don’t really resonant with our humanity. These messages are not “me” centered, but we are. Is scripture talking about pleasing people or pleasing God? Is it entertainment centered or disciple centered? Is it fan focused or follower focused?
So in my pondering these questions I asked myself what was the message that Jesus gave His followers that revolutionized “their world”? What did He say to the fishermen that lead them to become disciples? Did He simple say, “Follow Me” and they left their life as fishermen and followed Him? The same message was given to Matthew the Tax Collector and the others; “Follow Me”. Can it be that simple or were these men “given ears to hear” prior to their “call”?
I think of other people in the scriptures that heard the same message from Jesus and did not respond. Think about the rich young man who wanted to know how to get to heaven (Matt 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18:23). He told Jesus he had led a “pure” life by following all the commandments from the time he was young. After a conversation with this man, Jesus simply said to him following all the commandments isn’t enough. Give up your worldly goods and “Follow Me”. The man “went away sad”. His wealth had a greater hold on him than his desire to follow Jesus. Riches were between Jesus and him. They had more value to him than following Jesus. His problem wasn’t his riches. The problem was his riches were more important to him than doing what Jesus asked him to do.
Others had different excuses (Matt 8:19-22, Luke 9:57-62) like “I need to go and bury my father” or “I just got married” or “I need to say good-bye to my family” or “I need to wrap up my business first”. Things of this world stood between them and following Jesus. Does that mean that other “voices” were more in tune with what they really desired; a comfortable life, family responsibilities, etc.? Another incredible “word-smith”, Rich Mullins, wrote in a song, “The things of this world compete for the allegiance I owe only to my King”. A challenging thought that I need to review often. Is anything between my King and me?
In Luke 9:62 Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to plow and then looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.” That message is straight forward. Do I ever “look back”? Do you? Notice He said “fit for service”. Are we seeking service or self-satisfaction? What is He calling us to? In Acts 5:40-41, after they had been whipped for sharing about Jesus, the Apostles “were happy because God considered them worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of Jesus”. I don’t think I have ever heard that message from the pulpit.
In Matt 10:37-38 and Luke 14:25-26 Jesus said, “Those who love their father or mother more than me are not fit to be my disciples; those that love their son or their daughter more than me are not fit to be my disciples. Those who do not take up their cross and follow in my steps are not fit to be my disciples”. Jesus didn’t say the journey would be fun. He didn’t even tell them where they were going. He simple said “Follow Me”. Some did and some didn’t. The same thing happens today. Some do and some don’t. Why?
At this point in my search for answers it seems to me that the “Parable of the Sower” holds a key (Matt 13:1-9, 18-23, also in Mark and Luke). My paraphrase of this parable is that some people have not been given “ears to hear” so Satan snatches away the truth as soon as they hear it. Some people have been allowed to hear the message and believe it, but for various reasons they let the things of this world “speak” louder to them than Jesus’ voice. As in the beginning with Adam and Eve, Satan fills their heads with doubts and they “fall away” from the “truth that can set them free”. Other people are given “ears to hear” the message, take it in deeply and are fruitful. They don’t allow the “whisperings” of Satan to distract them from the truth of the gospel. They heed the call; “Follow Me”. They are followers, not just fans.
It’s the group in the middle that I believe are a distraction to the Church today. They are “in church” regularly. They say they have made a “decision for Christ” (whatever that phrase means to them). However, they are “fans” not “followers”. They made a decision hoping for a better life but they are not willing to surrender. They come for the “entertainment”. They want people see them and believe they are “good people”. As long as the message “feels good” they will be there but call them to a deeper commitment like Jesus did to the rich young man and they will eventually show which “soil” they are planted in. They will find a message somewhere else that “tickles their ears” or they will band together with other “fans” and drive the “messenger” out of “their” church because the message makes them uncomfortable; fans not followers making “decisions”, but are not committed enough to want to be disciples.
What concerns me is how much of today’s ministry efforts are spent trying to turn fans into followers. Is that the job of the Church or is that God’s job? Didn’t Jesus tell Peter to “feed My sheep” (John 21: 15-17)? He didn’t say feed the goats and hope they turn into sheep. Only He can do that. Jesus said, “People cannot come to Me unless the Father draws them to Me” (John 6:44 and, 6:65). Shouldn’t we be “feeding the sheep”? Shouldn’t we be focused on the followers that “hear His voice and follow Him”? Isn’t that what Jesus did?
In John 10, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. Perhaps we have lost the meaning of this parable. Sheep follow their master’s voice. In Jesus’ time multiple herds of sheep were placed in a common sheep pen. When the shepherd was ready to move on, he would call to his sheep and only his sheep would follow him. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Only His sheep will follow Him. In John 10:16 Jesus goes on to say, “There are other sheep which belong to Me that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them, too; they will listen to My voice and they will become one flock with one Shepherd”. They will listen to His voice, not our voice.
I am not questioning peoples’ Christianity. I am not their judge. There is only one judge. My purpose in the illustration is to challenge who we focus on. If the message is focused on “fans” and tells them “God is here to please you”, we will never be like the first century Church. Their faith in and commitment to God was a magnet that God used to reach “His sheep” that were not yet in “His pen”. They focused on followers, not fans.
There is one small word that I think is the center of the whole problem. The word is “me”. I feel the message today is often focused on trying to persuade people that they will have a better life. That once they tap into the “power of God” their life will be great. Their life will be better. Their perceived needs will be met. Just tap into the power. However, the better life Jesus promised is the result of following Him, not a goal to obtain. It’s the result, not the target. The better life is not something we can plan for. It is beyond our imagination.
I have never read the “me” message in Jesus’ teachings. He said, “Pick up your cross and follow Me”. A cross is not about “pleasing me”. He never said follow me and things will be better. He said follow me and they will persecute you. He said “I came to serve, not be served”. I haven’t heard the “Follow Me” message preached very often. It seems to me today’s Church is full of spectators, or fans, not followers because that is who we are focused on. Don’t push them or they might leave. They “make a decision” after some passionate message in an emotional moment but have no desire to be disciples. They want a “better life” and “fire insurance”. They want to be “entertained” and “feel good” about themselves. They see themselves as the center of the universe, not a servant of the Living God. Are these the “sheep” we are called to feed?
Why don’t we call people to “follow Him”? Is it because it is not a “seeker friendly” message? Was Jesus’ message ever seeker friendly? The passage that is the core of my belief is in John 6:25-69. Jesus is giving a “hard teaching” saying to the crowd unless you “eat my flesh and drink my blood: you cannot be my followers” (John 6:53). The crowd couldn’t handle the message and they left. Jesus then asked the Disciples if they were also going to leave. Then in 6:68 Peter said, “Lord, to whom would we go? Only you have the words of eternal life”. I love that verse! It says it all to me; even if I don’t understand the situation “to whom else would I go”? Even if the path seems dark and painful “to whom else would I go”? To whom else would you go?
Fans go away in hard times. Followers know there is nowhere else to go. Even when they cannot understand the situation they know Who does and they follow Him. It comes down to this; is God the center of your universe or are you? For myself I have come to this conclusion…this life is not about me. It is about God’s plan. The one He is unfolding. The question is am I willing to be a “pawn” on His chess board or do I need to be the “king” on my chess board? Those that He chooses to call and allow them to “hear” His voice are His followers. He lets their “roots” go deep into His “good soil”. They are surrendered. They are fruitful. They are disciples.
Paul calls himself a “bond servant”, one who is bought with a price and owes his “life” to his Master. That is a follower not just a fan. That message will not draw big crowds, but it will change the lives of those that are given “ears to hear” it. I find great peace in being a bond servant. I don’t have to worry. I just have to follow. Our family has gone through many deep and varied trials, but we have seen God “use all things for good”. Notice it doesn’t say all things are good. It simply says He will use them for good if you let Him lead. Being a bond servant is actually easier that trying to foolishly control a world that is not under your control.
Is our purpose to lead people to “decisions” or to “discipleship”? In Matt 28:19-20 Jesus said, “Go to all people everywhere and make them My disciples”. I think His message is clear. He is seeking followers not fans; disciples not “decisions”. I believe the Church needs a transfusion of “disciples”.
So I asked myself what is a disciple? The very next day I was reading in John 15 and there was the answer. John 15:8 says, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be My disciples”. So how do we “bear fruit”? John 15 is the passage on the vine and the branches. 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing”.
A few days later Chip Ingram was talking about the Body of Christ (Romans 12); the familiar parable talking about the need for all parts of the body to function as designed by God. 12:6 says, “We all have different gifts, according to the grace given us” and goes on to describe them. So if we are the Body of Christ we should be using our gifts (our part of the body) to “bear much fruit” as the “vine” supplies us for the task.
Interestingly both passages end by talking about loving each other. John 15:12 says, “My command is this; love each other as I have loved you”. Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourself”. Discipleship is not about “me”. It is about loving others and being fruitful in the Kingdom. In fact scripture says we will recognize Jesus’ followers because they love one another.
Through all of this pondering I have come to this conclusion. Disciples are not hard to recognize. They are Kingdom focused, fruitful with gifts given to them and shine a light in this dark world by displaying His love that the world around them cannot deny. This is not something a human can decide to do. They can only become that way by being a surrendered “branch” connected to the “Vine”.
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