Fan or Follower?

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Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend a high school football game with my brother. It was the first time my brother and I sat in the stands to watch a team we had both played for. The game in itself was not very entertaining, considering that the only time the score was even close was before the game actually started. However, it was a great experience to see our old team take the field and to exaggerate with each other on how much better we were when we once played.

Nonetheless, being older in age, we wouldn't even dream that we were capable of attempting to compete with any athlete now. We are merely spectators.

Similarly, fans all over the world pour into stadiums every weekend to watch their favorite teams play and see the dedication and athleticism of some of our favorite players. And just like my brother and I, a majority of the fans would not even entertain the thought that they could trade places with the athletes knowing how difficult it is.

Of course, many people around the world buy jerseys and other things to show their support and admiration of their favorite teams and players. But most of us know that there is a big difference between someone buying memorabilia and one earning their own things directly from an organization based on their talent and dedication.

Oddly, in regard to following Jesus, many of us have confused ourselves as being more than observers, thinking that we, too, are active participants in the pursuit of Christ. Yet, whenever Jesus taught, He did not consider those who invested time in listening or those who wanted to be entertained as true followers.

13 This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because [d]having the power of seeing, they do not see; and [e]having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand.14 In them indeed is [f]the process of fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive.15 For this nation’s heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and perceive with their eyes, and hear and comprehend the sense with their ears, and grasp and understand with their heart, and turn and I should heal them. Matthew 13:13-15 AMPC

Similarly, although spectators today are willing to embrace artic temperatures or scorching heat to support their team, we still consider them fans and not active participants. When Jesus taught, regardless of the weather conditions or length of his teachings, those who listened were still seen in His eyes as only spectators. Even if the teachings lasted for days without food, Jesus saw a clear distinction between fans and followers.

32 Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, I have pity and sympathy and am deeply moved for the crowd, because they have been with Me now three days and they have nothing [at all left] to eat; and I am not willing to send them away hungry, lest they faint or become exhausted on the way. Matthew 15:32 AMPC

It took much discipline and commitment to be a disciple. The disciples were men and women who left the comfort of their homes and sometimes families to follow Jesus. We see that they were ordinary men who had their flaws, however the commitment that they had for Jesus and His way of living was undeniable.

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [[c]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. 25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]. Matthew 16:24-25 AMPC

Foolishly, we have compared ourselves to these great men and women of faith without sacrificing what we hold most dear to us. We have based our entire "christian" experience off of a service we attend once or twice a week for an hour, give or take 30 minutes.

8 Soon afterward, [Jesus] went on through towns and villages, preaching and bringing the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God. And the Twelve [apostles] were with Him, 2 And also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had been expelled; 3 And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager; and Susanna; and many others, who ministered to and provided for [a]Him and them out of their property and personal belongings. Luke 8:1-3 AMPC

Most of us have become like delusional fans who assume we are like Michael Jordan because of our ability to throw trash into our trashcan from the comfort of our own kitchen.

39 You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me! John 5:39 AMPC

There are a lot of similarities between an athlete and a fan: They both show up at some of the same places. They both have knowledge of their programs. They might even have some of the same clothing items. However, when it comes to performing under pressure, there is a very big difference.

This is the essence of the parables of tares. From the outside, you cannot tell the difference. The truth, however, lies within an intimate examination of the wheat and tares themselves.

24 Another parable He set forth before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while he was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed also darnel (weeds resembling wheat) among the wheat, and went on his way. 26 So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the darnel (weeds) appeared also. 27 And the servants of the owner came to him and said, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have darnel shoots in it? 28 He replied to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Then do you want us to go and weed them out? 29 But he said, No, lest in gathering the wild wheat (weeds resembling wheat), you root up the [true] wheat along with it. 30 Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will say to the reapers, Gather the darnel first and bind it in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my granary. Matthew 13:24-30 AMPC

Oftentimes, a fan will confuse themselves for an athlete until they receive the opportunity to leave their seats and compete against the real athletes. This happens from time to time and we get a true glimpse of the fan vs the athlete.

This is what Jesus describes in the parable of the builder.

24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a [a]sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. 25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it. Matthew 7:24-27 AMPC

We have built our religion off of only hearing the word of God. So when crisis strikes, we find ourselves folding under the pressure of our circumstances like a cheap lawn chair. Contrary to the hearer of the word, the athlete can be compared to the doer of the word -- someone who is committed to completely investing themselves into what they are doing -- someone who is willing to sacrifice early mornings and late nights to accomplish a goal.

For an athlete, that goal is a trophy that will fade faster than our hairline as we age. For the true follower of Christ, that goal is a trophy that will stand for eternity. We must examine ourselves to see whether we are merely fans of Christ or actually followers.

25 Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. 1 Corinthians 9:25 AMPC

Whenever an athlete loses a game, it usually affects their entire life: the way they eat, sometimes the way they sleep, and for those who are professional athletes, it even affects their employment. In contrast, when a fan's favorite team loses, they might be upset but life typically continues on the next day as if nothing happened.

We can determine if we are fans or followers based on our reaction to the loss of morals and values in society today. There was a gay parade hosted by a congregation of alleged Christians a few days ago. With several homosexual pastors leading congregations all across America, it seems as though our nation has lost God. We will know our stance with God based on if these atrocious acts grieve us also to the point of not eating or sleeping, or if life goes on the next day with business as usual.

4 And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in the midst of it. Ezekiel 9:4 AMPC

It is not until we become followers of God that we will feel how He feels. Then, perhaps, we will also be able to discern the future of the country in which we live.

41 And as He approached, He saw the city, and He wept [[i]audibly] over it,42 Exclaiming, Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace (for [j]freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace—your [k]security, safety, prosperity, and happiness—depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes.43 For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up a [l]bank [with pointed stakes] about you and surround you and shut you in on every side.44 And they will dash you down to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, [all] because you did not come progressively to recognize and know and understand [from observation and experience] the time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time [m]in which God showed Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ]. Luke 19:41-42 AMPC

We have freely allowed sin and corruption to invade our country while directing the source of our frustration on foreigners. We have hated the foreigner whom Jesus told us to love and become complacent with the sin which Jesus told us to hate.

9 [Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another. Romans 12:9-10 AMPC

God has showed me multiple dreams of the country being invaded and for some time I've struggled with voicing this publicly. However, for a country that has freely allowed the invasion and corruption of sin while fighting against the invasion of people who are simply in search of a better life, it does not seem so far-fetched, especially considering that this has been a direct consequence throughout history for nations of people that no longer desire to honor and serve The Living God.

8 And while they were slaying them and I was left, I fell upon my face and cried, Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all that is left of Israel in Your pouring out of Your wrath and indignation upon Jerusalem? 9 Then said He to me, The iniquity and guilt of the house of Israel and Judah are exceedingly great; the land is full of blood and the city full of injustice and perverseness; for they say, The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see [what we are doing]. 10 And as for Me, My eye will not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their wicked doings upon their own heads. Ezekiel 9:8-10 AMPC

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Question of the day: Are you a fan or a follower?