I am currently reading a book called Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman.
It is a really good read and has really got me thinking. The premise behind the book is whether
you are a Fan or a Follower of Christ.
If we are honest, the majority of the people that walk through the door
of the church each weekend are a Fan and not a Follower. Sure, we love Jesus. We might even think this is a great
place and our family is involved, we might even serve or give here and there,
but what happens when we leave this place each weekend? Is there a difference between who we
are on Sunday and who we are at work or home? Do the shows we watch, the movies we see, the places we go
on a Friday night, the conversations we have with people or the way we talk
represent Christ?
Jesus is very clear about lukewarm Christians. In Revelations 3:15-16 it says, I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor
hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither
hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. God is not interested in someone who comes to church on
Sunday, serves and then leaves only to fall back into their old ways. He wants your whole heart, not just
part of it.
Kyle Idleman asks four questions that will
help you to objectively show where you fall. Take some time and really consider each of these. Get a journal or piece of paper and
honestly answer where your heart is.
1. For what do you sacrifice your money? In Matthew 6:24, Jesus said, No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love
the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Take a look at your bank
statement. Where does your money
go? Very quickly you will see what
is important to you. Does it go to
fill your life with more stuff? Do
you use it to make you happy? Do
you use your money to keep up with everyone else? Do you use your money to help out others? Do you give back to God what is
rightfully His?
2. When you’re hurt, where do you go for
comfort? When trials come (and
they will), what is the first thing you do? Do you run to a family member or friend? Do you run to the kitchen to eat some
food? Do you give up and take a
nap? Do you talk to God? Where do you take comfort?
3. What disappoints or frustrates you the
most? “When we feel
overwhelmed with disappointment it often reveals something that has become too
important.” What are your trigger
points? Does your favorite sports
team losing frustrate you? Do your
kids acting out disappoint and frustrate you? Does your family member choosing to walk away from
Christ frustrate and disappoint you?
4. What is it that really gets you
excited? The things that
really excite us often times end up pointing to things that really compete with
Jesus. Are sports exciting to
you? Is working out exciting to
you? Is spending time with family
and friends exciting to you? Is
sharing God’s word exciting to you?
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
So are you a Fan or a
Follower? Does the person you
represent on the weekend reflect the person you are the rest of the week? Are you so consumed with your
life that you miss God?
If you are a Fan, what steps do
you need to take to become a follower?
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