At face value, I am sure that many Christians would identify as both a fan and a follower of Jesus. Now that I said this, I am sure that many are cautiously thinking about the differences and deciding whether or not they are the same thing, or should they choose one over the other? Is there a wrong answer here?
What if I asked you to choose one over the other; choose between them: fan or follower? Are you more of a fan than a follower or more of a follower than a fan? And for purposes of this exercise, you can’t say “both.” I want you to try and decide between the two.
Let’s turn to Scripture.
Scripture reading, Romans 12:1-2 (NIV).
1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Introduction
What if I said that a disciple of Jesus is a follower, not a fan? What if I also said that it is probable that too many Christians are fans and not enough are followers? As we work through this message, I ask that you prayerfully reflect over matters and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your heart.
Technically, a fan is “an enthusiastic devotee.” An admirer. Now it is easy to admire Jesus and be that enthusiastic devotee. And at face value, there may seem nothing wrong with this. Who wouldn’t want to be enthusiastic about Jesus and admire all He has done?
Body
You can be a fan of Jesus from a distance. You can be a fan of Jesus when you raise your hand in prayer. You can be a fan of Jesus when you say grace before your meal. You can be a fan of Jesus by sticking the sign of the cross on the back of your car. You can be a fan of Jesus by attending every church service, choir practice, prayer meeting and cell group.
But Jesus called us to follow Him. And we don’t follow Him just because of who He is. We don’t follow Him just because of what He taught. We follow Him because of what He did. We follow Him because we want to become like Him.
The story is told of a pastor who was invited to speak at another church. As is usual, the church asked for a biography of the pastor and a photograph. Then they can advertise the event and properly introduce him. So far so good then. The pastor lands at the airport and as is usual, there are people holding signs and names. But his name was not here. An elderly woman was frowning and studying what appeared to be a photograph. The pastor walked up to her and calmly said, “You might be looking for me.” The elderly lady replied, “Are you really pastor so and so? You don’t look like your picture at all.”
If I want to become like Jesus, to what degree do I look like His picture? In other words, when other people look at my behaviour, way of thinking, attitude, my heart for the lost, and the things that I do, what do they see? What are I reflecting back to them? What do they see? What is the witness of everything about me and within me? Does it say fan or a follower?
Let’s recall verse 2 from this morning’s Scripture reading, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” and work with the verbs “conform” and “transform.”
- Let’s compare “conform” to what the more talented of us can do with jelly. Jelly, when freshly made, can be poured into any number of moulds, be it star or cross or round or square-shaped. As it cools down, it will conform to the shape around it and once it’s cold, that shape becomes the jelly’s permanent shape. You can remove the mould and the set jelly has taken on that shape.
And that is exactly what the Greek behind the translation is saying, “conform to the same pattern; fashion self according to.” There is no inner transformation.
Jelly is still jelly, no matter if it’s star or round-shaped by its mould. It doesn’t stop being jelly because of the shape of the mould.
- “Transformed” on the other hand speaks of a metamorphosis and indeed, this is the Greek behind the translation “transformed.” If we look at “metamorphosis” from a zoological point of view, it means, “the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form.” If we turn to my trusty dictionaries, we read, “change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means,” “a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances” and “a major change in the appearance or character of someone or something.”
The jelly is no longer jelly. Something radical happened inside of the jelly that caused it to stop being jelly, and it is noticeable.
In other words, to “transform” speaks of an inward-outward change. It is here that the zoological point of view resonates with me because it implies maturity: growing up. And this is what is expected of us when we convert, we must grow up: mature spiritually and emotionally as the Holy Spirit works within us and we reflect Christ.
This is part of our spiritual maturation; our growing up and our journey of faith. We strive toward the likeness of Jesus in thought, word, and deed – everything about us should testify to being a serious follower of Jesus. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
The writer Macknight stated, “…we all reflecting as mirrors the glory of the Lord…” Locke said, “…with open countenances as mirrors, reflecting the glory of the Lord.”
The second definition of “metamorphosis” spoke of supernatural means. Jelly, on its own, cannot ever be anything else other than jelly. Jelly, left to its own will always conform to the shape around it. That’s what jelly does. But if something beyond the natural world of jelly acts within it, the jelly undergoes a metamorphosis and reflects back to the observer, what the supernatural cause of change is.
Let me use another image to explain following. Rabbis had disciples who followed them around on dusty pathways as they went from place to place. As they followed, they learnt from the Rabbi. But because they were following, the disciples were eventually covered by the dust that the Rabbi kicked up – and in a sense, this was a compliment to the disciple. There was evidence both in the appearance of the disciple and in the level of knowledge of the disciple that he was a follower.
A fan of the Rabbi might have waved or acknowledged in some other way that he/she has seen the Rabbi. Followers are covered in dust.
When preparing this message, I also reflected on the end times and wanted to describe to you, what the pattern of the world is. It is surprisingly difficult and easy at the same time. You see, when we conform to a pattern, it means that we fit it. We don’t stand out. Or shall I say, stand up?
The Word of God and indeed history reveals many who stood up for their faith in their world, despite the consequences. They certainly did not conform!
When you switch on the television, listen to conversation, and buy a newspaper you see what is happening in the world. You will notice that the general narrative is negative, fear-based, grumbling and complaining, gossiping, or full of doubt.
Do not conform, stand out by maintaining a biblical perspective, be positive, be encouraging, be hopeful, be a light in a dark world be a follower of Jesus.
Have you noticed the gossiping, swearing, drunkenness, sleeping around – fornication as well as adultery? How far do you have to look before you see this? Do you suppose that any of this is pleasing to God?
Did you know that the people you spend time with will influence you? That also means that you can influence them. Do not conform, stand out, and do not compromise your beliefs, you are in the world not of the world.
We bear the charge to deliver different results even though we are exposed to the same conditions, circumstances, pressures, “darkness’s” as many others on this planet who don’t know Jesus or who are merely fans of Jesus.
Conclusion
Let me bring it together.
Christians are concerned about their own and other people’s physical and mental challenges. They are concerned about the economy. They are concerned about politics. They are concerned about human rights. But are they also concerned about worship, sin, grace, idolatry, metamorphosis, and evangelism? That little word “but” is what separates fans and followers.
There is nothing wrong with being a fan of Jesus, as long as you are first and foremost a follower of Jesus that reflects the glory of God. To the glory of God is why He made us.
We are not called to blend in. We, as the church, are called out of the world. The footprints of Jesus that we are to follow are visible right through Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.
May you be covered in the dust of Jesus as you follow Him.
I close with Romans 11:36, “For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”