Football Season has officially started. Our family gathered around the T.V. to watch the Alabama Crimson Tide season opener. Our little granddaughter came over dressed in a houndstooth skirt – ready to carry on the tradition.
I love this time of year and I love enjoying the game with the family.
In the state of Alabama – we KNOW how to be fans.
- In Alabama, you declare your loyalty early on. It’s Alabama or Auburn – no in between.
- We teach our children to chant “Roll Tide” or “War Eagle”!
- We invest time and money for tickets, athletic apparel, and gatherings of like minded fans.
- We enjoy the game.
Recently my husband, Mike, led our Life Group through a study Not a Fan by Kyle Ideman. The back cover of the book says:
The dictionary defines a fan as “an enthusiastic admirer.” Fans want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires sacrifice. Fans may be fine with repeating a prayer, attending church on the weekend, and slapping a Jesus fish on their bumpers. But is that the extent of the relationship Jesus wants?
Jesus was never interested in having admirers. It’s not fans he is looking for.
I know how to be a fan … I know how to be a really good fan.
But, I sure don’t want to be a “fan” of Jesus … I want to be a follower.
It’s so easy in our culture to get about “doing” the Christian tradition rather than truly following Jesus.
Jesus, thank you for the opportunity to follow You. Lord, we don’t want to be just fans in church investing in “chants” – “apparel” – and “game times” with You. We want to be committed to Your Kingdom and Your purposes.
I highly recommend this book – Not a Fan. It will challenge you to look at following Jesus – “Whenever. Wherever. Whatever.”
What do you think about being a Fan or Follower?
Lisa H. Bryant 
Lisa – you are right! We know how to be fans in the great state of Alabama. Roll Tide!
In the Bible belt is is easy to be a Jesus “fan.” But like you say, the Lord does not want “fans” but followers. I don’t want to be a fan. I want to be a follower of the Lord Jesus – “Whenever, Wherever, Whatever.”
I know that precious baby was darling in her houndstooth skirt!
You are always teaching me…. I love you, Carol.
My son and husband watched at Alabama tore it up!! It tickles me to watch them because I am not a fan of sports..lol They are die hards of Alabama!!! lol
When we went on our vacation to Florida here at the beginning of August I had the book with me “Not a Fan” We don’t have a radio so God allowed that awesome opportunity for me to read it to the whole family and then talked about it in great lengths. It blew our minds and I can say we never looked at it in the way it was represented !! It was awesome as we talked about what scarfices have you made to be a follower of Christ? How about the question would someone say you are a Fan or a Follower by how you live and your action or lack of actions!! Hard chore question that cut to the heart and issue of what we are really doing with following Christ! I can’t tell you how thankful I was for that opportunity to have a teachable lesson with our whole family!!
It convicted us, challenged us and made us understand the huge difference between being a Fan or Follower. After reading the entire book while on Vacation I am sad to think of how many many FANS we have instead of Followers.
I think this is one of the most thought provoking books I have ever read. I think it needs to be thought from the pulpit, in our bible study’s, in our homes.
One of the Best Books I have ever read about!!
Lorena ❤
Thank you for sharing your heart, Lorena. I agree – one of the best books I’ve read, too.