Not A Fan

Not A Fan

Teen Edition 

By 

Kyle Idleman

 

Recently my 12 year old daughter started reading "Not A Fan-Teen Edition" by Kyle Idleman. (We found it free on our e-reader).  As I write this blog, I write it to you as someone who doesn't want to be a fan but instead wants to be a follower.   Pastor Idleman does a great job of helping us sort out the difference and challenged me to look beyond my "religiosity" and instead look into my heart.  That's something I've been challenged a lot about in the last year, but isn't becoming a follower of Christ all about growing in the spirit-even from a "teen edition".  

 

You see, the underlying message of this book is all about our level of commitment, not the number of people filling our church pews!  Wow-think through that statement and think how counter culture that really seems.  In a society where we are numbers driven, it flips the whole concept of reaching others for Christ completely upside down. Instead of knowing all about Jesus, I instead need to know Him.The author states that fans often "confuse their admiration with devotion,mistake their knowledge of Jesus for intimacy with Jesus". He even goes so far as to align churches as "companies that measure success by the number of customers they have attracted...we want the product, Jesus to come off as appealing and comfortable".  "The message of the church sounds less like, deny yourself and more like have it your way".  Which message would you send to those that want to become followers of Christ? 

 

As Pastor Idleman shares the story of Nicodemus, he brings to light that for Nicodemus to become a follower, it "would cost him".  The costs weren't small-his powerful postion, the respect of co-workers, his source of income, friendship, family relationships, future dreams, and his popularity would all be lost.  The most telling question the author imposes that has left me searching for the answer is, "has following Jesus cost you anything?"  It most likely cost Nicodemus more than we can imagine, as is signified in John 7:51.  Nicodemus comes to the defense of Jesus and says, "does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" This was Nicodemus' defining moment...was he a fan or a follower?.  What is your defining moment?

 

In addition to helping me define the costs of following Jesus, Pastor Idleman also challenges us to look at our authenticity.  One of the biggest stumbling blocks we face as Christians is allowing others to see into the person that God created.  We want an outward appearance that follows the rules, that allows us to pretend we are more that we really are.  What we have forgotten, is that Jesus came to free us from religion. He shares a personal story of being in a weight room, and only lifting the lightest weights the machine will allow but moving the pin back to a higher level as he walks away from the machine.   As he illustrates so well, "this is what we do most of our lives-we try and reinforce this perception that we are really strong".

 

So where does the author lead us?  He leads us where Jesus went, "towards a sinner that others wouldn't want to be seen with, among the sick that others tried to avoid, criticized by some of the religious people in your life, finding that your family may think you are crazy, unfairly accused and unjustly treated."  Sound familiar?  It should, for if you are not a fan but a follower, you won't end up "covered in the dust of Jesus, you will end up covered in His blood"

 

I Am Amy And I Am Not A Fan