Why I'm Not a 'Fan' of Jesus

According to a recent survey, the percentage of Americans who claim to be Christian is somewhere north of 75 percent.

Really? Three out of four people are followers of Christ?

Let's see, if the population of the United States is about 311 million and 75 percent are Christians that brings the number of Christians to somewhere in the neighborhood of 233 million. That's a lot of Christians. I don't see nearly that many Jesus fish on car bumpers. I don't know, maybe all the Darwin fish ate them. I'm just saying something about that percentage is off. Because if there really are that many Christians, then why will some 35 million people in America go to bed hungry tonight, including 13 million children? If 75 percent of Americans are Christians, then how is it possible that 40 percent of the homeless are under the age of 18? Why are there more than 120,000 children waiting to be adopted? I could keep going, and that's just in the States. The numbers don't add up. Jesus said the evidence that someone is one of his followers is love. So 233 million? The evidence just isn't there.

What's the explanation for such a discrepancy? A number of years ago I read an article about the new vegetarians. These new vegetarians don't eat meat -- most of the time. One of them explained that she was a vegetarian, but she really liked bacon. A vegetarian, by definition, is someone who doesn't eat meat. Umm, yeah, but isn't bacon a meat? Is it really accurate for her to identify herself as a vegetarian? If enough people who eat meat started calling themselves vegetarians wouldn't that throw the numbers off? The discrepancy was solved by coming up with a new term to describe vegetarians who aren't committed to abstaining from meat. They now identify themselves as "Flexitarians."

A Christian, by definition, is a follower of Christ. So, I'm thinking that what might help make sense of the 233 million number is a new word to describe people who identify themselves as Christians but have little interest in actually following the teachings of Jesus. Perhaps instead of "followers," it would be more accurate to call them "fans."

The word fan is most simply defined as, an enthusiastic admirer. And I think Jesus has a lot of fans these days. Some fans may even get dressed up for church on Sunday and make their ringtone a worship song. They like being associated with Jesus. Fans want to be close enough to Jesus to get the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them. They want a no-strings-attached relationship with Jesus. So a fan says, I like Jesus but don't ask me to serve the poor. I like Jesus, but I'm not going to give my money to people who are in need. I like Jesus, but don't ask me to forgive the person who hurt me. I like Jesus, but don't talk to me about money or sex that's off limits.

Fans like Jesus just fine, but they don't want to give up the bacon.

Fans tend to identify themselves as Christians not because they are committed to following Jesus, but for a number of other reasons. They might point to their family heritage thinking that being a Christian is in their DNA. Like a pug nose or a unibrow it was somehow passed down from mom and dad. Fans might identify themselves as Christians by pointing to religious rituals they've kept and rules they've followed.

Ultimately, defining what it means to be a follower of Jesus isn't nearly as arbitrary or subjective as we've made it. Jesus very clearly lays it out in Luke 9:23. He says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." These words tend to separate fans from followers. Followers are to deny themselves and take up a cross. Instead of giving a theological explanation of what that means, it's probably more helpful to show what it looks like. I've spent the last year collecting stories of fans who have become followers.

• Bowin and Lindsey each ran their own successful business. They had a Mercedes SUV to handle their four kids. For them, following Jesus meant selling nearly everything they had and moving to the Island of Hispaniola to bring clean water to thousands in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
• For Rachelle, following Jesus meant showing love to the women working in strip clubs. She and some of her friends started making big homemade meals and taking them to the women in the clubs. As a result many of the women no longer know Christians as just the group of angry picketers out front who, from their perspective, are trying to take away their job and have started to know Christians by their love.
• Jennifer and Tom had a car they rarely drove. They decided that they really didn't need two cars and would give one of their cars to a single mom who needed transportation. One car was a 2001 model, the other was a 2004 model. They gave her the newer one.

That's just three stories of followers. I'm praying that there would be around 233,249,997 more. They may not be as dramatic or inspiring but my prayer is that Christians would be known not by a fish on their bumper -- or the profile on their Facebook page -- or by going regularly to their church, but they would be followers of Jesus who are known for their love.

Survey conducted by Book Tracker, the PubTrack Consumer Buyer Panel. January 2011.

 

 

 

Comments

[Vic22]

02:33 PM on 07/20/2011

The worst part is that, when broken down politically, you would probably find a higher trend of "followers" on the liberal side. More people who accept Jesus's teachings of acceptance, looking out for those who cannot care for themselves and loving thy neighbor. Those on the right decry "socialism" when, based on the Gospels, Jesus was as socialistic as it gets, and would have been all for redistribution of wealth. It pains me when I see people like the Investment back CEO (I forget which one), who helped tanked the economy because of unyielding greed and dishonesty, but claims he was doing "God's Work"

[J24C]

08:14 PM on 09/07/2011

Great article here. But in specific response to your comment, and I can't speak for Jesus. But I believe what He calls individuals to do is when they see a need, meet that need. Mass collection of individuals "wealth" and "redistribution" is a key ingredient in socialism. I don't recall any stories of Jesus saying give me a significant portion of your "wealth", so I can redistribute it to those who I think "really" need it. It's a heart issue, not a socialism or distribution of wealth issue. Just sayin'

[Sociologyst]

01:38 PM on 07/20/2011

Great article! Now, if only Jesus fanatics (because those are the people who are the worst kinds) took your words into consideration and really followed a life like Jesus's.

[William Farlin Cain]

11:23 AM on 07/20/2011

Which Jesus are we referring to? There are several in the Bible if we go by the personality demonstrated in his quotes. Is it the Jesus who said he came not to bring peace, but a sword? The one who told his disciples two swords would be enough? Is it the Jesus who overturned the money changers' tables in the temple, or is it the Jesus who insisted the meek will inherit the earth and that we should not seek revenge but turn the other cheek?

There are quite a few Jesuses to follow, it seems. Which one do you suggest I try to emulate? Perhaps the petty Jesus who cursed a fig tree for not bearing fruit out of season, despite that (if his claims to be god are taken seriously), he is indeed the one who made it and designed its cycle so?

Or perhaps the Jesus who introduced the concept of eternal and limitless suffering to the world would be preferable, though I can't say that my neighbors wouldn't prefer the car-giving type of Christian to the fire and brimstone sort.

Putting my case another way what you're stressing is human agency, people who actually care about others enough to go out and take care of someone who they feel they want to help. Good actions chosen by good people. Why the window-dressing? Why pick and choose your Jesus, when you can simply choose to be good?

[SoniaA]

12:44 AM on 07/19/2011

Niel J Young is correct! According to Becoming Human by Amador & Amador, U.S. religion is drenched in with capitalism and capitalism is drenced with Judaism.

[rccrosby]

10:28 PM on 07/18/2011

The question Jesus asked the disciples was, "Who do YOU say that I am?" When Peter said, "The Christ, the Son of the Living God!" ... it was the Eureka moment in Jesus' ministry. Finally, someone "got it"! Within moments, however, Peter started trying to tell Jesus what to do (i.e., to make his God in his own image). Jesus' response was riveting: "Get thee behind me, Satan!" (That must've hurt at bit!) But what Jesus said next is not-to-be-missed!

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me."

Four compelling insights/directives in that one sentence:
1) "If anyone would COME AFTER ME" (that's INTIMACY ... with God).
2) "he must DENY HIMSELF" (that's HUMILITY ... before God)
3) "take up HIS CROSS" (that's SERENITY ... before God)
4) "and FOLLOW ME" (that's LOYALTY ... to God)

Read my column at Patheos - http://www.patheos.com/About-Patheos/Robert-Crosby.html
Read my blog at Patheos - http://www.patheos.com/community/robertcrosby/

[Pale Writer]

06:31 PM on 07/18/2011

"Fans like Jesus just fine, but they don't want to give up the bacon."

Outstanding article. You're right, the numbers do not add up. Thank you for the keen insights. I look forward to reading more from you...

[thunk]

03:43 PM on 07/18/2011

Nice. But it also give me pause. I am not sure I want that many "followers" around. It's the followers it seems to me that have the real conviction that everyone should be like them. It's true, they do their good works. But they are also the theocrats among us. They want to save fetuses as well as save the homeless, regardless of what the mother wants. They want to legislate morality and criminalize, regardless of how much evidence there is that it doesn't make us better, and makes for jails full of people with dark skin. They want God in the pledge regardless of how many good patriotic citizens there are that don't believe in one. No. I'm more comfortable with the fans, even though all the worlds problems won't be solved tomorrow. Maybe that's simplistic, but it's still my reaction. Are you sure all those Jesus fans in congress who are gutting the social welfare system and rewarding the special interests aren't really followers too?

[Me of Little Faith]

05:50 PM on 07/18/2011

Most of the people you mention would be considered "fans," not followers. Except the people trying to save unborn children, I suppose.

[karenjustice1965]

10:05 AM on 07/18/2011

Amen

[LibrarianBarb]

08:20 AM on 07/18/2011

In Pride and Prejudice Darcy and Miss Bingley, two upper class people, start to add up all of the skills a woman must have to be called 'accomplished' and Elizabeth finally says she is not surprised they know only a few accomplished women, she is surprised they know any.
I am not sure there is logic in asking - if there are so many Christians why do we have orphans, hunger, homeless? Christ reminded us that the poor are always among us - maybe it would be better to ask them first what brought them to that state and try to solve that - the old 'teach a man to fish rather than give a man a fish' philosophy.

[signgrrl]

07:01 PM on 07/18/2011

there are a lot of "Christians" but not that many Christians. this is why i left organized religion.

[Eaglepreacher7]

05:44 PM on 07/17/2011

WOW! I Like it!! So important to remind people that Christianity is more than a word we get to toss around. Revelation 3:1 in the letter to the church in Sardis, it reads, "I know your workds, that you have a NAME that you are alive, but you are dead". We better realize that just because we toss Jesus name out there from time to time, it does not mean that we have a relationship with Him.

Thanks for the article. I might just have to use it in one of my upcoming sermons.

[JoandeV]

06:17 AM on 07/17/2011

I'm so glad you wrote this because it needed to be said. The majority of "Christians" I've met in my life are fans. It makes meeting a real follower a notable experience. Unfortunately, the same can be said of any religion. It's human nature. If atheists had a set of principles, most would only be fans too. Some will take it to heart and do what they feel is the right thing to do, and others will find ways to self-justify their way out of doing anything for anybody.

[Cindbird]

01:53 AM on 07/17/2011

Most churches are "fans" as well. I did not have a religious background growing up. I did practice Transcendental Meditation and some Buddhism as a teenager. My husband was a Methodist when we got married so I agreed to try it when our oldest was born. I didn't always agree with the doctrine, but I was trying. After my youngest was born I contracted Desert Fever. It is a fungus which grows UNDER the skin of tomatoes grown in the Western US. It causes multiple pneumonias. My youngest was 4 months old and the oldest 3 when I got sick. My husband stayed home to care for me. His mom had just had a stroke so there was no family to come help. He called the church and asked if a couple of the "ladies" could come sit with me for an hour or so because he needed to get groceries and run a couple of errands. The church said NO. When I got well I told my husband I was never going back to ANY church. He also decided to leave the church. I went went back to the Buddhism I had practiced when I was younger. That was 18 years ago. I took the Refuge Vows and Refuge Ceremony in 2004. That church was a group of "Fans" as opposed to a church of "Followers of Christ".

[Pale Writer]

06:41 PM on 07/18/2011

I have seen you post this before. I hope that the article was able to shed some light on the difference between "followers" and "fans". Sometimes people can be poor representations for the noble causes they claim to represent. It's a shame that these "ladies" missed a valuable opportunity to be of service to you. I would hope that within those 18 yrs. you might have seen some positive examples of Christ...if not, then we are in a far sadder state of affairs than the author of this piece has portrayed...

[Cindbird]

08:59 PM on 07/18/2011

I have found a few people who were postive examples. My mother-in-law was a devout Catholic, and my best friend. She lived her faith. She and I had many talks about the difference between Christianity and Buddhism, but she never tried to convert me. I have run into maybe 3 or 4 others like her, but that's all.

I have had so-called Christians here in my complex leave notes on my car that I need to move out before I bring Satan in. Someone wrote on the back of a church tract that I was going to hell. My son got thrown out of the school cafeteria by the First Priority student group so they could hold a prayer meeting. It was before school so they got away with it. He got thrown out because he was an "Idol Worshipper". He had a necklace taken away and got a 30 minute lesson on the Antichrist by his school councilor, she gave it back and apologized after I called and threatened to go to the School Board. His necklace was a dragon and phoenix whch symbolizes the union between wisdom and compassion.

I know that all Christians aren't that way. But enough are that it makes being a Non-Christian difficult. The reason I posted was it's not just individual people, churches do the same sometimes. And that is what I meant by it's not just people but churches too that are "fans" of Jesus and not "followers".

[William D Simpson]

11:40 PM on 07/16/2011

The true follower of Jesus Christ has no other goal but to please their GOD! Christian discipleship means the forsakeing of all worldly desires, and, of being used by GOD to do whatever GOD desires that that person do. SLAVE is the true definition of the Christ follower. Is this the desire of your heart? You are yet reprobate if not!!!

[Teacher Trish]

11:33 PM on 07/16/2011

Pretty powerful stuff. I was reading an essay by philosopher Peter Singer on the moral reasoning of helping people who are suffering in other countries or even around the corner. In the middle of the essay he placed the phone number for the relief agency for Oxfam International. He was challenging the reader to stop considering the moral abstract and , instead, live out the moral imperative.
It doesn't matter if you are a Christian or not, and I offer it to you here:

http://www.oxfam.org/

[Briangular]

10:34 PM on 07/16/2011

Wow. Very insightful. Jesus has far too many fans and not enough followers. Nice work, Pastor Idleman!

How do people go from fans to followers? I hope your three examples don't mean that you think we ought to do works. I would hope that the works would flow naturally out of changed hearts...