Have you ever stopped to wonder if you are a disciple of Jesus or a fan of Jesus?
It’s an important question, and it sobers me up every time I think about it. Here’s why:
Two thousand years ago, Jesus walked up to twelve guys individually and said, “Follow Me.” Those guys were just normal guys doing normal guy stuff. They were working, fishing, and caring for their families. They were just being dudes.
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But when Jesus approached them and called them, they dropped everything and obeyed the call. And because they decided to become disciples of Jesus, those guys’ lives all got turned upside down.*
Seriously. These twelve men’s lives changed FOREVER because Jesus invited them to be His disciples.
But what did that mean to them? What does it mean to you? What is a disciple?
The word disciple refers to a student or apprentice. Disciples in Jesus’ day would follow their rabbi (which means teacher) wherever he went, learning from the rabbi’s teaching and being trained to do as the rabbi did. Basically, a disciple is a follower, but only if we take the term follower literally. Becoming a disciple of Jesus is as simple as obeying His call to follow.”*
That’s pretty deep if you think about it.
In the Western mindset, we are trained to believe that there is a disconnect between learning and doing; between seeing and actualizing; between the word and the action.
So many Christians have a mindset that says, “I really love Jesus. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. I love You. I’ll listen to You, and then I’ll decide if I’ll do as You say. And even if I decide not to obey You, don’t take it personally. I’ll still love You just as much.”
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The only problem here is that THAT mindset is not called ‘being a disciple.’ THAT is called being a fan.
Fans of Jesus go to church. They enjoy a good sermon. They might even read their Bibles. They talk a good talk. But when it comes time to make the decision to obey Jesus, fans usually say no.
Disciples, by contrast, are vastly different:
Disciples obey God. Disciples receive the Word and do what it says, because that is what God teaches us we should do.
Disciples understand that there should be no disconnect between hearing the Word and obeying the Word.
Disciples are supernaturally empowered to obey because they understand that God’s Word is actually creative. When God speaks His Word into you, it not only gives you new revelation, but it also literally births in you the power to perform it.
So, by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, a disciple obeys God in all things and seeks to be like his Teacher.
In Bible times, being a disciple changed you. You got dirty with your teacher.
That’s why Jesus said in Luke 6:40:
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”
When Jesus said that, the Jews knew exactly what Jesus was talking about. Real discipleship was something they saw every day. It was a way of life for them.
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Does my love for Jesus show up in my actions? Does your love for Jesus show up in yours? If we are truly disciples of Jesus, it will show up in our actions. Our actions will show that we are following Christ, not just admiring Him.
Being a fan of Jesus means you can do what you want. But following Jesus means you become like Jesus. In his book “The Cost of Discipleship,” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a great theologian and martyr of the 20th century, wrote, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” Disciples have to die to themselves and their own way of doing things, and embrace Christ and His way of doing things.
And when your life lines up with what you see in your Teacher’s life, then and only then are you truly a disciple.
Are you a disciple of Jesus or a fan of Jesus? And if you’re a fan, what do you need to do so you can start being a disciple instead?
Great teaching Jamie! I must admit there have been numerous times that I have been a fan of Jesus however I want my life to line up with the Great Teacher, Jesus! Great comparison there. Wow! It has really caused me to stop and think about what, when and how I do things. Am I following Jesus? or am I just a fan?
Thank you for this, Jamie.
Even though you wrote it in July, it is a timely word for me today as I’m ministering on this topic this week. We all have to guard against being casual in our all too common western view of “comfortable Christianity.”
Getting ready to share your message on both Pinterest and FB. God bless your ministry!
That fan thing is really irritating. I don’t like when I go in that direction. I prefer disciple because I know that there are major consequences and other things that we get when we are truly going to follow Him. I have had a lot of spiritual warfare and so forth when I follow Him as a disciple. I don’t mind but I also realize that He doesn’t want us worn out. Pray for me I have been following Him since 1995-6 on this level and I realize that I have had to change a lot of things and right now have people accusing me of “not changing.” I understand what they mean but I don’t think they understand that Jesus doesn’t morph you into something that you are not.
I almost find myself getting tired of this and I almost feel like my past is being thrown up in my face by my husband. I recently went through a 15 year transition from single to married but also as part of this process I was attacked by a woman who turned out to be a witch and she was trying to destroy our ministry team and myself. I have had to make many changes and I am getting tired of this stupid accusation. I even had a pastor who hadn’t been around me for years ask me about the same thing and this was when I decided to go to bible college. What are people expecting because God uses even the mess as well. I am beginning to understand why there are so many “nones” as far as people who are Christian but don’t fellowship. We’re told not to do that but when people pull out a microscope on people all the time how are they supposed to follow Jesus’ dust with everybody else whining about their personality all the time?
Hi Jamie, thank you for this WORD.
I have asked the Lord to use me for His Glory and Honor and that my desire is to do His will. I continue to decree that I am crucified with Him and that I no longer live but Christ lives in me. I truly want to hear His voice daily and walk in His way and please Him for He is ALL that I desire. Thank you for praying for us and teaching us.
Great teaching Jamie! I must admit there have been numerous times that I have been a fan of Jesus however I want my life to line up with the Great Teacher, Jesus! Great comparison there. Wow! It has really caused me to stop and think about what, when and how I do things. Am I following Jesus? or am I just a fan?
You and me too, Angela! We’re working on it together by the grace of God.
Thank you for this, Jamie.
Even though you wrote it in July, it is a timely word for me today as I’m ministering on this topic this week. We all have to guard against being casual in our all too common western view of “comfortable Christianity.”
Getting ready to share your message on both Pinterest and FB. God bless your ministry!
That fan thing is really irritating. I don’t like when I go in that direction. I prefer disciple because I know that there are major consequences and other things that we get when we are truly going to follow Him. I have had a lot of spiritual warfare and so forth when I follow Him as a disciple. I don’t mind but I also realize that He doesn’t want us worn out. Pray for me I have been following Him since 1995-6 on this level and I realize that I have had to change a lot of things and right now have people accusing me of “not changing.” I understand what they mean but I don’t think they understand that Jesus doesn’t morph you into something that you are not.
I almost find myself getting tired of this and I almost feel like my past is being thrown up in my face by my husband. I recently went through a 15 year transition from single to married but also as part of this process I was attacked by a woman who turned out to be a witch and she was trying to destroy our ministry team and myself. I have had to make many changes and I am getting tired of this stupid accusation. I even had a pastor who hadn’t been around me for years ask me about the same thing and this was when I decided to go to bible college. What are people expecting because God uses even the mess as well. I am beginning to understand why there are so many “nones” as far as people who are Christian but don’t fellowship. We’re told not to do that but when people pull out a microscope on people all the time how are they supposed to follow Jesus’ dust with everybody else whining about their personality all the time?
Hi Jamie, thank you for this WORD.
I have asked the Lord to use me for His Glory and Honor and that my desire is to do His will. I continue to decree that I am crucified with Him and that I no longer live but Christ lives in me. I truly want to hear His voice daily and walk in His way and please Him for He is ALL that I desire. Thank you for praying for us and teaching us.