Does Jesus expect us to be fanatic in following Him?
I was working in an office a long time ago. In that office there was a colleague who loved Manchester United. We worked in London and Manchester is quite a trek from there. Yet this colleague would go to watch United play home and away – every game in the season. Every game. If United were playing in Europe he’d make a way to get there to follow them. Wherever they were, this guy would follow them. Although our wages were not at the low end of things, it wasn’t that much either, yet this guy would spend thousands of pounds on his love for his club. Every season he ensured he had the latest kit – home, away and the third kit. Every game he went, he’d buy the programme. He ensured his flat was a shrine to the club with posters, framed photoes, match memorabilia and club merchandise decorating the place.
His girlfriend knew her place in the scheme of things. She knew that there was no point looking to drag him away from his club. She knew he loved her as much as he could and she certainly knew he wasn’t messing around with anyone else, but she also knew better than to come between him and his club. He made it clear to her from the outset that if it came to a choice between her and the team then she would be the loser.
It wasn’t that he was uncritical in his following. He didn’t follow blindly. But he followed with everything he had – literally. His holidays and flexi-time were only used for the games. His level of commitment to the club was never in doubt and he would defend them in arguments to the end. He managed to bring every conversation back around to United somehow and if he couldn’t, he would zone out of whatever was being discussed. He didn’t have to tell anyone he loved the club, it was blatantly obvious by his actions and conversation. We imagined that it would be all he thought about even in the off-season.
This guy wasn’t just a supporter of his club – he was a true fan. He took the fortunes of his club to heart. Great jubilations and generosity if United won and such a morose and miserable demeanour if they lost that we all knew better than to mention the defeat or do anything to make the bad situation worse. He had followed the club all his life, but was particularly feeling happy at that time of following them because they were in a run of being very successful winning trophies and establishing a dominance in the game in this country. This colleague loved to bathe in the reflected glory of his team not to brag to others and rub it in their faces, more just to feel like he was a part in that success.
Being a fan – or a fanatic – is not something reserved for sport. It’s something applicable to a variety of aspects of life. There are those who are fanatical about their political beliefs, about their their religious beliefs, about their hobbies and interests. Such is their devotion and commitment to these things that they see being called fanatical as a compliment and in some cases an understatement about their connection to their pursuit. For these individuals their pursuit is elevated to the matter of life and eath. Their source of joy, meaning, happiness and purpose is found in that pursuit and if you ever dare interfere or disrupt that devotion it would be better for you to have kicked a cat or run over a basket of kittens.
Onlookers can and do sneer and criticise their fanatical following. Deeming it to be irrational and somewhat futile. This is in no way a deterrent. It spurs these people on to take pleasure in what they do feeling – and sometimes knowing – that they have a stake in life that gives them a greater degree of feeling and satisfaction than those who sneer who may not have such an overwhelming commitment to something.
When it comes to following Jesus, however, I’m not sure if there is much in the way of examples of followers being somewhat fanatical in their pursuit of Jesus. as if He is all the world to them and their number one priority is to follow Him and do what He says. Sometimes the impression that is given is that it’s more important to do what those in the Christian club say and follow the rituals that take place there with little regard for what that has to do with developing an understanding and devotion to following Jesus. There’s the idea that the good news is something to soothe and calm you and make you feel better about yourself and that’s about it. There’s little about some presentations of life in Christ that give the impression it’s about serving and sacrificing in the desire to be pleasing to God. There’s a nominal notion of ‘being good’, but even that is largely a personal and private matter that those in the Christian club don’t want to get too involved in.
It’s a far cry from those who followed Jesus – who gave up their livelihoods and reputation in some cases to follw Him. It’s a world away from men and women whose stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ made them outcasts in their community and public enemy number one to religious and political forces. It bears little resemblance to something so subversive and counter-cultural hat the highest powers and authorities of the day would seek to eliminate them via persecution and killings.
It’s not to say that you have to go looking for people to oppose you and flaunt your faith in their face. it is however to consider again what does Jesus mean when He makes statements about what it takes to be His disciple. What does it mean today? Does it still hold? Are these still His requirements? It’s not about beating anyone over the head with it because that’s not the point of discipleship at all. But are we fanatics for Jesus – should we be? Or do we prefer to see Christianity like a consumer product that is there for our sense of satisfaction making demands on it to do our bidding for our gratification? We pop in every week to get our Jesus-fix for the week and then we don’t need to really bother Him or others with anything, because we’ll be back next week for more of the fix. Is that it?
I’m not asking you to beat you up or make you feel bad. I’m asking myself the same question all again regarding the cost of being a disciple. Looking again at what it means to say Jesus is Lord. Considering these things because I know what it is to be fanatical, to have a high degree of devotion on a matter. I know from observation and from experience. I know what I see in church from time to time. I know what I’ve seen. I know what I’ve experienced. I’ve got a good idea what Jesus says as well and that gives me some impression of what He sees and what He requires. It’s still worth asking, though:
Does Jesus expect us to be fanatic in following Him?
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 