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That’s a good question! (LIFE in the Comments – Link Up #6)

January 3, 2013 | Mindy Bowman | 20 Comments

FanaticThere weren’t a lot of comments on the post last week but that’s okay. Because there was one REALLY great question. It was so good that I thought it should be the question we talk about this week. I want to see what your answers would have been!

Genevieve Thul at Turquoise Gates posed this question regarding fans and followers from Kyle Idleman’s book “not a fan.”

I saw this book the other day and the title resonated with me. Reading your post, however, I’m wondering what the author’s take on eternal security and salvation are? What differentiates a “fan” and a “follower”, and can both go to heaven?

So what do you think and how would you answer?

photo credit: Roger Smith via photopin cc



Category: LIFE in the Comments | Tags: Tags: , , , , , | 20 Comments
  • http://www.facebook.com/aishadw Aisha D. Williams

    I have not read this particular book, however I think entrance to heaven is dictated by my faith, receipt,and belief in what Jesus did on the cross. I do think we have to demonstrate that faith and heart change in how we live but my salvation is not based on my performance – thank God. Don’t get me wrong, we are held accountable for our actions but God’s salvation is a gift it cannot be earned. Like I said, I have not read his book, but I would think the distiction between fan & follower is determined by the depth of your personal relationship with God- are you nurturing it & really experiencing God & His promises as opposed to just knowing about him.

    • http://www.newequus.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

      Aisha, you are right that works alone will not get us into heaven. Yes to our salvation as well. And I am right there with you in being thankful. But one of the examples Kyle uses in the book is a marriage. To make your vows and then you go right back to doing what you were doing as a single person. And that is the difference between a fan and a follower. A fan of marriage is still acts single. A follower of marriage gives up their single life to make a new joined one. Great comment! Thanks!

  • http://www.littlerandr.org/ A Little R & R

    wow – that is a deep question. I suppose that a fan vs. a follower would be someone who believes there IS a God and who respects Him as a higher power…perhaps even attends church and behaves well. But a follower is someone who has made Him Lord, who has a deep and growing relationship with Him and molds his life around the dictates of God’s Word. Of course, in order for one to go to heaven, the would have to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior — and the final determination of where they go is left in God’s hands. :)

    • http://www.simplyhelpinghim.com/ SimplyHelpingHim

      As always beautifully said sis! :)

      • http://www.newequus.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

        I totally agree Misty!

        • http://www.simplyhelpinghim.com/ SimplyHelpingHim

          She’s awesome :) I love her! :)

    • http://www.newequus.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

      Rosilind I like your answer! Because it is ultimately in God’s hands as everything is. And you are dead on with the fan/follower distinction. Yes, we have to accept Christ as our savior. What we do with that afterwards is what makes us a fan or a follower. Blessings! :)

  • TereasaM

    Let me begin by saying I really like Genevieve. She really knows how to make a person think!

    We have Not a Fan sitting on our bookshelf and I have yet to read it. So, I really don’t have a fair answer in reference to the book. My initial thought is that a fan refers to someone who knows of Christ and respects him as a person, but not as Lord. A follower is just what the word implies, someone who follows Christ. Knowing Genevieve, I am guessing the book implies further meaning to the word. (Now that I’ve re-read her comment, I can see she has not read the book either.) I would wonder the same thing. Otherwise, why would someone write the book?

    Now that I’m into this answer, I can see that it could get very long. Let me keep this short and sweet. Once you’re saved, you are set on a path which looks different from anyone else’s, even that of other saved people. Following Jesus is not about keeping up with someone’s standard, but following the guidance of His Spirit in you. Learning to listen and obey takes time and, just like learning to read, happens in different ways for everyone. We are not in a cookie-cutter religion. Sometimes, you really have to “fall off the path” to finally get it. Therefore, who are we to say who is a fan and who is a follower? I think it’s more important to hold someone’s hand and love them towards the Shepherd regardless of “what” they are. (Ramble, ramble.)

    I’ll be back in a couple hours to link today’s post. I can’t publish it until 11:45. You’ll know why when you see it! So excited!

    • http://www.newequus.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

      Tereasa I loved Genevieve’s question, too, because it made me think…and even go to my encyclopedia (my husband) for answers! Ha!

      The book? You need to read it! It’s very good and the man writes in a way that makes you want to read it through in one sitting. Not a lot of books I can say that about. And yes, the book does go a little deeper…but I’m not going to spoil that for you because it’s much better in his words than mine! :)

      Yes, we are all different and will be fans or followers in different ways. And my dear you are a follower as demonstrated by your answer of the importance in holding someone’s hand and guiding them regardless of what they are. Great answer!

      And I’m excited to read your post! :D Blessings, sister!

  • http://canigetanotherbottleofwhine.blogspot.com/ Kate Hall

    I haven’t read your posts this past week, but they’re all in my inbox, so I’m going to, but this also means that I’m not sure how he is differentiating between fan and follower. Thinking about my own experience, I think that I was a fan for many years. I was also a legalist, living the way I thought a Christian was supposed to live, not necessarily in relationship with him, even though I thought I was. I still think I was saved and a on my way to Heaven, I just wasn’t reaping the benefits of resting in His presence while on earth. I was too busy trying to earn what I already had. I just didn’t understand it. I think that I had to learn to trust and depend on God. It took me a long time. I always wanted to and really, truly, thought I was, until I was faced with a situation where I could depend on absolutely nothing else and was forced to only turn to Him and just hang on.

    • http://www.newequus.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

      Kate you are definitely a follower (and I love your transparency)! I have to say that as I’ve read the book I’ve had to actually stop and do some reality checking. It is much easier being a fan than a follower. And I can see how many people would think that being a fan is OK because they don’t know any different. That is one of the main reasons I think Kyle wrote the book. Because people DIDN’T know any different. They were fans and thought they were followers. I think that’s why God allows some of our trials because we need them to see Him clearly. Blessings! :D

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  • http://twitter.com/Reading_List1 Marissa D

    I think one of the main differences between fans and followers, are how they respond to the storms that come during life – the fans tend to be there for the good weather, maybe even the light rains, but when the storms become overwhelming they run towards a promised safety in the world, while a follower always turns to the safety of the true Protector. But like the rest of you, I have not read the book, and don’t really know much about it. I just wonder if the fans believe they are followers, so much so that they don’t try to prepare for the storms…

    • http://www.newequus.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

      Marissa that is a very good analogy. And just like I responded to Bonnie, you don’t know what you don’t know. I think a lot of fans don’t know that is what they are. Even Kate responded she thought she was a follower when she was definitely a fan. But she didn’t know that until AFTER she realized what a true follower was. The book definitely makes you think and evaluate. It has had me contemplating some of what I do for sure! Thanks for commenting!

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  • http://susanstilwell.com/ Susan Rinehart Stilwell

    Wow, that’s a loaded question! I haven’t read the book either, but I have a similar opinion — a fan cheers from the stands, a follower suits up and contributes.

    However, the minute the fan makes the move to “come on down” – he becomes a follower. Whether he’s the water boy or the quarterback, it’s not for the others (fans OR followers) to criticize.

    Good question, Mindy!

    • http://www.newequus.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

      Susan you my dear are a follower because only a follower named Susan could sum it up so beautifully! You are right…it doesn’t matter what you do but that you suit up and DO! Great answer! :D

  • http://chaosandcoffee-amanda.blogspot.com/ Amanda @ Chaos & Coffee

    Hi Mindy! :) Happy New Year!! There are so many great responses to this…I’m not really sure I can add anything new. I do agree that perhaps a fan is someone who is sort of watching from the sidelines. I never want judge anyone else’s actions because only God knows what’s in his or her heart. I think followers are people who have come to the cross with their sins, accepted Jesus Christ as savior, been saved by His precious blood…and that salvation has changed their lives. You see it in them. ~ Thanks so much for the conversation and the link-up! Have a great day!

    • http://www.newequus.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

      Hey Amanda! Happy New Year to you, too!

      Yes there are a lot of good answers but only you can give your unique spin on things! I think one of the main differences between a fan and a follower is that a fan doesn’t know the difference between the two. A follower does know the difference and is the hands and feet of Jesus in showing the fans what they are missing.

      Thanks for commenting! Have a blessed day! :D

  • http://www.newequus.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

    Bonnie…you have hit the nail on the head. And that is the whole point of the book…to not be those lukewarm Christians in Revelations or the ones who never fed the hungry or clothed the poor. And because people don’t know what they don’t know they need something to help them know. The book definitely challenges your way of thinking, but in a very good and personal growth way. Great answer!

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