Look away, patriots!

You’ve probably already formed an opinion about recent attempts to jam religious teaching into public schools. Whether you have or haven’t yet, here’s my take on plans to post the Ten Commandments in schools, and to force teaching of religion in the classroom.

 First, the Ten Commandments. The governor of Louisiana recently signed a law requiring them to be posted in every public school classroom in the state.

 The best case against this idea comes from someone who endorses it. That’s former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore.

 Remember him? He’s the judge who kept railing about “judicial activism” until, in a fit of judicial activism, he placed a two-ton granite statue featuring the Ten Commandments in front of the state court building, then disobeyed a federal judge’s order to remove it from public land, and then was removed from office.

He still bloviates about culture wars issues, and apparently some people still take him seriously. Here’s my take: If Moore loves an idea, you may suspect that it is seriously wrong.

The Louisiana law faces plenty of opposition, including lawsuits. Here is the response of the governor: “When you elect people, you elect them by a majority. That majority gets to rule. And so what I would say to those parents is that if those posters are in school, and they find them so vulgar, just tell the child not to look at it.”

That response is so wrong in so many ways it’s hard to know where to start. Let me skip to the worst part: “The majority gets to rule.” That means, of course, that those in the minority have no rights. Whatever the majority wants is what goes. This is the road to dictatorship.

And if you don’t like dictatorship, just don’t look. Pretend it’s not there.

What’s so wrong about posting the Ten Commandments in schools?

First, it’s an imposition of religion by the state. It’s a violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment. It endorses and establishes a religion imposed by the state.

You may argue that the Ten Commandments are simply a list of basic moral rules. Really? Where do they come from? From Jewish scripture, adopted by Christians. Not from any other religious tradition. And the first four commandments are explicitly religious and have nothing to do with “moral” behavior beyond expected religious adherence.

By the way, the Bible contains two versions of the commandments – one in Exodus 20, the other in Deuteronomy 5. Oh, and they are closely mirrored by a third version in Leviticus 19.

Jews, Catholics and Protestants endorse slightly different versions of the Ten. Whichever version you prescribe, you create an establishment of religion that is banned by the Constitution.

Or at least it is until the “originalists” in the Supreme Court come up with an “original” opinion that they say follows exactly what the founders really, truly had in mind when they wrote the Constitution.

Whatever version you prescribe, does one of the commandments say not to “kill” or not to “murder”? Big difference. The original Hebrew says “murder.” But who’s an originalist now?

Anyway, what’s wrong with putting a little morality in the classroom? What’s wrong is that we know that whoever “rules” will try to enforce a very strict (and, dare we say, partisan) morality that, in fact, violates the spirit of the Ten Commandments.

How about a little gospel instead of chiseled-in-stone law? How about posting the text of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in schools? That won’t pass constitutional muster either, of course. But wouldn’t you like to hear any red state governor proposing anything like that? Ever read what Jesus said? Yikes!

I have not forgotten to comment on the teaching of religion in the classroom. It is hard to imagine Louisiana, or any other state inclined to require this, to set up any system that guards against intentional abuse by “Christian” nationalists and fundamentalists.

Rather, they will actually invite such abuse. Because both these efforts have nothing to do with religion or morality in the schools. They’re simply stealth attacks on public education in general. The idea is to make public education impossible, so that private, sectarian, partisan education can prevail – funded by everyone, of course, because the majority rules.

And you can’t just not look at it.

An extra-Oord-inary verdict

Name a notable Church of the Nazarene theologian.

 Think about it awhile if you like.

 Ray Dunning and Mildred Wynkoop come to mind. They’re among my faves, too.

 Any others?

 Especially, any who are alive?

 How about Thomas Jay Oord?

 Nice try. See, he just got drummed out of the church. Like, totally. He’s not even Nazarene anymore. He’s former Nazarene now.

 Why? Because he championed the inclusion of LGBTQ+ folks. What’s worse, he actually tried to get the church to change its position on their inclusion.

 Heresy and worse, a Nazarene court ruled the other day.

 A church court not only stripped Oord of his preaching credentials. It actually expelled him from membership in the denomination.

 Excommunicated him. De-fellowshipped him. All but pronounced a holy curse on him.

 Members of his local church in Nampa, Idaho, have no intention of enforcing this action. Lord knows what the denominational bigwigs will do to them.

 Oord was found guilty of “conduct unbecoming a minister” because he taught “doctrines out of harmony with the doctrinal statement of the Church of the Nazarene.”

 You see, the Church of the Nazarene officially holds that “the practice of same-sex sexual intimacy is contrary to God’s will.”

 One piece of evidence the court cited was a book Oord wrote with his daughter Alexa, Why the Church of the Nazarene Should Be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming.

 Oord is sad about the verdict but not surprised (though he hadn’t expected the unprecedented expulsion from the church). “I had hoped the Church of the Nazarene could be a place for me and those like me who fully affirm queer people and support their allies.”

Forget about it.

Understand that Oord was not found guilty of denying any doctrine about salvation, or the Father, Son or Holy Spirit.

Nope. Nothing like that. He was found guilty of opposing church doctrine about sex.

Sex counts more than anything else these days in some churches.

Among Southern Baptists, for example. Or Global Methodists.

But no more among United Methodists, thank God.

We United Methodists have our problems, for sure. But we don’t worship sex.

Tell me these other folks don’t. Cause they sure act like they do.

I have read several of Oord’s books. He is a process theologian. I read most process theology with interest but not much agreement. I find Oord a challenging as well as interesting read, and I think he’s right, or close to right, much of the time.

Happily, I don’t belong to a church where you have to be “right” about sex all the time.

Images good and bad

Religious-theme controversies hither and yon:

 ·       Score one for the Apaches. And the image of Christ!

 For 35 years, the 8-foot-tall image of an Apache Christ hung behind the altar of St. Joseph Apache Mission in Mescalaro, New Mexico.

 The icon was created by Franciscan friar Robert Lentz in 1989. It depicts Christ as a Mescalero medicine man. It is a visually stunning reminder that Christ comes to us in many guises in all cultures.

 I have a postcard version of the icon that I have treasured for more than 20 years.

 A month ago, the people of the church were shocked when they showed up for worship and saw that the icon was gone. So were other art works that mixed Christian and Apache themes.

The priest said he had removed the “pagan” images to avoid corrupting the people.

Apparently he preferred the usual (non-corrupting) European images of Christ that appear in most Catholic artwork.

The priest said the local bishop and other diocesan officials had approved of the art’s removal.

Church people threw a fit. Then something truly momentous happened. The bishop backed down. He removed the priest, returned the artworks and apologized (as much as bishops ever really apologize for anything).

*  *  *  *  * 

·       Some people are really upset about the Last Supper “parody” during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Paris.

Problem is, the scene was not a portrayal of the Last Supper It was a portrayal of the Feast of Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of wine and orgies. No wonder it was so ribald. Oh, those French!

And, oh those (primarily Americans) who were so quick to take offense!

I missed seeing the whole thing first-hand. I watched about ten minutes of the parade, saw a few boats carrying athletes down the Seine, yawned and quit in boredom.

*  *  *  *  * 

·       Some people claim that God “spared” Donald Trump from assassination when a bullet nicked his ear.

If you follow the logic of that, then God directed bullets to kill firefighter Corey Comperatore and seriously injure two other bystanders at the Trump rally.

Or maybe Trump just moved his head at the right time.

Or maybe the shooter was just a bad shot.

You really ought to be careful assigning divine motive to bullets. It makes God the author of an awful lot of pain.

But if you must believe that God “spared” Trump, then the next time something awful happens to you, you must accept the notion that God did it to you, on purpose, because you so richly deserved it.

Relax. God doesn’t work that way.

Because if any of us God what we deserve, we’d all be in a terrible fix, wouldn’t we? 

You are welcome

As part of its transition from Spring Hill United Methodist Church to Resurrection Spring Hill, core team members are relearning some of the basics of being a church – especially the need to be radically welcoming.

 Some of what you will read here is being presented to team members by Yvonne Gentile of the Resurrection staff. She and Debi Nixon have written a book, The Art of Hospitality, that covers this ground thoroughly.

 The gist of what follows, however, comes not from that book but from a couple of messages that I delivered more than 20 years ago. See, these principles are not new. Neither are the issues they address. We neglect them to our peril.

 This is a message I delivered during the church’s informal Summer Session this Sunday.

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Linda and I have some friends who once moved away and immediately began the hunt for a friendly church.

The first church they checked out was cold and indifferent. The music was lethargic. The pastor’s message was uninvolving. Worse, not a single person spoke to them the entire time they were there. Not a single person even said hello – not even the usher who handed them bulletins. No one said a word to them.

 They were stunned by the reception they received. As they were walking to their car, four-year-old Aiden summed it up as only he could. He said: “Well, that sucks!”

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 Every church in the world considers itself friendly. Wherever you go, you'll hear, "We're a friendly church." But the sad truth is that many churches are friendly only within their closed circle.

They are not friendly to newcomers. They are actually hostile to newcomers, because they make newcomers feel like outsiders rather than like guests.

Have you ever stepped into a room where it's obvious that everyone there knows everyone else and no one knows you – and no one cares to know you?

Someone has said that visiting a church is like walking into the wrong family reunion. No one has to tell you to go away. It’s clear you are not welcome.

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On any given Sunday, every church gathering may be visited by a special guest – a person who is looking for a spiritual home. It is our joyous task as Christian people to welcome every person who comes to our door as if that person were Christ himself.

The Rule of Saint Benedict has guided the leaders of monasteries and retreats for many centuries. It has one simple guideline for hospitality: “Let all guests be received as Christ.”

Remember that Jesus told us, "Whatever you do to the least of my children, that you do to me" (Matthew 25:40).

Christ comes to us in many different shapes and sizes and colors, in many different costumes – and sometimes, as Mother Teresa once said, in a "distressing disguise." If we snub one person, we snub Christ.

The book of Hebrews lowers the stakes a little. It says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13.2). Whether we’re entertaining angels or Christ himself, we want to get it right.

When people come to us, especially for the first time, they are not here primarily to hear the music or the prayers or the sermon. They are here to test the relational climate. If the climate is cold or indifferent, they will know immediately.

Basically, they want to learn four things:

•             Who are the people here?

•             Are they like me?

•             Will they like me?

•             Will I like them?”

If they can get “yes” answers to those questions, they’ll likely come back. So it’s up to us to introduce ourselves as genuinely and therefore as convincingly as we can.

Surveys consistently show that people decide within the first 7 to 10 minutes whether they will return. We don’t have much time to make a good impression. First impressions are the best – or the worst – impression we will leave on most guests.

I think that's the key. Do we consider newcomers as visitors or as guests? A visitor is a short timer, just someone passing through. A guest is someone we value simply because they have come into our presence.

When you invite someone into your home, how do you behave? That's the kind of hospitality we need to extend to others as a church. There should be no visitors in our midst – only guests.

Hospitality starts with a warm and genuine greeting at the door – if not at the front steps, if not in the parking lot itself. If you're just going through the motions, people will immediately sense that and label you – and the church – as phony.

So we greet all guests as if they were very important, because they are. They are made in the image of Christ. So we ought to treat them as if they were Christ himself.

They come to church hoping somehow to experience the love of God. Our job is to remove all the distractions, obstacles and obstructions that they might encounter moving into unfamiliar territory among unfamiliar people.

They are more likely to experience the love of God if they experience love from us. Above all else, they will remember how we made them feel. So we want them all to feel welcome, loved for who they are.

What follows now is a guest service training manual: 10 commandments for welcoming people to our church.

1. As I said earlier, greet every newcomer as a guest, not a visitor. Offer each person a gift that only you can provide – that is, the gift of your full attention. You never know whether this person is Christ in disguise, or an angel, or your new best friend.

2. Never point. Always escort. If a newcomer asks you where something is, don’t just tell. Show and tell. Along the way, if there’s time, you might introduce yourself and get to know the person a little.

If you can’t show and tell for some reason – you’re caring for a child or are physically unable or otherwise fully occupied – then quickly find somebody else who can help.

Here’s how important that is: On the Fourth of July weekend we had guests in our home and we wanted to make homemade ice cream. I discovered that we were out of rock salt, so I went to Price Chopper in search of more. It wasn’t in any of the places I thought were logical. I was baffled.

 I saw a young checkout clerk who had nobody in his line at the moment, so I asked him about it. He grinned and said, “You’ll never find it on your own. Let me show you.” He turned off the light on his work station and led me to where the rock salt was cleverly hidden. Then he led me back to his work station and checked me out, smiling all the time.

 That’s good customer service – and fine hospitality.

 3. When you encounter someone new, don’t ask, “Are you new here?” That can be embarrassing when you ask someone who’s been part of the church for 20 years and you’ve never gotten around to meeting them.

If you see someone you don’t know, simply say, “Hi! I don’t think I know you. My name is…”  This is your newcomer mantra. Repeat it with me, please. “Hi! I don’t think I know you. My name is…”

That approach puts guest and host on the same level. Neither of you is “in” or “out.” For all the newcomer knows, you might be a newcomer yourself.

Well, there is one giveaway.

4. You’re wearing your nametag. It’s the easiest way to let others know who you are. OK, we don’t have nametags yet, but we will. When we get them, wear yours every Sunday. Linda and I have been known to keep ours in the glove box of our car, so it goes with us wherever we go, just like Pocket Jesus.

I have to confess. I have a short-term memory problem. When I’m introduced to people, I remember their names for roughly 10 seconds. I need all the help I can get with names. Nametags help immensely.

Newcomers don’t have nametags, of course, and they don’t want to advertise themselves as newcomers by wearing a nametag that’s different from everyone else’s. So make it easy on the newcomer by wearing your nametag, and trying hard to remember their name.

5. Save the “best seats” in the back for guests. Face it. We all want to sit in the back so that we can see who’s here and who’s not – and no one likes twisting around to see who’s behind you.

Newcomers feel the same way. They want to sit in the back so they can observe others without being observed.  Newcomers also typically arrive late, so saving room for them in the back causes less embarrassment for them while they’re trying to find a seat.

Of course, if your family includes small children, you may want to sit near the back so that if a child gets disruptive, you can escape without bothering people. It’s OK for you to sit in back with the newcomers. Just make sure you greet them.

How do you greet them? You say: “Hi! I don’t think I know you. My name is…”

6. If the best seats are in the back, the best parking spaces are closest to the building. So, unless you have a mobility problem, save the best parking spaces for guests.

Newcomers are probably going to arrive late anyway – and if they have to hunt for a parking space, they’ll be even later getting into the building.

So follow Jesus’ rule: “The first shall be last” (Matthew 20.16). When you pull into the parking lot, look for the worst space that’s left.

If we run out of spaces – and we might some day soon – some of us may have to park across the street in the library parking lot. If that makes it easier for a guest to park, it’s worth the longer walk.

And if you encounter someone new once you get closer to the building, what do you say? “Hi! I don’t think I know you. My name is…”

By the way, I know that being this open to newcomers is not easy. I’m an introvert. I’m naturally shy. I have to push myself to greet strangers this way. But I always feel better afterward.

7. Remember the “circle of 10.” Imagine a 10-foot radius all around you. Wherever you’re sitting, that’s your home turf. Greet everyone who steps inside this 10-foot radius.

How do you greet them? “Hi! I don’t think I know you. My name is…”

The point of this rule is to keep church people from running across the sanctuary and pouncing on newcomers like predators in search of fresh meat. Only approach a newcomer who’s outside your circle if that person appears especially lost or neglected.

Newcomers want a taste of our hospitality but not such a huge helping that they’re overwhelmed. They want to be welcomed beyond their expectations, but not mobbed.

8. Here’s another rule – the “rule of three.” For the first three minutes after the end of worship, try to talk to newcomers only. Try not to talk to anyone you know unless there is no one else close by to talk to.

Here’s the rationale: It takes a newcomer three minutes to slip out of the church. We can’t let them escape without meaningful human contact. So even if you’ve already met them – especially if you’ve already met them – try to talk with them on the way out.

9. What do you talk about? How about, “I’m glad I met you today. Thanks for being here. Have a good week. Hope to see you again.” Normal stuff. You’re not trying to impress people with what a great conversationalist you are. You’re just being friendly. That’s all you need to be.

10. Finally, don’t talk church business in the presence of guests. Your first priority is getting to know them. It’s rude to talk about things they’re not involved with. And, since they don’t know the context of the conversation, it’s easy for them to get the wrong impression about what you’re discussing.

These 10 “rules” aren’t really rules. They’re just pointers for welcoming people, reminding us how to be more open to others. If we follow these pointers, we’ll become a more welcoming church and a growing church, because we are welcoming others just as Jesus welcomed us.

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Do you remember four-year-old Aiden, who I mentioned at the opening of this talk? He’s all grown up now. He’s a graduate of West Point and an Army officer. Wherever the Army sends him, I expect he’s always looking for a friendly church.

Admirer, fan, or follower?

This message is titled “Admirer, fan or follower?”

 I’m going to give it all away by announcing right at the start that the big life question I’m exploring this morning is whether you are an admirer of Jesus, or a fan of Jesus, or a follower of Jesus.

 The distinction is vital to your spiritual health.

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If you or someone you know has recently sought admission to college, chances are they had to submit one of those dreaded application essays.

 Sometimes you can name your own topic, or choose one from a list. Often, though, you have to write about a certain subject. “Tell us about someone you admire.” Or: “Who are the most influential people in your life?”

Lord, have mercy!

I grew up in Illinois, the land of Lincoln – specifically Central Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln spent most of his life. Lincoln was a constant presence in my life, and a big influence on me.

I’ve often said that I went to school with Lincoln – though, of course, he did not go to school with me.

Years ago, when I first used that line with our two daughters, they scoffed. “Dad, you did not go to school with Abraham Lincoln. You’re not that old!”

It is true, though, that I did grow up surrounded by Lincoln lore and infused with a Lincolnesque sense of right and wrong.

I came to greatly admire Lincoln’s inquisitive nature, his humility and humor; his deeply felt sense of fairness and justice; his pragmatism and willingness to bend; and also his iron will when core principles were involved.

Another big influence was David Crockett. I was at the impressionable age of 6 when Walt Disney came out with his TV series “Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier.” I remember watching it on a tiny black-and-white TV screen that was more round than rectangular.

The real Crockett hated being called “Davy.” But he did love a good yarn, so if answering to “Davy” would polish his image, I imagine he’d go for it.

You may remember Crockett’s motto: “Always be sure you’re right, then go ahead.” Right or wrong, he almost always went ahead – and that’s why he died in the massacre at the Alamo.

I don’t think Lincoln ever had a motto, but he shared Crockett’s “go ahead” attitude. In a speech in 1839, he said: “Let none falter who thinks he is right…”

I spent much of my life in Decatur, a town Lincoln detested even more than I did. He also despised the city of Springfield, where he lived with his family for 24 years.

Someone once asked if he thought Springfield would share in the Second Coming of Christ. He replied: “If he visited here once, I doubt that he’d want to return.”

I admire Lincoln, and to a lesser extent, Crockett. I’m a fan of both. But a follower? Depends on what you mean by “follow.”

Linda and I followed the Royals closely in 1985, when they won their first World Series. After that, they faded from our lives, even when they won again in 2015.

Today we follow the Chiefs, though neither of us is really what I’d call a fan – and we’ll never be caught tailgating at Chiefs stadium, whatever it’s officially called this week.

We are more likely fans of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Speaking of whom – what do you think of Taylor Swift?

According to one tally, she has more than 500 million fans. A few literally follow her everywhere on her worldwide concert circuit. I have nothing against her, but I’m pretty much indifferent to today’s pop music, so you can’t count me among her fans.

Generally, you can be a fan – that is, an enthusiastic admirer – at a considerable distance. You may know a lot about Taylor Swift but never gotten any closer to her than a movie or TV screen.

You also can follow someone only in the sense that you “keep up with” them, the same way you “follow” the news. In that case, you may want to keep up but not get too close, for fear of losing your sanity.

The key distinction is whether you know about a person, or whether you actually know the person.

If Taylor Swift walked in here right now, would she recognize you? If not, then no matter how much you know about her, you really don’t know her, do you? Because she doesn’t know you.

If you want to read more on this line, let me point you to a book titled Not a Fan, by Kyle Idleman. Years ago, I used it as a text in an adult Sunday School class. Half the class hated it, and I wasn’t sure why. I paged through it again the other day, and I think I understand now. It’s too-too cheerfully evangelical in a way that has come to feel phony.

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Our scripture this morning comes at the end of a very long chapter 9 in the gospel of Luke.

As Luke sets the scene, Jesus has just “set his face” toward Jerusalem. Echoing a passage in Isaiah 50, some interpreters say that he “sets his face like flint” toward Jerusalem.

That is, knowing that an awful ordeal awaits him, he resolutely goes ahead and does not falter.

Along the way, one fellow cheerfully promises, “I’ll follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus warns him, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but I have no place to call home.” The implied question is, “Are you sure you want to follow me?”

Later Jesus flat out tells another man, “Follow me.” It’s the same command he gave his first disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

They followed him immediately. This man tries to beg off. “First, let me go and bury my father," he says.

Does this mean that his father has just died and needs to be buried quickly? Or, more likely, that he has to care for his father until the old boy dies – and who knows when that will be?

"Let the dead bury their own dead,” Jesus says – and if that sounds harsh, I think that’s because it is. Jesus has another priority for this man: “As for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

A third potential follower offers a similar excuse. “First, let me say farewell to my family.”

Again, Jesus harshly replies: "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Jesus is strict because he has one clear and overriding priority – and that is proclaiming God’s kingdom on the way to his destiny. He has a goal, and he will plow directly toward it.

He knows that in plowing, as in a lot of other things in life, you must head resolutely toward a clear mark, and if you ever look back or to one side, you are likely to go astray and plow a very crooked row.

These three men are admirers of Jesus. They are fans of Jesus. They think they want to be followers of Jesus, but when they count the cost, it’s just too high. They want to follow at a respectful distance and not get too close because then they’ll have to give up something they just don’t want to give up.

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I mentioned earlier that Linda is preaching today at the United Methodist Church in Spring Hill, where we live. I almost said that she is preaching at Spring Hill United Methodist Church, but she is not. Spring Hill United Methodist Church closed May 19. It will reopen Sept. 8 as Resurrection Spring Hill.

We are part of a core group preparing for the launch of the church as a new location of Church of the Resurrection. We are meeting temporarily in the education wing while the main building is being remodeled. This is an exciting and scary time. We are certain that great days are ahead of us, just as 165 years of great days are behind us.

We are losing a few members in the transition. I do not want to tarnish their memory by identifying them with the three guys Jesus encounters on the road to Jerusalem. No, these are faithful people who just can’t quite adjust to such a radical change and doubtless would prefer that their beloved church not change at all, rather than change to better face the future.

Linda worked out of Resurrection Leawood for a year in its pastoral care department.

Until now, I have been associated with it mostly from a distance – though we have both known Pastor Adam Hamilton since his first appointment, as associate pastor of what is now Resurrection Brookside, in 1988.

One of the things we are excited about is the Resurrection purpose statement. I’m sure that many Rez members have heard it so often that they know it by heart. I’ve heard it many times over the years, but I’m still working to memorize and internalize it.

“Our purpose is to build a Christian community where non-religious and nominally religious people are becoming deeply committed Christians.”

Here is perhaps another way of putting it: Our purpose is to build a community where Christ admirers and Christ fans are becoming Christ followers.

Resurrection’s way of doing things is often criticized because, though its principles are portable, the how-to specifics of embodying those principles may not be. That is, its principles are adaptable to churches of all sizes and circumstances, but they need to be adapted according to the size and circumstances of each local congregation.

As the newest Resurrection location, we’ll be learning how to adapt those principles in southern Johnson County – just as others will be adapting them soon at another new Resurrection location in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

That church will replace the former Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church, which defected to the new Global Methodist Church in our recent schism.

Resurrection Lee’s Summit is starting because the Missouri Annual Conference invited Resurrection to start a new church there for the 300 loyal United Methodists who were left without a church when their former church abandoned them.

Cheers to both the conference and Resurrection for responding so quickly!

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It’s easy to be an admirer or fan of Jesus. One of the reasons Christianity is faltering in our country right now is that our churches have taught admiration and adoration of Jesus, but we have failed at teaching discipleship. We have failed to create new followers of Jesus.

What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? It doesn’t mean humming sweet Jesus music all day. It doesn’t mean being equipped a Bible memorization “sword drill.” It may not even mean showing up at church every time the doors open.

It does mean committing to become more and more like Jesus every day. It does mean opening yourself to the work of the Holy Spirit using the classic Wesleyan means of grace. These include daily prayer and frequent if not daily Bible study, weekly worship, frequent Holy Communion and the close sharing of your lives with other followers of Jesus in Christian conference, usually in a small group.

What it essentially means is declaring your allegiance to Jesus above all else and finding the ways to move closer to him that are best suited to your personality and circumstance.

Though you may continue to be an admirer and even a fan of Jesus, following Jesus is so much more than either of those postures. Following is vital to your spiritual well-being.

Here’s one way of expressing the three attitudes we’ve explored this morning:

One: God is homeless unless invited in by you.

Two: Knowing Jesus is your top priority.

Three: Go ahead knowing and following him. Do not falter. Do not look back.

Now let me ask you again: Are you an admirer of Jesus, or a fan of Jesus, or a follower of Jesus?