“If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.”

Social media loves to campaign for, entice and celebrate fans and followers. Someone said to me recently that they were impressed by the number of “followers” I have on various social media platforms.  I was gracious in accepting the compliment but I reminded them that the words followers, fans and friends are so watered down now that it’s hard to know what they mean, or not.  Modern terms are: A fan – someone who roots for you and will fill the stands to support you when the weather is good and you are winning.  A follower – people who look to your example and creations to shape and guide them, when it is good for them.  A friend – someone who likes to say they know you and that you know them back.  We are in a distorted time for what is called a fan, a follower and friend. There was a time when all three had words associated with them like, “die-hard”, “devout”, “true” and “lifelong”.  In our businesses we applaud ourselves with our Likes, Followers, Friends and Fans.  But, what are they really unless we actively engage them more deeply beyond the definitions of today’s social media dictionary?

Jesus told us what it means to be a follower.  To be a follower it means to make a sacrifice of oneself all the way to surrendering one’s own priorities and life to conform and become like Christ.  We have many followers of us, but who are we really following?  Let’s not forget that how we follow Christ has a profound effect on those that “follow” us.  Others are looking for who they should truly follow eternally and how we establish our example is important, beyond what we know.

Reference: Matthew 10:38 (New Living Translation)