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Admirer Quote by Kyle Idleman

“It may seem that there are many followers of Jesus, but if they were honestly to define the relationship they have with him I am not sure it would be accurate to describe them as followers. It seems to me that there is a more suitable word to describe them. They are not followers of Jesus. They…” quote by Kyle Idleman
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““It may seem that there are many followers of Jesus, but if they were honestly to define the relationship they have with him I am not sure it would be accurate to describe them as followers. It seems to me that there is a more suitable word to describe them. They are not followers of Jesus. They are fans of Jesus. Here is the most basic definition of fan in the dictionary: “An enthusiastic admirer” It’s the guy who goes to the football game with no shirt and a painted chest. He sits in the stands and cheers for his team. He’s got a signed jersey hanging on his wall at home and multiple bumper stickers on the back of his car. But he’s never in the game. He never breaks a sweat or takes a hard hit in the open field. He knows all about the players and can rattle off their latest stats, but he doesn’t know the players. He yells and cheers, but nothing is really required of him. There is no sacrifice he has to make. And the truth is, as excited as he seems, if the team he’s cheering for starts to let him down and has a few off seasons, his passion will wane pretty quickly. After several losing seasons you can expect him to jump off the fan wagon and begin cheering for some other team. He is an enthusiastic admirer.””

Kyle Idleman

About This Quote

Source Book: Love Does, Kyle Idleman, 2005

The speaker argues that many people claim to follow Jesus but act like passive fans, lacking deep commitment or sacrifice.

In simple terms: People often claim devotion without true involvement.

Key Takeaway

Move from passive admiration to active commitment.

Themes

faith commitment authenticity identity discipline

Mood

reflective critical

Type

theological observational

When to use this quote

  • church attendance
  • personal faith practice
  • community involvement
  • religious education

Key Concepts

spirituality social identity group dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can believers demonstrate active commitment?
  • What does true discipleship look like?
A Different Perspective

Passive admiration may fade when challenges arise, leading to abandonment.

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