As a Christian, Who Are You Following?
A pastor? A family member? A favorite preacher? Your friends? Or Jesus?
That may be one of the most important questions a Christian can ask.
Many of us were introduced to Christianity through another person.
Maybe it was our mother or father. Maybe a grandmother who prayed with us.
Perhaps it was a pastor whose preaching touched our heart, a Sunday school teacher
who taught us the Bible, or a friend who invited us to church.
God uses people.
But people were never meant to take the place of Jesus Christ.
When People Become the Center of Our Faith
There is nothing wrong with loving and respecting a pastor. Scripture tells us to honor
faithful spiritual leaders.
There is nothing wrong with listening to good Bible teachers.
There is nothing wrong with appreciating the Christian example of a family member or friend.
The danger begins when our faith becomes attached more closely to them than to Jesus.
Ask yourself:
If my pastor fell into sin tomorrow, would my faith collapse?
If my favorite television preacher disappointed me, would I question Christianity?
If my Christian friends turned their backs on me, would I turn my back on Christ?
If someone I admired in church proved to be a hypocrite, would I walk away from Jesus?
Those are difficult questions, but they reveal something important:
Who are we really following?
Paul Warned the Early Church About This
This problem isn't new.
The Christians in Corinth were dividing themselves according to the leaders they admired.
Some said they followed Paul. Others followed Apollos. Others identified themselves with Cephas.
Paul confronted the problem:
“Is Christ divided?”
— 1 Corinthians 1:13
Later Paul explained:
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:6
Paul understood something we sometimes forget.
The preacher may plant the seed.
The teacher may water it.
The evangelist may proclaim the Gospel.
But Jesus saves.
Your Pastor Didn't Die for You
I say this with great respect for pastors and ministers who faithfully preach the Word of God.
Your pastor didn't die on the cross for you.
Your favorite preacher didn't carry your sins to Calvary.
Your mother didn't purchase your salvation.
Your grandfather didn't rise from the grave.
Your denomination cannot save you.
Your church building cannot save you.
Your Christian friends cannot save you.
Jesus did what none of them could do.
John the Baptist understood exactly where the attention belonged. When he saw Jesus coming,
he declared:
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
— John 1:29
John didn't say, Look at me.
He pointed people to Jesus.
Every true minister of the Gospel should ultimately do the same.
People Will Disappoint You
I've lived long enough to learn something about people.
They will disappoint you.
And sooner or later, you will disappoint somebody else.
Christians are not perfect people. We are redeemed people who are still growing, learning,
struggling, and sometimes failing.
Pastors make mistakes.
Preachers can fall.
Church members can gossip.
Friends can betray us.
Families can hurt us.
Christians can behave in ways that look nothing like Christ.
But none of that changes who Jesus Christ is.
Hebrews 13:8 tells us:
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
People change.
Jesus doesn't.
People may abandon you.
Jesus said:
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
— Hebrews 13:5
That is why our faith must ultimately rest in Him.
Don't Confuse Christianity With Christians
One of the saddest things I've heard from people is:
“I don't want anything to do with Christianity because of the way Christians treated me.”
I understand the hurt behind those words.
But I would ask that person to do one thing:
Look again at Jesus.
Don't judge Jesus by the worst behavior of someone who claims His name.
Read the Gospels.
Look at how Jesus treated the broken.
Look at how He treated sinners.
Look at His compassion for the sick.
Look at His mercy toward the guilty.
Look at Him touching the untouchable.
Look at Him forgiving those who nailed Him to a cross.
Then ask:
Is the person who hurt me really showing me Jesus?
Sometimes the answer is no.
Even Good Preachers Must Be Tested by Scripture
Never believe something simply because a preacher said it—including me.
Open your Bible.
Read it for yourself.
The people of Berea were praised because they listened to Paul's preaching and then
searched the Scriptures daily to see whether what they were hearing was true.
That's found in Acts 17:11.
Think about that.
They were listening to the Apostle Paul, yet they still checked his teaching against Scripture.
We should do the same today.
A preacher may have a huge church.
He may have millions of followers online.
She may have bestselling books.
They may speak beautifully and move an audience emotionally.
None of that determines whether what they are teaching is true.
The Word of God is the standard.
Jesus Said, “Follow Me”
Jesus didn't say:
“Build your life around a preacher.”
He didn't say:
“Follow whichever religious personality becomes popular.”
Again and again, His invitation was simple:
“Follow me.”
That's Christianity at its heart.
Following Jesus.
Learning from Jesus.
Trusting Jesus.
Obeying Jesus.
Loving Jesus.
Becoming more like Jesus.
And when everybody else fails, keep following Jesus.
Take an Honest Look at Your Faith
Ask yourself today:
Why am I a Christian?
Is it because my parents were Christians?
Because I was raised in church?
Because my spouse goes to church?
Because I like my pastor?
Because all my friends attend the same congregation?
Or can I say:
“I know Jesus Christ for myself.”
There comes a time when the faith of our parents must become our faith.
The faith of our pastor cannot substitute for our relationship with Christ.
Someone else's prayers cannot replace our prayers.
Someone else's Bible reading cannot replace our time in God's Word.
Christianity isn't merely belonging to a group.
It is knowing and following Jesus Christ.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
Hebrews 12:2 gives us the answer:
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
That's where our eyes belong.
Not on personalities.
Not on denominations.
Not on religious celebrities.
Not even on people we deeply love and respect.
Appreciate faithful Christian leaders.
Learn from good teachers.
Love your Christian brothers and sisters.
Encourage one another.
But never put a human being where only Jesus belongs.
Because when the preacher disappoints you...
When a Christian friend hurts you...
When somebody in the church acts like anything but a Christian...
When someone you admired falls...
Jesus is still Jesus.
The cross is still the cross.
The tomb is still empty.
The Gospel is still true.
And Christ is still calling:
“Follow Me.”
So today I leave you with one simple question:
Who are you following?
If the answer is anyone other than Jesus Christ, perhaps it's time to get your eyes off
people and put them back where they belong.
On Jesus.
Evangelist Mike Cunningham
Mike's Observations
