Are You a Fan or a Fanatic?

Every year at this time, our family is busy going to basketball games five out of seven nights.  Thankfully, in our part of the state, Wednesday night basketball hasn't become part of the schedule like it has in many places, and Sunday's are still free from games.

With the many, many games each year, comes a variety of scenarios and outcomes with each game.  However, without exception, fans show up and cheer on the team.  Some fans cheer with every "do right".  Some fans yell with every thing that was "done wrong".  Some fans just sit quietly, while others choose to make the referee the bad guy(s) by pointing out everything they miss.  Something interesting that I've noticed is that if a call is charged against us, it's the wrong call or if they miss something the other team did wrong and don't call it, they're wrong, but if is the other way around - where we foul and it's not called or we mess up (walk, double dribble, etc.) and it's not called, we don't seem to notice.  Why is that??!  (As a side note:  My husband likes to use this true statement:  "Until you have made 100% of your shots, and until you have 0% turnovers, then it is NEVER the refs fault for anything."  So true! )

Thinking about the word "fan", I decided to look at the definition.  Here it is: A person who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular sport, art or entertainment form, or famous person.   So, by the definition, a true fan has a strong interest in or admiration for whatever it is.  Interesting.


In comparing the fan of a sports team to being a fan of Jesus, I began to wonder just why it was that it was acceptable for people to be HUGE sports fans, but if you are a HUGE Jesus/God fan, you're labeled a fanatic.  Why do you suppose that is the way it is?  I looked up the word fanatic.  Here's the definition: A person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal, esp. for an extreme religious or political cause.


So, I see now that the word fanatic is a single-minded zeal and that is the difference.  A fanatic is a much stronger word, isn't it?  A fan might like one team one year, but then the next year, the fan might like another team.  It might still be the same sport, but not the same team.  It could be the same team, but maybe the teammates have changed.


In your Christian walk, are you a fan or a fanatic?  I believe God wants us to be FANATICS!  He wants us to have a single-minded zeal for Him and His Son, Jesus, and His church!  If we are only a fan, we might not be totally devoted to His cause.  We might be really into the "game" one month, then not so much the next.  Just like there are seasons/times for sports, maybe we only worship God or rely on God during certain seasons of our life. Or maybe you're a fan who once was a fan of Christianity, but now you no longer are part of that team.  What happened to your zeal?  Were you ever a fanatic for Jesus?


Have a single-minded zeal is being Christ focused.  He is your motivation for living the life God wants you to live.  Be zealous for Him!  Be zealous for the church He died for!  Be zealous to help win others to Christ!


BE A FANATIC!  God's team is the best team to "cheer" for!

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Romans 12:11

Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. 

Galatians 4:170-18