Sports fans all around the world relish the time of the year when their favorite sport is played. Whether it’s professional, collegiate, high school or even the highly competitive toddler tee ball, fans can’t wait to cheer for their favorite team. Yet fans vary ranging from: face painted warriors; casual supporter; avid statistician (able to name every player and stats); old faithful (committed to their team win/lose); to what is commonly referred to as the fair-weather fan. Each of these fans shares a depth of appreciation for the game and has an allegiance to a particular team in the given sport. In fact, fan by definition is “an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, or celebrity”.
However, sports just like our lives has ebbs and flows, winning seasons, losing seasons and it’s in the midst of losing seasons where the what type of fan is discovered. We all are rah-rah cheerleaders when games are won but what happens during the three game losing streaks or after consecutive losing seasons. Typically these moments reveal the fair-weather fan, this fan is characterized by lack of loyalty, only supportive when the team is doing well, but mysteriously disappears when trouble or losing arises.
If we are honest, many of us who say “I am a Christian” are fair-weather fans. We claim full commitment to Jesus but: when life happens, when our security is threatened, when we are challenged to live our lives like Jesus, when we face illness, loss, disappointment, suffering, or pain, when we are faced with the choice of ease or difficulty, etc. we too discover what type of follower we really are, fair-weather.
Perhaps, we are unable to bear witness to our own fair-weather proclivities, let’s look at Peter who like many of us (do) professes to Jesus his full commitment:
“Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even die with you”.” (Luke 22:33)
Peter adamantly rejected Jesus’ assertion: “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning; you will deny three times that you even know me” (Luke 22:34). But then life happened, threats came, death was imminent for Jesus and Peter realized that to truly follow Jesus could (and would) mean suffering, pain, even death and by cultural definitions, losing. So, when questioned about his commitment and faithfulness to Jesus – Peter wavered, Peter’s devotion mysteriously disappears exposing his and our fair-weathered nature saying: “Woman I don’t even know him!” (Luke 23:57), “No man, I’m not!” (Luke 23:58), “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about” (Luke 23:60).
Discovering that indeed he was fair-weather: “Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly” (Luke 23:62), in need of greater commitment, deeper faith, and courage to remain devout as he encountered life and all the threats that come with being a follower of Jesus.
What can we learn from Peter and our own exposure as fair-weather followers?
- Professing to follow Jesus is consent to and acceptance of danger even death
- In the midst of our adversities lie our greatest opportunities
- Faithfulness is evidenced by actions not words
- Commitment to Jesus requires willingness to grow and sacrifice
The good news for us is unlike the seasonal-nature of sports, everyday (today) is our opportunity to spurn our fair-weather tendencies in pursuit of becoming spirit-driven faithful followers. The type of fan we become will not find measure in wins or losses; rather by our response to them. Will you choose to become a faithful follower or remain a fair-weather follower?
We can move from I don’t know Him to dying for Him–Peter did!
Much Love,
Pastor Singleton
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