![]() Many fans have repeated a prayer or raised their hand or walked forward at the end of a sermon and made a decision to believe, but there was never a commitment to follow. “Biblical belief is more than mental assent or verbal acknowledgment. ![]() While it is possible that Jesus wanted Nicodemus to follow, it is not how Jesus told him how to be saved. Becoming a committed follower is part of progressive sanctification. Jesus didn’t just want Nicodemus just at night he wanted Nicodemus during the day too.” (p. “Jesus would not accept a relationship with Nicodemus where he simply believed Jesus wanted Nicodemus to follow. In relation to Nicodemus, Idleman also seems to be mixing conversion with steps of obedience after conversion.) Idleman insinuates that a believer must commit to certain changes in order for his faith to be true. (Believing is the only way of salvation – that is, believing in Christ and His finished Work to save. Fans are happy to follow Jesus as long as that doesn’t require any significant changes or have negative implications.” (p. He could talk to Jesus at night and quietly make a decision in his heart to believe in Jesus that way it wouldn’t disrupt his comfortable and established life. “In fact, his friends and family wouldn’t even have to know. We should also remember that the unsaved person has no sacrifice to make in order to believe the gospel and be saved.) See, to Idleman, a believer must be a “true” follower. ![]() (We must note here that Idleman’s definition of a fan is an “enthusiastic admirer” which just means basically an unbeliever. After several losing seasons you can expect him to jump off the fan wagon and begin cheering for some other team. 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. Speaking of a “Fan”, Idleman says the following: So, to take a stand for the faith, here are my observations and reactions. I want the true gospel to be untainted and for God’s truth to be magnified. I don’t offer my critique with any inclination to be harsh or mean spirited. I have found that these views are not limited to this one book but are a part of a growing mindset among people who claim to be Christians. I have read the book and have included certain key quotes with my reaction. It should be no surprise to some that the author is using this book to set forth a strongly Lordship view of salvation. His book attempts to distinguish between what is called a “fan” and what a believer really is. Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus Zondervan. Kyle Idleman is the Teaching Pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky and he has written a popular book titled Not a Fan.
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