If I Go All in with Jesus Will My Friends Think I’m a Religious Nut?
Probably. Well, almost certainly. Or maybe not, if you’re doing it right.
Here at EverNearer.com we want to help people go from Sunday morning Christians to Jesus followers who are fully engaged in every area of their life. One of the fears of people who decide that they’re going all in with Jesus is that their friends will think they are really weird. So tremendously weird.
The Good News about the Good News
Yes. Going all in with Jesus makes you a Jesus Freak. Maybe you remember the 1995 DC hit (from which the album was titled). If not, here’s the video. You’re welcome. But then again, maybe we should avoid the term, Jesus Freak. Apparently, it’s a pejorative. But as DC Talk said, “I don’t really care if people label me a Jesus Freak.”
Here’s the truth about the Truth. When the Word of God gets into your mind and heart, when the Holy Spirit fills your soul, you WILL be changed. If you or I look exactly the same, or close enough to be indistinguishable from before we met Jesus, then we are functional atheists.
In fact, the Bible explicitly instructs what not to do in this area.
No Stifling Allowed
Take a look at 1Thessalonians 5:19 in the New Living Translation:
“Do not stifle the Holy Spirit” Other versions say, “do not quench” or “do not extinguish”. No matter the translation, they all mean the same. Do not force your behaviors to limit the display of the Holy Spirit in your life.
In the western world, and very much in the United States, we feel the pressure to belong. To not step too far outside the norms of acceptable behavior. Hear me clearly Jesus follower. Your Savior repeatedly pushed back against what was “acceptable behavior” even in opposition of the religious leaders of the time.
When you draw ever nearer to Jesus. When you go all in and decide to work through the process of obeying Jesus, when you decide to prioritize studying the Bible, you will become a different person. As Paul said:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
-2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB
THIS PERSON IS A NEW CREATION. You are a new creation, a different person. EVERYTHING changes.
But How Do I Relate to People?
There is something to be careful of when you are a fully engaged Jesus follower. Although Jesus often pushed back against the religious establishment, He always loved those who needed Him. There is a difference between being obsessed with Jesus and ostracizing other people because they don’t fit in our idea of what a Jesus follower should look like. Let’s make a clear statement. In topics related to salvation there are very clear boundaries. In other topics there is freedom to have different opinions. When we take a non-salvation topic and elevate it to the level of salvation doctrine, we make a grave error that pushes people away from Jesus.
Being a Jesus freak, being all in with Jesus, doesn’t mean we become unrelatable. In fact, the exact opposite should be true. Jesus was the most relatable individual to ever walk the earth. Part of being a person who is a living well of love from the Lord is being able to talk to, relate to, care about, and care for people who are NOT fully devoted Jesus followers. And also, to those who are not as mature in their walk with the Lord.
What Really Makes You a Jesus Freak
Jesus Himself made it very clear how the world would know we are completely sold out to Him.
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
-John 13:35, ESV
You see, what really makes us a Jesus freak is how we love each other. It’s how we show genuine concern and compassion. It’s how we go out of our way to take care of each other. If people think we are Jesus freaks because of a bunch of rules that we follow, then we are presenting the wrong message. Being a sold-out, fully on fire Jesus follower is never about rules. No, my sisters and brothers, let’s not be known as the people who are boring, who don’t know how to enjoy life, that’s not going to attract people to our Lord and His Kingdom. Instead, let us live as Jesus said we should in John 10:10 (AMP): “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”
The Critical Conclusion
Let’s come back to the original question. If I go all in with Jesus, will my friends think I’m a religious nut? The final answer is it depends. It depends on two things, 1) Their perspective about Jesus and Jesus followers 2) The image you show to the world.
You cannot know for sure how someone perceives Jesus or Jesus followers. Just like you and me, past experiences impact our current points of view. I recall a while back that someone referred to my lovely bride and me as “those religious people.” I’m not a fan of being called religious, but I could see where that term would make sense to someone who doesn’t have a relationship with the Lord. I was not bothered by the reference; it was a sincere reflection of this person’s understanding of Jesus followers. I don’t always have the ability to immediately change someone’s point of view, so I just let it go and leave that up to the Lord.
However, I can and MUST do whatever is within my power, as directed by the Holy Spirit, to present the best possible image of my Lord. The only way to do that is to stay as close to Him as possible and be obedient to whatever He calls me to do or say, or to not do or say. The image I show to the world is my part of helping to not push people away from Jesus. When I lovingly know and share God’s Word, when I act as Jesus would act, then I am glorifying God. This makes it much easier for people’s hearts to be softened to the gentle tug of the Holy Spirit.
Sisters and brothers, remember the words of Paul.
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
-Romans 12:18 NIV
Don’t be known as a religious nut because of obnoxious, pushy, holier-than-thou behaviors. Instead, be someone who attracts people to themselves because you are joyful, peacemaking, kind, patient, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. Be what Jesus was and still is, a source of love to all you encounter. The fruit of the Spirit, that is the true mark of a Jesus freak.
Love you!
-Troy
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