Who Are Your Followers Really Following?

Let’s play a little game.

You’re at a Starbucks, and there’s a girl at a table nearby wearing a sundress, cowboy boots, and bright red lipstick. She’s laughing at something her friend says and responds, “Because I’m in my Fearless era!” A few minutes later you hear her say, “This song is giving Midnight Rain vibes.” Who is she following?

Let’s try another.

Your team is meeting with a new consultant about a product you want to offer. He comes in wearing a black turtleneck, jeans, and sneakers. His presentation about the product idea focuses on making it sleeker, minimalist, and a “user first” design. He pauses dramatically between sentences for effect before flipping to the next slide on his Mac. Who is he following?

One more.

As you enter your friend’s home, it looks just like you imagined it. The shiplap walls, rustic wood accents, and oversized clocks scream “farmhouse” and look great against her casual-chic sweater and boots. She gushes about how the show “Fixer Upper” transformed her home aesthetic. Who is she following?

When we are truly an invested follower of something, it shows. What we wear, say, watch, read, and do is a testimony to who we are following.

And it doesn’t stop there. Whoever is following me is following who I am following. With social media, we can follow celebrities, experts, pundits, brands, teams, and trends. We can follow people who give us their best tips for living off the grid, aging gracefully, training up wild and free children, getting fit and healthy, and practicing spiritual rhythms that emulate desert fathers and mystics.  

In Christian circles, we’re always inclined to say we are following Jesus. We hope we are! And there’s a surefire way to tell.

Since they began following you, are your followers more closely following Jesus?

Just like the Swifties, Steve Jobs’ disciples, and Joanna Gaines’ devotees from our little game above (did you guess them?), there should be identifiable signs that mark us as Jesus-followers, too. Signs of the vibrant transformation in the lives of those who walk in his ways.

Over time, my influence as a Christian leader should be that those following me closely are reflecting Jesus in their lives. My own spiritual growth is helping them grow. If they aren’t a better follower of Jesus after spending time invested in me and my work, I have to ask:  am I really following Jesus in the ways I live and lead?

Don’t work in a Christian environment? Here’s the great thing – your influence is even more noticeable! By following you, your followers may not even know they are following Jesus. And how powerful will the Gospel be when they realize they’ve seen it lived out in your life and work all along?

What do you think of this concept that the people following you are following whomever you are following? I’d love to read your responses in the comments section.