Come Be My Follower - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site

“BEMYFOLLOWER”—WHATDIDJESUSMEAN? 11
What It Means to Be a Follower of Christ
14 Hundreds of millions of people today likely feel that
they have accepted Christ’s invitation. After all, they
choose to call themselves Christians. Perhaps they belong
to the church in which their parents had them
christened. Or they may claim to have an emotional attachment
to Jesus and accept him as their personal Savior.
But does that make them followers of Christ? Is that
what Jesus had in mind when he invited us to become his
followers? There is much more to it.
15 Consider the world of Christendom—those nations
whose citizens for the most part claim to be followers
of Christ. Does Christendom reflect the teachings of Jesus
Christ? Or do we see in those lands hatred, oppression,
crime, and injustice much like that found throughout
the rest of the world? The respected Hindu leader
Mohandas Gandhi once said: “I know of no one who
has done more for humanity than Jesus. In fact, there is
nothing wrong with Christianity.” He added: “The trouble
is with you Christians. You do not begin to live up to
your own teachings.”
16 Jesus said that his true followers would be known not
just for their words or for the label they apply to themselves
but primarily for their actions. For example, he
said: “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter
into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the
will of my Father who is in the heavens will.” (Matthew
7:21) Why do so many who claim Jesus as their Lord fail
to do his Father’s will? Remember the wealthy young
14, 15. In order to be a follower of Christ, why is it not enough to
claim to be a Christian or to form an emotional attachment to Jesus?
16, 17. What is often missing among professed Christians, and what
distinguishes genuine followers of Christ?