I am a stark raving fan of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, the 1970s British progressive rock group.
Classic rock stars are a disappearing breed, of course, and in 2016 the world lost both Keith Emerson and Greg Lake.
Therefore my last chance to connect personally with ELP is Carl Palmer, widely regarded as one of the most creative drummers in rock history.
I could walk up to him today and say, “Mr. Palmer – may I call you Carl? – I’ve bought all of your albums. Your greatest hits, too. I have obediently upgraded my collection from LP’s to cassettes to CD’s to multiple digital storage systems.
“I stayed with you guys when you broke up. And when you got back together again. And then broke up a second time. And then tried that horrible reunion 15 years ago, the one where Greg could no longer hit the high notes on his solos.
“I’ve listened to your songs when I’ve walked my dogs, washed my dishes, and taken long drives in the country.
“I have personally introduced dozens of other people to your best stuff. On two occasions I’ve even featured you in a Morning Reflection. Carl, I just want you to know that I’ve been your heartfelt fan for more than a half century now, and I’m still your guy.”
If such an opportunity ever presented itself, I’m pretty sure I know what would happen. I think Carl Palmer would look at me with a curiously blank face and say (with a really cool, detached British accent), “And what was your name again?”
There’s a world of difference between knowing someone virtually and knowing someone actually.
It’s the difference between being a fan and forging an actual relationship.
Jesus is not looking for fans.
Not even stark raving fans.
Some Bible students suggest that the scariest verses in Scripture are Matthew 7:21-23, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is forecasting a moment in the future when people will come to him positively gushing about their perceived relationship. “We were your biggest supporters! Look at everything we did in your name. And it was all for you, Lord.”
But Jesus is not impressed:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Jesus, in so many words, will say to these individuals who have presumed an intimate friendship with him, “Excuse me, but have we met?”
It’s possible to spend our lives collecting Christian experiences and even to fancy ourselves as experts along a whole spectrum of religious pursuits – yet not actually know Jesus. Our astonishing privilege is not just to know about Christ, but to know Christ and make him known.
It’s fun being a fan. But real life lies beyond fandom.
Our true call is to live each day as disciples, or lifelong learners, of the Son of God.
And as that happens, as ELP might put it, oh, what a lucky man I’ll be.
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