Alan Hirsch poses the question, How did the number of Christians in the world grow from as few as 25,000 one hundred years after Christ’s death to up to 20 million in AD 310? A footnote in Alan’s book The Forgotten Ways refers to Rodney Stark as the authority on these issues, so I bought and read his book The Rise of Christianity. But I found that disappointing, because his research was based on the Moonies cult, and the implication seemed to be that any new cult spreads the same way – slowly, from family member to family member, increasing at a rate of around 40% per decade.
But why do people really choose to follow Jesus? There is something compelling about who Jesus was and what he taught. His lifestyle was significantly different from that of other religious leaders. He never used power to accumulate wealth or for political or personal ends. His message was about love, serving, humility, forgiveness and repentance. If you want to get wealthy you must give everything away. If you want to live, you must die. If you want to lead you must be a servant of others.
What Jesus said and did was, and still is, significantly different from the accepted practice. But somehow it resonates with the human condition. The contrarian lifestyle proclaimed by Jesus is bold and risky, but it offers compelling answers to the questions of life’s purpose and meaning.
6 replies on “Why do people follow Jesus?”
People follow jesus because they believe he is the son of god they beleive he can save you they belive he died to save us from our sins People also follow jesus because e loves you he does not care who or what you are even if you have a deadly diesease he still loves you .
i hope this helps you Mwah Tasha
I am The Only Person Who Has Written On This Christians Need To Come Forward And Spread The Word To Unbelivers Out There That Do Not Know About Jesus
I am a Christian and i choose to follow Jesus and his teachings because he is the son of God. God said that he so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but live a everlasting life.
I began to follow Jesus because he called me to follow him through his word and his Holy Spirit. I knew very little about Jesus aside from the elementary catholic lessons I was taught at CCD. Jesus in my early days, was more like a cartoon charater than a real living and tangible God.
In 1994 I faithfully attended a church in Brighton Massachusetts. The people and the pastor believed in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, miracles, and following after Jesus with your whole heart. They also, believed in the life changing power of prayer and the gifts of the Spirit. This was all new to me. I have never experienced this type of faith and excitement about the Lord before. I was a little sceptical and hesitant at first, but I continued attending.
One day during the service I got out of my seat and walked to the front of the church to pray. As Iwas about to lift my hands and say”I love you Jesus” when God filled me with the Holy Spirit that John the Baptist, Joel the Prohet, Peter the preacher, and Paul the missionary spoke about in Bible. The same thing that happened in Acts Chaper 2, happened to me that day. I began to speak in another language that I was not taught or could not interpret. I was praising God in the Spirit. As I attempted to praise him with my mouth in my native language English other words were being formed. It was awesome, the power of God was all over me. I beagn to feel at peace, relaxed, and free from all stress.
So back to the main question. Why do people follow Jesus? I follow Him because he has followed me my entire life. I follow Him because he as captured my love. I follow him because I believe that he is my Savior from the future destruction of this world. I follow Him beacuse he cares about me. I follow Him because he is vvery real to me. I can literally feel his presence. I follow him because he has proved his promises to be true. I follow Him beacuse he has forgiven and restored me. I follow hime beacuse he helps me to elimante destructive and unhealthy behaivors in my life. I follow him not for what I can obtain in the process, but because he is God of all the earth and every thing that exist.
Thats why I follow Jesus
For anyone seeking validation, or doubting what they believe or have read, there is a book that has been written by a father, who is also a pastor, about his not-even 4 year old son’s visit to heaven. Folks, this IS an eye opener for anyone sitting on the fence: http://www.heavenisforreal.net/. (I am not affiliated with this book in any way)
You have to understand that God will reveal the things that he wants you to know as you grow in HIM.
I believe some Christians follow Jesus just to be blessed but for myself I find it hard to deny myself take up my cross and follow Him. A lifestyle of putting others needs before mine is hard to do.In contrast, I believe it would bring meaning, purpose and fulfillment in life and thats what the world needs.