Here’s a short quiz.
Where in the four Gospels does Jesus call for believers to accept him as their personal savior?
(Some Jeopardy music would be nice should anyone be searching in vain.)
Try this one: Where in the four Gospels does Jesus call for believers to “Follow me.”
By one account, there are 21 distinct times Jesus extends that call.
Now the big question: Why do some many professing Christians fail the test of even considering what it means to follow Jesus — according to Jesus?
Two reasons are pretty easy to identify.
First, is a widely promoted, initiation-like misrepresentation of salvation. It conveys that mere belief will keep one out of hell and make Jesus a buddy in times of need.
It doesn’t require enough belief to actually follow Jesus in loving God fully and neighbors broadly — although Jesus said those are the encompassing and greatest of all his commandments.
With Jesus as merely a personalized savior, the focus remains on oneself. Jesus’ life, teachings and calling are treated as optional, even inconvenient.
This misrepresentation allows for claiming the Christian tag while embracing ideologies of exclusivity, exploitation and abusive power — all in contrast to Jesus. And, boy, are white American evangelicals doing that en masse today.
A personal savior is often treated like a mascot for one’s own privileges and preferences. Rather than Jesus being the way, the truth and life.
A second reason is that much of Americanized Christianity today readily heaps criticism on others deemed as enemies, while allowing no self-evaluation or external critique.
Therefore, the Christian label gets slapped on all kinds of attitudes and actions in full contrast to the life and teachings of Jesus within those four Gospels. It’s to the point that the Christian brand brings deserving suspicion.
“Follow me,” is how Jesus did and does call for disciples. His life and teachings — summed up in the two-fold greatest commandment — are how we are to live beyond mere belief.
We will never get out of this current cultural mess that is largely empowered by white Americanized Christians until we get over the false notion that everything labeled as “Christian” must be accepted as unquestionable — no matter how at odds with the actual life, teachings and calling of Jesus.
To point out this gross inconsistency is to invite quick defenses. Yet noting the contrast between the evangelical empowerment of evil and the call to follow Jesus isn’t impermissible “judging.”
Rather, faithfulness in following Jesus requires standing up to injustice, falsehoods and corruption — even (or especially) when advanced by those who so proudly wear their Christian badge.
No one follows Jesus perfectly. But shouldn’t that at least be the goal of those who choose to bear his name?
John D. Pierce is director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative (jesusworldview.org), part of Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership. Join us on October 12-13, 2026 for the second Jesus Worldview Conference in Nashville.