Don't be a Theological Fanboy

The Problem of Fanboyism in Christian Circles

So when you upload videos on YouTube with as much regularity as I do and about the topics that I do every now and then you'll upload one where. You're a little hesitant to put it out there. And That I definitely feel hesitation sometimes when I put something out.

But it's not because of what I believe because I'm open with about what I believe about things and all that kind of stuff. Even controversial topics, you know, I'm not really I'm okay to take my lumps about what I actually believe about certain issues.

But what I want to make sure is that I I say it the right way I say the way I want to say it and I'm not gonna be perfect. I'm gonna misspeak and stuff like that. You got to understand that when people speak publicly sometimes you misspeak, right?

But you know if I'm gonna get scorn heaped upon me I at least want it to be about something that I actually believe right? So I've got a video coming out about Doug Wilson done done done. That's right.

Doug Wilson. And what I think the major problem is with Doug Wilson. So be on the lookout for that I'm not gonna upload it today, but it's coming. I've also got a video about the good things that Big Eva, you know Evangelicalism trademarked evangelicalism has has taught me because it hasn't all been bad, you know.

There's some bad things about evangelicalism and big and Big Eva and all that kind of thing. But there's some good things as well I want to talk about those and that's what I'm gonna be dropping as far as my podcast for the fight laugh feast Network on Thursday so also be on the lookout for that all that to say I have a quick video that I wanted to record today.

What a Fanboy Is and Why the Term Fits

About something that I kind of was watching on the sidelines last week and this weekend. Do you know what a fanboy is? That's right a fanboy. The Urban Dictionary defines fanboy as this an extreme fan or follower of a particular medium Concept whether it be sports television film directors or video games.

That's the most common usage. Known for a complete lack of objectivity in relation to their preferred focus. Usually they argue with circular logic that they refuse to acknowledge. Arguments or debates with such a fanboy are usually futile.

Every flaw is spun into semi virtues and everything else blown to comedic complementary proportions. Finally it says fanboys are known for using the phrase best ever. However, while people that usually say that usually only use it as hyperbole fanboys.

Truly believe it. Man that's funny that that is what a fanboy is. But you know fanboys one of the one of the first fanboy, you know Phenomena that I could remember is when I was younger. I was in high school or whatever or maybe elementary school.

And do you remember the the video game console wars like Super Nintendo versus Sega Genesis? And if you had a Super Nintendo then Super Nintendo was objectively the best in every area even in areas where it wasn't objectively the best it was still the best and anyone who had a Sega Genesis was an idiot and Vice versa if you had a Sega Genesis then Super Nintendo was the worst and even in ways that it was obviously better than a Sega Genesis it was worse because you were a fanboy for Sega Genesis.

And that was what I was. I was a Sega Genesis. Fanboy, I think if we're honest with ourselves, we've been fanboys. About something in our lives all of us have where we don't listen to reason we cannot look at at evidence to the contrary.

The thing that we are a fanboy of is the best ever and they can do no wrong. And even when they do do wrong, it actually works out for the best because they are the best in every way. Everyone can kind of identify a fanboy when they see one.

Fanboyism in Theology and Christian Media

Here's the thing. We've got fanboys in Christianity as well. We've got fanboys of theologians fanboys of apologists people that have podcasts we've got podcasts fanboys and. This is a real problem because the fanboy ism can be there's a dark side to it as well.

It's not all fun and games look when you're a Sega Genesis fanboy who cares? It's just Sega Genesis, but but when you're a fanboy of a theologian or an apologist it can be a real Negative thing and and and here's here's what I mean by that.

Here's what I mean by that. I Just noticed. I'm sorry I just noticed that one of the examples they used in the fanboy definition on Urban Dictionary is Quote Final Fantasy 7 is the best RPG ever and I literally said that in my most one of my most recent videos.

Sorry, I got distracted anyway. Here's the thing I've made the argument here and many times that The Christian definition of love isn't primarily talking about warm and fuzzy's affectionate feelings and things like that.

It doesn't exclude affection. It doesn't Exclude warm and fuzzy's but it's not primarily talking about that's primarily talking about actions. It's you know, if you love your neighbor as yourself, then you treat them according to the law of God.

If you love your neighbor as yourself, it's not about being like. My neighbor Betty she's just a great woman. I just love her so much blessings blessings to her. That's not what it's about. It's about treating her fairly.

It's about treating her with respect treating her according to the law of God treating her the way you would want to be treated. That's what love is. Primarily, right and and in a similar kind of way not exactly the same but in a similar kind of way.

If you treat someone with not Without love right if you treat someone poorly if you treat someone with hatred if you hate your neighbor instead of loving your neighbor. You're going to treat them in a certain way in a way.

That's not according to the law of God. Yes, so so so here's here's the thing. So I don't think I have fanboys. Maybe maybe I do. Maybe I don't. I don't think I do. Because even the people that have supported me from the beginning people that you know comment on all my videos people that support me on patreon people that you know.

Message me and tell me the things that I that I say that they like. Many of them have disagreed with me openly directly. They've reached out to me privately. They've done it publicly and said hey, you know.

You know, I love you, but you said this and this makes no sense. You know, I mean this makes no sense and so so so I don't think I have fanboy because fanboys would never do that fanboys would actually Defend even the things that I say that they would see it see as wrong.

You know what? I mean? That's that's that's what fanboys do. So I don't think I have fanboys, but I've seen people fanboys of popular Christians and prominent Christians and things like that where you cannot any criticism of their The of the object of their affection is seen as the ultimate Unloving thing, you know what?

I mean? Like like like like you you criticize this person. They say things like this. They have a track record of faithfulness to Christ and therefore how could you say this that's slander and like the thing that they said wasn't slander because slander has a Specific definition, right?

Like it's something that you say about someone that is actually not true. If you say something about someone that's not true. Yeah that you shouldn't do that. But if you're criticizing someone That's not slander.

In fact The fact that you would never criticize someone if they have a faithful, you know track record or things like that. Not only do I not believe you That that's really your standard because there's plenty of people that do have a track record that you do criticize.

But also even if it were true, it would actually be wrong to do that that you'd be being a fanboy. You know what? I mean? Like look like lots of people like John MacArthur, right? And but but at the end of the day like if your opinion of John MacArthur is that hey, he's a great man of God.

Therefore he cannot be wrong or criticized about anything publicly. Like that's a problem. That's a real problem. You see like like the reality is like the Bible that I read in the Bible that we all read says these things we all Believe this so let's start acting like it right.

It says it says faithful are the wounds of a friend and Profuse are the kisses of an enemy that's describing fanboy ism. That's describing fanboy ism. You just no matter what it's just I love you. Love you.

That can be deadly because if you don't know how to disagree with someone that you like that you're a fan of. You're not doing them any good. Yeah, I love when people reach out to me and tell me I'm wrong.

And let me just tell you how it feels. Let me I read an email or read a message and they'll say Adam You're wrong about this. You know, I mean first thing I feel is defensive. Almost without exception.

I feel defensive. I feel angry. Briefly, and then I take a step back. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. Let me think this through. Are they right? Are they right because usually when somebody disagrees with you publicly or privately they're giving you a wonderful gift a Wonderful gift of like, you know, let me reconsider this and if I'm right Maybe I can change how I word this to make it more correct or easier to understand and if I'm wrong Then I need to abandon that belief right like when someone publicly disagrees you it's often not because they hate you.

Sometimes it is. Sometimes it is. But often it's not often it's because they love you and they want to Correct you and give you an opportunity to change your belief or whatever. Even if you're not gonna change your belief.

Maybe you have a maybe you need to think deeper about it or something like that. Like here's the thing guys let's we can't be fanboys because a fanboy will never criticize anything about their their their object of their love and that is a Problem because the Bible says that faithful are the wounds of a friend.

So if you're a friend and you've never wounded any of your friends. That's weird. That's not how it should be the wounds of a friend are faithful. And so you should be willing to wound a friend. And so one of the things I'm gonna I'm gonna like I said I'm gonna put a video out later about the things that Big Eva has taught me.

But this is definitely something Big Eva has not taught me. I don't think that Big Eva has a good Theology of this how to fight With people you love how to fight with them and to wound them sometimes.

That's necessary guys. It's necessary because faithful are the wounds of a friend but profuse are the kisses of a fanboy. Don't be a fanboy. Anyway, I hope this is helpful. God bless.