When following Jesus becomes a hobby

I had an unexpectedly fascinating conversation this week—about eggs. Yes, really. I dropped in to see a friend, David, who opened my eyes to the world of competitive egg exhibiting. Until that moment, I had no idea such a world even existed.

It turns out the Poultry Club of Great Britain organizes regular egg competitions, and David was preparing to leave for a local event in Holmeswood, where the local bantam society has even built a dedicated exhibition space.

Because of avian flu, actual poultry can’t be shown—but no such problem with eggs.

“So what makes a perfect egg?” you might ask. And no, we’re not talking about poaching or omelettes. These eggs are judged solely on their appearance.

Here’s how the judging works:

• Shape – 25%

• Size – 15%

• Shell texture – 20%

• Colour – 20%

• Freshness and overall bloom – 20%

A winning egg should be broad with a well-rounded dome, longer than it is wide. The sides must be symmetrical and taper to a smaller (but not too pointed) end.

Competitors can wash their eggs—but polishing is strictly forbidden. And washing dark brown eggs is discouraged, as it may damage the pigment.

The Poultry Club’s golden rule? “Clean nests at all times is the golden rule for any showman.”

It’s always intriguing to discover the passions people carry. I was reminded of our late neighbour, Elizabeth, who loved her goats. When she became unwell, members of the local goat society came daily to care for them. No doubt, in her healthier days, she took part in goat-showing festivals too.

Whether it’s goats or eggs, people naturally gather around shared interests. The Victorians especially loved forming clubs and societies—hence the Poultry Club of Great Britain was founded in 1877 (the year before Everton Football Club was born as St. Domingo's FC).

In the end, we’re talking about hobbies—things we do in our spare time for enjoyment, not profit.

Humourist Dave Barry once said: “Hobbies of any kind are boring except to people who have the same hobby.” He added (tongue in cheek),

“This is also true of religion, although you will not find me saying so in print.”

That second quote, though light-hearted, hits uncomfortably close to home. Sadly, it’s entirely possible to treat Jesus like a hobby—something we enjoy in the company of fellow enthusiasts, but which doesn’t cost us much or change our lives deeply.

Like seeds that land on rocky soil or among thorns (Mark 4), some people show an initial response to faith, but when hardship or distraction comes, they fade away. Jesus was clear: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

This isn’t a hobby. Following Jesus costs. Many of our brothers and sisters around the world know this first-hand. According to Open Doors, over 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution—that’s 1 in 7 believers worldwide.

One of the greatest challenges in our own culture is cultural Christianity—enjoying the music, morality, or community of faith without actually following Christ. It’s possible to enjoy church life, hold Christian values, even quote the Bible, while keeping Jesus at arm’s length.

Jesus warned of this: “These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Matthew 15:8 We can fall into routines without relationship. We can use faith as a social identity rather than surrendering our lives to Jesus.

So how does God prevent us from becoming hobby Christians?

James, the brother of Jesus, gives a surprising answer: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”  (James 1:2–3)

And he adds: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:4)

One quote that’s stuck with me for years is from author Charles West:

“We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them.”

Hobbies are wonderful things—eggs, goats, football clubs, you name it. But Jesus doesn’t call us to a hobby. He calls us to discipleship, to take up a cross, to follow Him with our whole lives.