Follower of the Way: Christianity as a Way of Life

Author

 Elder Jim Fairchild

The phrase “follower of the way” captures something essential about the earliest Christians; their identity was defined by a lived pattern of following the example of Jesus. That label pointed to movement and direction, a path to be walked, not a creed to be recited. When we examine that language today, it invites us to rethink Christianity as a daily practice that shapes how we think, speak, and act.

What the Phrase Meant Then and Means Now

Early believers used the term to describe a community shaped around Jesus’ teachings and example. It emphasized continuity with his life, his priorities and relationships, rather than a new set of abstract propositions.
​

Calling ourselves Followers of the Way reminds us that faith is formative. It asks whether our habits, priorities and choices reflect the same pattern Jesus modeled of attention to the marginalized, courage in truth-telling and a life ordered by love.

The Call to Discipleship

Jesus’ call to discipleship is uncompromising and personal. As recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:

“Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” 
​Matthew 16:24 NRSV

To follow Jesus in discipleship is to accept reorientation of self. Denying oneself is not self-negation for its own sake but a refusal to let self-interest be the organizing principle of life. Taking up the cross signals willingness to endure cost, to stand with the suffering, and to prioritize God’s kingdom over comfort or convenience.

The Way in Practice: Love, Compassion, Justice

Jesus’ life centered on love: love that seeks the good of neighbor, that forgives, and that breaks down barriers. A follower of the way lets love shape decisions large and small.
 
Love is the heartbeat of faith. To love fully with heart, soul, and mind is to let every part of life reflect devotion and gratitude. But love doesn’t stop there. It flows outward, reaching others with kindness, compassion, and grace. When our love for God fills the heart, love for others becomes the natural response. 
​

“Always remember, the way of suffering love that leads to the cross also leads to resurrection and everlasting life in Christ’s eternal community of oneness and peace. Trust in this promise.” 
​D&C165:6c

​A Christ‑centered community doesn’t mirror the world’s values; it reveals a different way of living. When God’s love rules our hearts, grace becomes our language, forgiveness becomes our reflex, and unity becomes our testimony. This is what it looks like when God’s Love shapes people.

Jesus’ compassion meant moving toward pain, not away from it. Following him requires attention to human needs and a readiness to act by listening, serving and advocating.

One way we can put this into practice is by volunteering our time and resources to serve others. There are countless opportunities to do this within our communities, whether it be through a local charity, church group, or other organization. By serving those whom the world has forgotten, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of others and reflect the love of Christ to the world.
​

​Check the ACTIVITIES page of this website for opportunities to serve.

Activities

Jesus’ ministry confronted systems that dehumanized people. To follow him is to pursue justice: to challenge injustice where we find it and to work for structures that honor human dignity.

 “As revealed in Christ, God, the Creator of all, ultimately is concerned about behaviors and relationships that uphold the worth and giftedness of all people and that protect the most vulnerable. Such relationships are to be rooted in the principles of Christ-like love, mutual respect, responsibility, justice, covenant, and faithfulness, against which there is no law.”  
​D&C 164:6a

Being a follower of the way is an invitation to a sustained, embodied discipleship. It asks for more than belief; it asks for transformation of habits, loyalties, and actions so that love, compassion, and justice become the visible marks of our lives. Imagine a world where Christians are known not just for what they believe, but for how they live, with radical love, humility, and grace. 
​

The call to deny ourselves and follow is demanding, but it points to a life of purpose: walking the path Jesus walked and inviting others to walk with us.
​

Are you a follower
​of the way?