Imitating Jesus

Imitating Jesus:

I spent nearly 25 years as a personal trainer. From fad exercise programs, crazy diets, and the latest “miracle” supplements to sound training and quality nutrition advice - I’ve seen and heard it all. It was always funny to me how gym members often mimic/imitate the routines of the people they wanted to look like. Women often do what the super-fit girl is doing and guys try to do what the biggest dude in the gym is doing. Never mind the fact that that “super-fit” girl is battling an eating disorder - and never mind that the big guy is using steroids. Imitation without immersion and understanding is a recipe for disappointment and disaster.

Henry Blackaby, author of the book Christian Leadership, notes “The only thing worse than copying your own prior success, is duplicating someone else’s achievements” (p.89). Imitation in our culture is not flattery, it’s the epitome of laziness. Blackaby goes on to note that many churches today are stuck trying to resurrect a nostalgic period of church history -or- blindly imitating current church fads to promote numerical growth (p.91).

I frequently see similarities with our approach to study, prayer, and worship. I often hear people talking about Scripture completely out of context and listen to them say things like, “Well, God said where 2 or 3 are gathered we can expect Him to answer our prayers!” Expectant prayer is a beautiful thing when approached rightly, but rather than our expecting God to grow us in faith, what we often “expect” is for God to insulate us from discomfort or to deliver us from undesirable circumstances - the very things which God expects and requires for spiritual maturity.

Scripture tells us “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” In context, the “fear of the LORD” is NOT a matter of awe and trembling before God. In context, it has to do with understanding the character of God, which is revealed to us in the Bible (Scripture, the Word).

There are those who would protest and say, “The New Testament tells us to be imitators!” which is absolutely true. We find the word mimētḗs, translated as imitators, in places like: Heb 6:12,13:7; 1 Cor 4:16, 11:1; 1 Thess 2:14; and 2 Thess 3:7. The word mimētḗs is used seven times (if I counted right) in the New Testament (NT).

The problem -AGAIN- is context. To be a mimētḗs (or imitator) in Jesus’ time did NOT mean to simply adopt/imitate a particular action, but to follow completely! If someone were to become a mimētḗs  (disciple/follower) of a Jewish teacher - then they would literally give up everything and follow that person everywhere until one had reached a superior level of competency culminating in graduation. In our culture we take a free online class or watch a youtube video and wrongly believe that equates to being a mimētḗs  i.e. imitator, disciple, follower.

In all of those passages of Scripture noted above, where one is encouraged to be a mimētḗs  of God, one should consider what Jesus’ life (and death) looked like: “I came not to be served, but to serve.” Or consider what Paul’s like looked like:

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

We’re not mimētḗs. The problem is that we’re a high-speed, microwave, drive-thru, Google answers, instant gratification culture of entitled, affluenza afflicted, me first, my way, I want infants. What we choose to imitate typically has little (if anything) to do with God’s will or desire for our lives:

“that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

That doesn’t mean that Jesus will magically provide you with winning lotto numbers, heal your child, or fix that relationship. What it means is that by continually marinating in Christ your worldview changes, your priorities change, your life becomes His, and your exclusive goal in life becomes 100% abandon to God -or- as John the Baptist put it, “He must increase, I must diminish.”

So what’s my point?

God desires for us to become mimētḗs imitators, follower, disciples of Christ. This does NOT mean that we merely dabble in Christian culture, passively listen to podcasts as we scream through rush hour traffic, commute to “church” a couple times a month, or act as God’s gift to the world by volunteering “our” time when it’s convenient for us.

Are you growing in spiritual maturity, i.e. faith and the knowledge of Christ? Are you shepherding others through discipleship - your spouse, kids, friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors? Are you an emotional wreck when one tiny things doesn’t go according to your plan?

If your response is, “Well, it’s not tiny to me!” That’s the problem. You are still the epicenter of a life created by God for the good things that God prepared for you to do. You’ve yet to realize your life isn’t yours at all. You’ve yet to realize there’s no wisdom, insight, or plan that can thwart His plan - ever. Jesus doesn’t redeem us out of sin to be insignificant. Neither does He redeem us to be self-made martyrs. Christ redeems us out of sin to be mimētḗs, i.e. surrendered, obedient imitators, followers, disciples who abide in Him to accomplish the Father’s will on earth for the praise and glory of God through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Imitating Jesus is mockery - not flattery or obedience - when we dabble. Drink deep, be consumed, poured out, and completely spent for His fame and glory.

Imitating, loving, and serving God Almighty is not a hobby - it’s glorious worship.

Blessings,

-Kevin