Should We Be Imitators?
By Pastor Josh Wamble
Some might say there is nothing worse than an imitator! Often you hear siblings or other children arguing and fighting because they are copying each other. In marketing campaigns, we are told that the original is always better. We are urged to purchase the genuine product not a generic copy. For a long time the Coke brand’s slogan was “It’s the Real thing.” You may even remember the song they used—it became a gold record in the US selling more than 500,000 copies! TV Shows like “Antiques Roadshow” and “Pawn Stars” are filled with people who end up so disappointed when they discover that the artwork or historical artifact is only a replica. Artificial flavorings or imitation ingredients are never as good in food.
I was thinking about this phenomenon last week during our Wednesday morning men’s bible study. In Phil. 3:17, Paul writes to the church, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” This is not the only time Paul speaks like this, either. In 1 Cor., Paul writes, “I urge you, then, be imitators of me.” Later in the same book (1 Cor. 11:1), he says the same thing, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
Paul puts himself in the center of a line of imitation, and it goes both ways. He claims that he is looking backward and imitating Jesus. He follows Him in every aspect of his life. He also looks forward to those the Lord has allowed him to evangelize and teach and lead in the Christian life. He tells them to look to him and imitate his life. He says, “If you want to know what it looks like to live a life of faith and trust in the Lord, if you want to see what real belief and repentance looks like, just watch me.” He doesn’t do this in a prideful or arrogant manner. He knows that the Lord has worked and is working in his life. He knows that God is using him for the benefit of the newer, less mature believers that he has an influence over.
He also knows that he is not the only one the Lord is using this way. He tells the Philippian church not only to imitate him but also to “keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” I wonder if you have ever read these instructions before. I wonder if you have ever spent much time thinking about them. There are two questions that come to my mind when I think about these words of Paul’s and what they have to say about our church.
1. Who are you imitating?
I pray that you are following the example the Lord has set for us in his word. I hope that you are following the teaching and example left for us by the apostles. The history of the church is filled with examples of faithful men and women who lived their lives as followers of the Lord. Many of them suffered greatly for their faithfulness. You can learn about them by reading Christian biographies, or you can find shorter articles online at sites like the ones here, here, or here.
But, I also hope that there are Christian people in your life now that you are looking up to. Are there men and women in our church that are further along in their walk with God than you are? Is there anyone in your life that you rely on to help you remain true to the gospel you have believed? When you see faithfulness and humility and love and gentleness and patience and joy lived out in the lives of believers around you learn from them. Follow their example as they follow the example of Christ.
2. Who is imitating you?
On the other hand, are there people in your life who are newer to following Jesus than you are? Are there younger men or women that you are helping to follow the Lord? Do you have children? Do you spend time with the children and young adults in our church? Are you setting an example for them as you follow the Lord in faithfulness?
Do you watch the way that you talk and act and treat people and respond to stress or difficulties because you are conscious of people who are looking to you as an example? When you are tempted to let your anger get out of control and lash out at others or be impatient with people around you or think and act in selfish ways or any number of other ways to sin, do you fight that temptation by remembering that other believers are watching you, and you don’t want to lead them astray?
Of course, none of us follow God perfectly, but you don’t have to be perfect. You can also be an example in how you respond to your sin (as Paul and others are to us). Are you quick to admit when you are wrong or have acted sinfully or do you dig your heels in and refuse to be humble in front of your family or your brothers and sisters in the faith? Are you quick to repent of your sin and turn to the Lord for forgiveness?
Are you following the Lord’s example?
Are you looking to others in your church and other areas of your life to help you do so?
Are you actively recruiting newer believers that you can invest your life in helping to follow the Lord in faithfulness?
