Imitate: The Way Of The Wise Or The Fool

Christ comes to the world as the example, constantly enjoining: Imitate me. We humans prefer to adore him instead.

Soren Kierkegaard

Imitate. It’s what we do. Just five minutes with a Texan friend, and I will drawl, y’all.

What could be harder to resist than belly laughter, or a luxurious yawn? We live, we learn by imitation. Need proof? Follow my one-year old grandson around, as he mimics every sound, and with cocky self-assurance, attempts even impossible grownup tasks–because he knows whom he wants to be like.

It’s called, The Chameleon Effect. As innately social creatures, we sub-consciously mirror the posture, and attitudes, and opinions of the people around us. And yet, every self-help guru admonishes, “Be an original! Be true to your unique, un-repeatable self!”

So we try. We throw out old manuals and methods–the wisdom and warnings of those who’ve gone before us. While we try to invent some new, never-before-tried-stitch, we fall apart at the seams. Look around and witness the madness of the self-made.

Bad News: We won’t discover our true self in a vacuum. Whether we like it or not, the people, and spiritual forces around us will shape and mold us into their image.

Good News: We have a choice whom we imitate. In the ninth verb of our Alphabet of Life series, we ask the important question, “Whom do I resemble? The ways of the devil, or the example of Jesus?” Shocking as it may seem, those are the only two paths the Bible offers.

Don’t Follow the Crowd

Dostoyevsky wrote, “If there is no God, everything is permitted.” Where God is ignored, the devils have their way, and humans foolishly believe we simply do what we choose to do. But, we are actually unwitting pencils in evil’s grip.

And what is evil? A parasite, a perversion of good that does everything possible to:

• rub out love and kindness,
• erase God’s plan and purpose for his creation,
• scribble over everything true or beautiful,
• draw lines of chaos and division between us.

The Bible offers tangible examples of crowd-thought we are tempted to imitate. Bitterness, rage, anger, clamor, slander, malice, sexual impurity, greed, obscene, silly, and vulgar talk, are mentioned in Ephesians 4:31-5:4. Examine just one of these symptoms of evil, and ponder how easily your thoughts/words/feet can fall in step. But don’t. Instead…

Imitate Jesus

Ephesians also describes a less-popular path. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…” Here’s the biblical truth: Only those who imitate our One True Example will change the world for the better..

In Jesus’ time, a disciple was an apprentice. To follow a rabbi meant to live, travel with, and copy–to become like your master in every way. Just as,

• a child emulates his parent;
• an athlete copies her coach’s every move;
• a vessel wants only to hold something more precious and lovely than itself.

Do any of these metaphors describe you?

Even Jesus claimed he could do nothing on his own, but only what he saw the Father doing. He models for us a lifestyle: In everything, learn what the Father desires, and is doing, and then join him with all of your heart.

Imitate the good

An ancient sage once warned, “Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces,” (Proverbs 13:20).

Well, fools there are in abundance, but how will we recognize the wise? Are you tempted to draw your own lists–good people (approved by God), and fakes (unworthy of respect)? I am.

Jesus encountered the same fools we do (and are) today. But the line Jesus drew, between the good and the bad, must have surprised his audience. Instead of worrying about heresy and piety, the question became, “Where did you find Jesus today, and did you imitate his way?” In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus offers examples: Did you notice Jesus today,

• hungry–for food, or for help and encouragement?
• thirsty–for water, for justice, for hope?
• a stranger, an alien, a not-welcome outsider–needing community, an advocate, a friend?
• naked and vulnerable–needing clothing, or power, or protection?
• sick, and alone–needing your tangible care?
• locked behind bars–desperate for visits, for mercy, for prayers?

The wise are alert to Jesus in his “least of these” disguises and never hesitate to offer their help.

Just yesterday morning…

…I noticed Jesus (in the guise of a homeless man), sitting, head bowed in despair, in front of Trader Joes. And as I paused by his bench, I thought, “We pretend the moral choice is between complicated and unclear, yet, the Bible keeps it simple.” Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God, 3 John 11.

Thank you for joining us here! You can subscribe to this series by scrolling to the very bottom of this blog. Next time in, An Alphabet of Life: Wisdom Learned in the Verbs: J is for Join.