Discipleship As Imitation

When the Apostle Paul told the Philippians to imitate him as he himself imitated Christ, I was initially very uncomfortable with Paul's instructions to the young church. To me, the statement sounded a little conceited. Was Paul saying the only thing the young Christians in Philippi needed to do was to act more like Paul. I didn't understand how Paul could say such a thing.

Then, I became a father. My constant phrase to my sons was, "Here, do it like this." I taught my children how to tie their shoes, wash their hands and faces, clean up their rooms (I was more successful at some things than others), hit a baseball, shoot a free throw, tie a tie and drive a car and we did it all by imitation. Watch me. Then, you try it.

We do this in a lot of areas of our lives. Want to learn how to to cook? Find a good cook and work with them. Want to get better at chess? Find someone who's good at chess and play with them. You'll lose and you'll lose badly, but you'll learn.

Want to follow Christ? Find someone who's living the life you want to live. Want to learn how to pray? Find someone who prays deeply and pray with them. Want to learn Scripture? Find someone who is serious about their Bible study and study with them.

Do I mean just walk up to these people and ask to spend some time with them? Yes, that's exactly what I mean. First of all, they'll remember the conversation. Some time earlier in their lives the person you want to be your teacher sought out a teacher for themselves. Most will be honored you asked. Most of us are eager to share what we've learned. If they agree, set a time to get together. Watch them do what you what they do. Then, try it.

Now, what that they do probably won't work for you. There is not just one way to do the spiritual disciplines. They are hundreds of ways and over time, you'll probably use them all. The important thing to do is to start. The hardest thing to do is get started and our primary goal at the beginning is to, well, begin. Don't worry if it doesn't work for you. Just get started and adjust along the way. For instance, a lot of people get up early for their prayers and Bible study. Great. Not everyone, however, is a morning person. Some people are night owls. That's fine. Find the best time that works for you and stick with it.

No one is born good at prayer or Bible study. After all, the disciples themselves ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. These disciplines take practice and practice means failure. This means some days you'll leave your prayer time and Bible study frustrated and disappointed. That's OK. This just means you found out something else that doesn't work. Learn from it and move on.

Here's what I've found out works for me. Remember, I've been doing some version of this for all my life. So, I'm comfortable with what works for me. I read the Bible very slowly. I'll read one or two verses a day. I'll meditate on those verses and then, I'll write in my journal. All total, I'll spend about an hour in my prayer time. Now, for me it's a old, leather bound Bible, a paper journal and a comfortable pen. I don't like reading the Bible on a computer. I don't like keeping my journal on computer. Whenever any one tells me they're reading the Bible in a year, I'm happy for them but I won't be doing that. I'll plod along at one or two verses a day. That's what works for me.

The goal of these discipleship habits is to draw nearer to Christ and become more like Him. Your habits will be as individual as you are. Don't worry that you're not doing it like everyone else. Find your way and do it.

But do it.

This essay was first posted in Scot McKnight’s newsletter.