Imitating Paul
Pastors Leslie & Adeline Chua
“Join with others in following my example, brothers,
and take note of those
who live according to the pattern we gave you.”
The apostle, Paul, exhorted the Philippian believers to follow him in the way he lived. He also asked them to watch closely and emulate the lives of those who lived according to his teaching.
It is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. People emulate the dressing and behaviour of those whom they respect or idolise. But the situation is somewhat different here. Paul unabashedly encouraged the believers in Philippi to imitate him.
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Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ
1 Corinthians 11:1
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For some people, Paul might come across as egoistical. Before you jump to that mistaken conclusion, know that Paul was speaking as an apostle. Besides, he was not giving the instruction in a vacuum. Those who were familiar with Paul knew that he was not taking an ego trip. He said that in a certain context, which I will elaborate later.
In another letter, which he wrote to the Corinthian Christians, Paul said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Paul was not using himself as the benchmark. He had a reference in the Person of Christ Jesus. Jesus was his model. As he followed Christ, he urged the people to follow him.
Paul was confident regarding how he was living his Christian life. He was faithful to the best of his ability. That is how Christian leaders ought to be. Live according to the biblical pattern of life and dare to tell those under his charge to imitate him.
A leader does not need to be perfect to say that. Paul told the Philippians – “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12). Like everyone, Paul was on the journey of being shaped and moulded by God, and he was constantly making a strenuous effort at it.
Authentic Discipleship
The Christian life is a journey toward becoming like Christ. We ought to be more and more Christlike with each passing day as we grow in our faith.
While it is important for every believer to imitate Christ, it is crucial for mature believers to be good role models. Pastors and Christian leaders must be exemplary in their general conduct and the way they relate to God.
The sheep follow their shepherd. Consciously and unconsciously, people imitate the ways of their leaders. I often call it the “monkey see monkey do” principle. This is what role-modelling is all about.
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While it is important for every believer to imitate Christ,
it is crucial for mature believers
to be good role models.
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Instruction alone is not enough. The leader’s life serves as a living example. This the Jewish way of discipleship. It is clear from reading the Gospels that Jesus’ disciples lived and moved around with Him. Besides learning from Jesus’ private and public teachings, they had the privilege of observing their master’s life at close quarters.
If Jesus’ life is incongruent with his instructions, they would pick it up immediately. Jesus had to be authentic and consistent. He certainly was.
By spending about three years with Him, Jesus’ words and ways had a significant impact on their lives. They became transformed gradually. It is a process.
This is the biblical way of discipleship. The people follow the beliefs and ways of their leaders while the leaders follow Christ.
Therefore, leaders must be mindful of how they conduct themselves in their lives and service to God. Their exemplary conduct is necessary and crucial for the discipleship process.
Putting into context Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians to follow his example (Philippians chapter 3), we can imitate Paul in three ways.
Giving Up That Which is Incompatible
First, we must be willing to give up everything incompatible with our Christian faith for the sake of Christ. This is not easy. Paul showed us the way, and his example is inspiring.
Paul was an accomplished Pharisee. By all measure in the Jewish religious world, he enjoyed recognition and success. There was much that he could brag about. He was the envy of Jews his age.
But when he came to know Christ, he had to walk away from his old way of life completely and give up all that he had achieved.
Not because his previous way of life was terrible and sinful. Rather, it was incompatible with his faith in Christ. He could not straddle between the two belief systems, which shared many similarities, yet they were fundamentally different in some key areas.
Some Jews tried doing that with less than desirable consequences. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul said that these men had believed in a different gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
So, Paul abandoned his past with all its glory. By worldly measures, he suffered a great loss. But Paul reckoned that it was worth it “because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 – NRSV). He went on – “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8 – NRSV).
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Imitate Paul.
Consider the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
Give up everything incompatible or stand in the way
of our pursuit of Christ.
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Jesus said the same to us - "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
Count your cost. There is a price to pay if we are serious about following Jesus. There are things to give up, and some of these things might not necessarily be bad.
What have we not given up for the sake of Christ? What impediment to our pursuit of Christ are we still clinging to?
Imitate Paul. Consider the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Give up everything incompatible or stand in the way of our pursuit of Christ.
To Be Like Christ
Second, imitate Paul in the way he wanted to be like Christ. He had a burning desire to be like Jesus.
It was intense. Believing was not good enough for Paul. There was a holy discontent stirring within him, which drove him to want more of Jesus – “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10 - ESV).
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Imitate Paul in the way he wanted to be like Christ.
He had a burning desire to be like Jesus.
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That may seem somewhat overboard for even serious Christians. But that is the intensity of Paul’s desire to be like Jesus. He not only wanted to experience Christ’s power but also His sufferings and death. He wanted to be like Christ in all his ways.
Such a person will always put Christ first and in the highest place in his life. Everything else is secondary. His entire world revolves around Jesus.
With a desire like that, it is no wonder Paul considered all his past glories and achievements to be rubbish in the light of knowing Christ.
Zeal & Tenacity
Third, follow Paul in the manner he pursued Jesus. His zeal and tenacity in the pursuit of Christ are most stirring.
Paul used the word, press on, twice to describe his posture of pursuing Christ – “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me… I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-13).
Paul made these comments just before he urged the Philippians to follow his example and way of life.
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Follow Paul in the manner he pursued Jesus.
His zeal and tenacity in the pursuit of Christ
are most stirring.
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The Christian life is full of surprises. There are obstacles. We go through ups and downs. Then, there is spiritual warfare, which is unavoidable. The devil and his demons are always standing in the way of believers and resisting us. It is not easy.
We must be tenacious to overcome the trials of life. Paul’s attitude is to press on and not give up. He found his motivation in the eternal rewards, which God has promised for those who overcome in life and finish their journey well.
In his mind, Paul pictured these rewards as prizes to be won like in a race. So, armed with the same attitude as that of top athletes in the heat of competition, he pushed himself toward the finishing line to win the prize.
Every mature Christian ought to have this frame of mind (Philippians 3:15). It is a necessary criterion for victorious Christian living. Knowledge of the Scripture alone is no proof of spiritual maturity. Instead, it may be counterproductive, producing puffed-up Christians. Matured Christians possess indefatigable zeal and tenacity.
Is that our frame of mind? Is that our attitude? Is that how we live our Christian life?