Imitate Me…

You say, ‘That’s Greek to me!’ Yes, friends, it is. Translation:

“Be an imitator of me just as I am an imitator of Christ.”

~ 1 Corinthians 11:1

Mimetes means to imitate, to follow. The root word means ‘to mimic’.

Paul was teaching the Corinthians saved by the grace of The Most High God, how to live out their new faith. He was teaching them what being a Follower of the Mashiach actually looked like in their liberating new life.  Just like in our own journeys, Paul is revealing to the Gentiles how to EXIT EGYPT (Mitzrayim – bondage).

It was to MIMIC the Saving One. He was teaching them that their NEW LIFE in Christ was gloriously beautiful as it is liberating because it was Truth. And it is Truth that sets us free indeed!

Paul was spelling out for them who (and Whose) they actually are now IN Yeshua HaMashiach. The Pattern to be copied and mimicked is ultimately Jesus, the Christ. Though, Paul preaches to them that they are to follow his (Paul’s) pattern only because he is following Christ’s pattern for living a pure and holy life in word, thought and deed!

Paul’s halacha (Hebrew: walk) matches his LORD’s.

Now, you might already be enlightened to the fact that Scripture ‘addresses’ or references are not inspired of God. Men put those there so that we might be able to locate the Inspired passages. I bring this up because 1 Corinthians 11:1 should actually be 1 Corinthians 10:34. It completes the point that Paul is trying to convey that ‘he is not looking out for his own interests, but for those of the many, so that they may be saved.’ Paul is deeply concerned about the salvation of others. Don’t you know that is the compassionate concern of Christ within him?

Paul is telling us today that we are to be so concerned with the salvation of others that we closely MIMIC the LORD YESHUA in word, thought and deed for the purpose of bringing others into this Kingdom of Light!

We are to be making Followers as we ourselves follow the Risen Christ. Imitation cheese. Disgusting. Imitation bacon bits. What’s the point? Imitation Christ. Exemplary!

And The Mashiach looks GREAT, y’all!
I used to believe that we were to ‘mimic’ until Christ is formed in us.

However, I see now we are to ‘mimic’ that Christ might be formed in us.

“Be ye followers (imitators) of me, even as I also am (an imitator) of Christ.”

Be ye: 4:16; 10:33; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; Hebrews 6:12

even: Romans 15:2,3; Ephesians 5:1,2; Philippians 2:4,5

Not everyone will be enthralled at your imitating Christ. Some may even be your Christian friends.

Truth always brings conviction. Go ahead, imitate anyway. It is for the sake of all, remember? What about you? Can you say “mimhtai mou ginesqe kaqwV kagw Cristou”? No, I don’t mean in Greek…I mean with a good conscience?

Our halacha is being seen. But, ought it be imitated?