Imitating Christ

Christ as an example, or imitating Christ, is an old subject, but it is still timely. Thomas a Kempis, wrote a book about imitating Christ. I think it is good to reflect on this subject for a moment. It really is not an obsolete subject. On the contrary, in our times also, it is necessary to find an answer to the question, “What do you think of Christ?”

Many see in Christ no more than an example to follow. This idea may find acceptance among some of us. Being a Christian is reduced and limited to the horizontal level. Consequently, this liberal and superficial spirit deceives us also. Especially young people, but also older ones, who are critical of our congregations and are ready to leave, may be led by this spirit. They suppose that in other churches things are better. There they all love each other, there is fellowship, they care for each other, you can have a cup of coffee after the service or you can eat together, and they do much good for and with each other. They follow Jesus and are at peace and so they build the house of their own salvation upon the sandy ground of their own works.

Jesus is their example. They live and think horizontally. The vertical line of the one-sided work of God in the salvation of sinners is completely relinquished. Jesus is nothing more to them than an example. Jesus is the real person who helps those in need. He has never done wrong to anyone. And if we now do as He did, then nothing else is missing for us.

We want so much to follow Him, to do something for Him, and to be just as He is. That is so inviting; then we really fit in with the rest. This kind of religion is idealism. It has defeated thousands already and many are still seduced by it.

What actually is “the imitation of Christ”?

A few weeks ago, I read an article in the newspaper about the “modern monk” finding his own path to peace and to God. This man says that he continues to grow spiritually. He finds a sense of peace living as he does and this is a sign that something is right. We are not born to die; we are born to live and so society must develop in such a way that it brings life not to just a few, but to all of us. He explains that the purpose of a contemplative monk like himself, is to attempt to become human in the ideal. Since I am a Christian, I have only one model, Jesus. Jesus is the ideal reflection of God’s divinity. If we are going to become human, then our lives should reflect that person, Jesus.

The summary of those few lines out of the article is “Jesus, an example,” and conveys the modern notion of following Christ.

But what is the biblical doctrine of following Christ?

In the gospels, the relation to Christ is often spoken about from the point of view of following Christ. It is no wonder that these thoughts play a large role in our religious feelings also.

In the New Testament in the Greek language, we can find two different meanings for the word follow. It means to accompany and is used in the context of master and pupil. In following Christ, one gives up life’s other commitments (Matt. 8:22; Luke 9:61).

The New Testament is concerned wholly with the following of Jesus as Messiah. Compare Mark 10:21 with verse 17 of the same chapter, and with John 8:12. This also involves bearing a cross with Jesus (Mark 8:34). Revelation 14:4 says that the redeemed who are without fault follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth. Following Christ does not merely mean imitating Him, but it means acting with complete devotion to Christ and surrendering to God’s will. In this context, one can also think of John 13:15:1 have given you an example; the disciple must be as his master. Also, in 1 Peter 2:21, it is written that the suffering Christ left behind an example and this example is held before oppressed slaves.

Following Christ is not only asking,

“What would Jesus do?”, but it is living out of the disposition which was also in Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:15).

In the Middle Ages, following Christ was explained and exercised in a moralistic spirit. In the circles of the monk orders, for example, one is well acquainted with following Christ’s life of poverty. It becomes an imitation of Christ, a trying to be as He was and to do as He did. Jesus is seen as an example of humility and meekness which we in our lives have to imitate. In the 19th century, we find something similar in liberal theology. People want to know nothing of reconciliation, redemption and incapability. Jesus as “example” completely pushes aside Jesus as Mediator. That is the danger which threatens us also. The following of Christ becomes an activity of man from the horizontal level.

The gospels, however, never limit the concept of following Christ to imitation. Without communication with Christ in our life, no new life or following Christ is possible. By nature, man is incapable of any good and is inclined to all evil. We often hear people say that they love Jesus. But the language of faith is, “We love Him because He first loved us.”

A truly new life is possible in no other way than when the principle of a new life is worked in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. This new principle of life is Christ. For this reason, Christ must be given the central and all-important position in Christian ethics and religious doctrine. In the comparison of the vine and the branches (John 15), Jesus says, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” The biblical following of Christ is the prayer, “Draw me, and we shall run after Thee.” The disciples were called to follow after Him in obedience—that is, to take up His cross and follow Him. Following Christ is not to imitate Him as man, but to follow Him as Mediator — to follow Him as He is given of the Father — namely, to righteousness, sanctification and complete redemption.

To follow Christ is to have communion with Him through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. A lack of knowledge of our own sin and misery, and an inability to do good makes us pursue the superficial, human way of following Christ. The tree is known by its fruit. The fruits of the human following of Christ are limited to friendship and fellowship with each other; we have worked ourselves up to be good persons, ideal persons.

The fruit of the biblical following of Christ is communion with Christ, living in union with Him, and bearing the fruits of faith and conversion. Then it is not man, but God who is glorified. These fruits reveal themselves in striving against and hating of sin, in fleeing from sin, in self-abhorring in dust and ashes, and in being scorned and reviled for the name and cause of Jesus. To follow Jesus also means to break with all that is ours, with all that we love. It places us again and again before an absolute and radical decision because Jesus’ way is different from our way. His ways are higher than our ways. For the sake of following Christ, difficult offerings have to be brought. Following Christ cannot be done without a cross. That is Jesus’ way, isn’t it? We have to lose our own life; we have to deny ourselves.

This following of Christ in its deep existence and earnestness means an absolute protest against all signs of worldliness in Christianity. Christ Himself is the principle, the power and the perseverance of true following. It is living in, with and through the Holy Spirit. It is a life of being made holy, which does not consist in only an outward following out of human idealism, but it is the Holy Spirit living in us, and we in Him. A new life for the true Christian is not an ideal, but reality from its beginning. Following Christ does not only mean living a separate life, but also a life consecrated to God. Citizenship is in heaven, and that also means that on earth we are strangers. Therefore a worldly person cannot understand God’s child in his struggle. Do not be pulled along by the modern, liberal, superficial, human following of Christ. It sounds nice, but it is actually Arminian. It is so dangerous. Watch and pray that you do not come into temptation (Eph. 5:14, 15).

Rev. H. Hofman is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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