Imitation or Mimicry

Luke 13:31-35

At that very hour, some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." 32He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day, I finish my work. 33Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' 34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

William Tuck writes in his book The Way for all Seasons about a congregation when, at the conclusion of a hymn, a young man jumped to his feet and shouted to the people, "You don't mean a word of it! You sang, 'All to Jesus, I surrender,' 'Where He leads me, I will follow,' 'Jesus, I my cross have taken.' How many of us have truly done or would really do that?" The congregation sat stunned by the impact of his words. The question haunted the people as they remained speechless in the pews, even after they realized the outburst was a preplanned part of the youth-sponsored special service. (Tuck 1987) Though we may have never seen an outburst like that in a quiet Presbyterian church, we have all had our identity questioned at some point in our lives.

I remember being accused of something similar, if not as severe. When I was in 11th grade, a friend— or at least someone I thought was a friend— accused me of trying to “pick up” his girlfriend while we were out uptown on a Saturday night. This was back when teenagers “cruised” uptown. (Remember when gas was cheap?) However, when he confronted me on Monday in the school hallway, I had no idea what he meant. I recall him saying, “I thought I knew who you were!” I eventually convinced him that I wasn’t even in town because my band was playing at a venue about 60 miles away that Saturday. Besides, I didn’t even have a car to cruise in, unless I drove my dad’s old 1985 Nissan pickup.  I avoided getting into a fight with him, and I never found out how the rumor began. (Honestly, I didn’t care about that.) However, my integrity has always been important to me, and I, along with the testimony of my bandmates, assured him of our whereabouts that Saturday.

Today, we gather to reflect on an important question that challenges the core of our identity as Christians: Are we truly imitating Christ with genuine love, or are we merely mimicking Jesus, going through the motions without engaging our hearts? This theme is drawn from the powerful words of Paul in Philippians 3 and the moving narrative in Luke 13. Let us look to these scriptures for guidance and inspiration as we navigate our journey of faith during this Lenten season. In today’s lesson, we are confronted with a crucial question: Are we imitating Christ with genuine love, or are we merely mimicking Him, performing empty rituals without true devotion? This distinction is vital, especially as the Lenten season asks us to seek to deepen our faith and grow closer to God.

Despite knowing the fate that awaited Him, Jesus had a genuine love for humanity. His actions were not mere gestures; they were profound expressions of His commitment to the ministry He had begun. Christ was imitating God in heaven. He showed all the traits that God showed everyone who followed his will in the Old Testament stories. Jesus was graceful, merciful, and loving when needed. He was also bold when confronted with anything that threatened God’s will. When we imitate Christ, we are called to embody this same love and commitment in our lives. We are also called to be bold. We are called to go beyond the superficial and allow His love to transform our hearts and actions. But we must always do this in the Spirit. We must not allow our personal wants or desires for comfort, power, or influence to sway our actions. Most importantly, we must not become mimics of Jesus.

Paul warns us of the danger of mimicry—of being "enemies of the cross of Christ" whose minds are set on earthly things. Mimicry occurs when we perform religious rituals and practices without truly engaging our hearts. It occurs when we sing hymns of surrender, like the ones described by William Tuck, without genuinely surrendering our lives to Jesus. It occurs when we follow religious customs out of habit rather than a deep love for God. It occurs when we go through the motions of our everyday lives without once praying or reading scripture.

To be true imitators of Christ, we must follow Paul's example and live according to the pattern set by Jesus. This means allowing Christ's love to permeate every aspect of our lives. It means standing firm in our faith, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. It means prioritizing our heavenly citizenship over earthly concerns and eagerly awaiting the return of our Savior. It does not mean that we use His return as an excuse to validate what is happening in the world today. It does not mean that we should stand by while wars are being fought and threatened. It does not mean that we throw our hands in the air and say, “Well, what can I do about it?”

When the Pharisees come to warn Jesus about Herod's intentions to kill Him. He remains undeterred, stating, "I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!" Jesus' determination to fulfill His mission, despite the looming threat of death. His boundless love for humanity exemplifies His infinite love and unwavering commitment to God's will for humanity. What Jesus reveals in Luke, and what Paul instructs his readers in Philippi to pursue, is the quest for Spiritual Integrity. Seeking spiritual integrity is a journey that requires aligning our actions, beliefs, and values with a deeper understanding of our faith. Spiritual integrity requires seeking the spirit to guide us in reflecting on our beliefs.

This involves spending time understanding what you truly believe and why. Journaling can be a helpful way to explore your thoughts and feelings about your faith. Engaging in regular prayer and meditation, establishing a daily practice to connect with God, can help you become more attuned to your inner self while guiding your actions. Studying scripture and even diving into sacred texts relevant to your faith will provide clarity and strengthen your commitment to living out those principles. Surrounding yourself with a faith community, being part of a church or faith group, will help you stay accountable and learn from others who are also striving for spiritual integrity.

Our identity as Christians means we display honesty and authenticity first by being truthful with ourselves and others about our struggles. Only then will the areas where we need growth foster a genuine connection with our faith. Then, as we imitate Christ, we will find that serving others through acts of service grounds our faith in action, whether through volunteering or simply being present for friends and family. When you get overwhelmed, seek guidance from mentors, spiritual leaders, or counselors who can provide insight and support on your spiritual journey. It is not shameful to ask for help. Even Christ sought God’s will through prayer. (see Luke 22:44)

For Christian mimics, this will produce a profound paradigm shift. I am bold in this claim, and if you are offended, then yes, I am talking to you. Stephen Covey writes in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, “A paradigm Shift is the ‘a-ha’ experience associated with finally perceiving or understanding some aspect of the world (or a circumstance) in a different way. [A] paradigm shift… puts the situation in a totally different light.” Covey then goes on to quote Cecil B. DeMille, commenting on the principles of reality. He stated, “The principles contained his monumental movie, The Ten Commandments, ‘It is impossible for us to break the law. We can only break ourselves against the law.’” (Covey n.d.) When we mimic without love instead of imitating with genuine love grounded in the Spirit, we do not break the covenant; we break ourselves against the covenant that Christ made with us.

Are you taking your journey through Lent seriously? Take this time to examine your hearts and your actions, your perceptions, and the reality of a Christian identity. Are you imitating Christ with genuine love, or are you merely mimicking Him? May we all strive to be faithful followers of Christ, allowing His love to transform us and guide us in all we do. May we stand firm in the Lord, inspired by Paul's words and Jesus' many examples, and live lives that reflect our heavenly calling.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Works Cited

Covey, S. R. (n.d.). The 7 Habibts of Highly Effective People. Fanklin Covey Co.

NIV Study Bible. (2011). Grand rapids, MI: Zondervan.

NRSVue. (2022). NRSVue Holy Bible with Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Powery, E. B., Davis, S., Foskett, M. F., Strawn , B. A., Hibbard, J. T., Kooseed, J. L., . . . Setzer, C. (Eds.). (2024). The Westminster Study Bible. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

Tuck, W. P. (1987). The Way for All Seasons. Baptist Sunday School Board.