William P Goff
There are a lot of ministers who will teach that you should follow them “as” they follow Christ. Many misguided ministers quote 1 Cor 11:1 and then state “Follow me” just as I also follow Christ.”
The truth is that we should not follow any man, but Jesus only. The King James Version “incorrectly” uses the word follow. The Greek word here is “mimetes” and it means imitator. Webster’s New World College Dictionary renders imitate as to seek the example of, take as one’s model or pattern, to mimic, or resemble. This rendering denotes becoming like Jesus, and could be used by Paul in that as long as he conducted himself in a Christ-like manner, then those who saw his actions could learn by example.
Ever see a small child imitate someone? What a big difference that is from follow. Webster’s New World College Dictionary renders follow as to go along, to accept the authority of, to obey, yield to, or to advocate the ideas, or opinions
of those followed. Now this rendering has a completely different meaning than to imitate Paul as he imitates Christ. Paul was in essence being the example for others to see. Where following him would get our eyes off Christ and on Paul (or any man) thereby the possibility of being deceived if the man would cunningly change the doctrine as many has in the past and will in the future.
The one thing God wants mankind to always remember and it’s the very thing we always seem to forget, and that is God Is Supreme! God has never and will never give up or trust His authority or His people to any angel or man! I’m quoting the above article from the book written by Timothy Youngblood “The Great Apostasy” chapter four.
How true it is that our Creator wants us to be followers of Him and not followers of men. The Greek word “Akoloutheo” Strong’s #`190 does means follow, in the sense of: To accept the authority of, To obey, yield to, or to advocate the ideas or opinions of those followed. And in every place that the word “Akoloutheo” is used in the Scriptures, it points directly at Jesus The Christ, our Chief corner stone. Jesus is the only one that we are to follow, like Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” Jn:10:27.
Jesus told the rich man who wanted to inherit eternal life “Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” Mk. 10:21. Jesus tells all of us: “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” Lk.9:23.
Remember, there is only one way that leads to our heavenly Father and His Kingdom: “Jesus saith, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” Jn.14:6.
Who Should We Follow? Jesus, He is our Savior our Lord and our King. He is the only Potentate. 1Tm. 6:15. As For our leaders, they are the ones we are to imitate BUT only if they are imitating Christ. If they are not, then let us be imitators of those who are, after all, that is what the Word of God instructs us to do, doesn’t He?
bill Goff.
The Godly Servant Is the Greatest
Earl Mc Dowell
2/17/2012
Read the following in context of how to become the greatest. Keep in mind it is Christ’s instructions that no one can supersede.
Matt 23:11-12: (KJV) 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matt 20:27-28: (KJV) 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Mark 9:33-37: (KJV) 33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Mark 10:42-45: (KJV) 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. When you build a hierarchy where one man can rule over another you will already have failed to follow the instructions.
Luke 9:46-48: (KJV) 46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
When you build a hierarchy where one man can rule over another, you will have already failed to follow the instructions.
Luke 22:24-27: (NKJV) 24 Now there was also a dispute among them (the apostles), as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He (Christ) said to them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he who governs as he who serves.” (Christ asks a question in verse 27.) “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. (By this illustration, Christ shows by his example of serving that the person serving the meal was the greatest. Serving is Christ’s priority for leadership.)
The earliest Christians had no hierarchy but operated as an open independent congregation.
Acts 6:1-6. With the laying on of hands, the apostles showed their support for the choice of the congregation.Christ, through his example of serving, showed us the way to become the kind of servant that we are to become. Satan and his followers refuse this standard, they want to be served.
Stephen followed the example set before him. He also applied the new commandment by removing self just as Christ said to do. [John 15:12-13] Some early Christians did die for one another. [1 John 4:10-11, Romans 5:6-7, John 15:9-13]. Scripture says it will happen and history tells us it did happen.
If we go under hierarchy rule, those over us take away our free moral agency by making the choices we are to follow. [Following men instead of following GOD].
If you think this is wrong try disagreeing with [their] doctrine. The leaders want to be the BOSS and all others are to follow them.In whose eyes do we want to be the greatest?
2-17-12, Earl McDowell