This is Part 1 of who knows…

People Like Jesus. His followers, not so much.

The band A Perfect Circle has a song titled TalkTalk. The song rebukes those who “sit and talk like Jesus” but do nothing to help people, offering “thoughts and prayers'' but no tangible outreach. The singer challenges Christians, “try walking like Jesus, or get out the ____ of my way.” They are clearly not a Christian band and many would be offended by their music but they make a very good point.

On the research side, the Barna Group sees the same thing. They see that roughly 3/4ths of people view Jesus positively. But when asked about His followers, only 1/4th have a positive view. The reason for the drop is “hypocrisy of religious people.”

Source: Openness to Jesus Isn’t the Problem—the Church Is.

If the unbelieving world can plainly see a disconnect between the followers of Jesus and Jesus himself, then why is it difficult for us to see? Much of the world sees us operating in very un-Jesus-y ways, hammering the world with a fist of truth and adding a little grace as garnish. What can we do about it? I think it has all to do with wanting to follow Jesus and actually doing it.

How to follow Jesus

The Bible tells me that to be a follower of Jesus is to mimeomai (3401) which is to imitate or to mimic, and mimētēs (3401) which is an imitator or follower. 

• Therefore I urge you to imitate me. (1Co 4:16)

• Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ. (1Co 11:1)

• Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, (Eph 5:1)

• and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit. (1Th 1:6)

• For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jews. (1Th 2:14)

• For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you; (2Th 3:7)

• It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. (2Th 3:9)

• Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. (Heb 13:7)

• so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance. (Heb 6:12)

• Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? (1Pe 3:13)

• Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. (3Jo 1:11)

Being an imitator is different from impersonating someone or attempting an impression. In God’s Word, to imitate is to follow, to take as a pattern or model oneself upon. It is to live out your faith in action.

If I want to imitate Him, it is vital that I know Him. I must study Jesus if I want to reset myself to Him. How did Jesus treat people in sin? How did Jesus treat women? How did he treat people of different cultures? How did Jesus treat the sick? What did Jesus say? How did He say it? How did people feel after interacting with Jesus?

Some really good questions to dig into.

Part 2 coming soon.