Which statement sounds more spiritual to you?

A. “Don’t follow me. Just follow Jesus.”

B. “Watch me, and do what I do.”

Obviously, the first statement sounds humbler, more spiritual, and maybe even more biblical. Of course we want people to be followers of Jesus, not us. And telling people to watch and imitate us—well, that sounds arrogant at best.

But as I read the New Testament, particularly Paul’s letters, I am struck by how many times he told his readers to follow his example. Consider this small sampling:

  • “I urge you, then, be imitators of me” (1 Corinthians 4:16).
  • “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
  • “Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am” (Galatians 4:12).
  • “Brothers, join in imitating me” (Philippians 3:17).
  • “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things” (Philippians 4:9).
  • “And you became imitators of us” (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
  • “You yourselves know how you ought to imitate us (2 Thessalonians 3:7).

If you’re like me, your gut response is to cringe at these statements because they sound, well, presumptuous. And if they sound presumptuous coming from the Apostle Paul, they would sound obnoxious coming from me! I’d rather say something like, “I just want to get out of the way so people can see Jesus.” Ah, that’s much humbler and less intrusive. But is it right?

As I pondered these statements even more, I realized that Paul was setting an example, even in the process of being an example. Every Christian—not just the apostles—should strive to be a role model of Christlikeness. Now whether we come out and say, like Paul did, “Follow me as I follow Christ,” will depend on certain factors, including our stage in life, the people to whom we’re speaking, and the specific behavior we are modeling. But certainly, every Christian must intentionally model Christlikeness.

An objection still nags at the back of our minds: Wouldn’t it be better to tell people, “Just follow Jesus”? This objection seems valid, except that Jesus, in his wisdom, has put us into the church—local communities of redeemed people who take mutual responsibility for each other’s growth in Christlikeness. It does not injure the glory and sufficiency of Christ to say that we need other Christians to model Christlikeness. In fact, the glory of Christ’s character is amplified as it reverberates from the lives of his followers in a variety of circumstances. This truth resonated with me when I thought about several role models in my life.

  • In my wife, I see Christlike patience and diligence as she cares for and disciples our children.
  • In my pastor, I see Christlike attentive problem-solving as he works through challenging decisions in leading our church.
  • In a Christian couple in my church, I see Christlike joy in suffering as they deal with cancer.
  • In a missionary friend, I see Christlike passion for discipleship as he consistently meets with people for evangelistic Bible studies.

Jesus never parented toddlers. He never pastored a 21st-century American church. And, as far as we know, he never suffered from cancer. But we can see his character shine through these life roles as his followers shape their attitudes and actions according to His. We need Christian role models!

One final objection might lurk in our minds. What about all the harm from high-profile Christian leaders who brought shame to the name of Christ by some disqualifying sin dragged into the light? I think this objection actually highlights the need for more Christians showing what Christlikeness looks like for “normal” people—a college student, an unemployed dad, a successful businesswoman, a cancer patient, an infertile couple, an over-worked employee.

After all, we don’t need more Christian celebrities. Just more Christian role models—more people who can humbly say, “Follow me. I’m following Him.”