Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
To follow a human leader is to follow him only so far as he follows Christ, for Christ alone is the leader, head and standard of the church rather than any human authority or reputation. When a ruler commands what is contrary to God's law it becomes sin to obey, as when Joab obeyed David in putting Uriah where he would be killed, and when a leader turns aside or acts impulsively, hastily or unguardedly he is no longer to be copied lest others be led astray. Every claim is to be tested against Scripture while the heart stays open to receive further truth God may reveal through any instrument beyond what earlier reformers understood. A truly converted minister lives in connection with Christ as a channel of light and can call others to follow him as he follows Christ, after Paul's pattern of joining firm defense of truth and rebuke of sin with affection, gentleness and sympathy, since harsh and critical ways reproduce themselves in others. Being a safe example requires that works and deportment correspond with the message in words, spirit, actions and dealings, through daily conversion, meekness, self-denial, prayer and putting away sin and self, until Christ's character is cultivated in thought, words, acts and prayer and the atmosphere surrounding the soul is for good alone.
Following Human Leaders Conditionally
Paul's call to follow him is conditional, limited to the degree that he himself follows Christ, for he does not present himself as supreme leader while Christ alone stands as leader and head of the church. No human leader, teacher, or minister is to be followed beyond that same measure, and Christ remains the standard by which all following is judged rather than any human authority or reputation. People are to be invited to follow another only as that one follows Christ, which makes Christ the pattern for words and example in sharing present truth and pointing others to Jesus.
Power is entrusted by God to be exercised only in harmony with God's law, so that when a ruler commands what is contrary to that law obedience becomes sin. Joab sinned by obeying David's order to place Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle and then withdraw from him so that he would be killed, since loyalty to the king does not excuse breaking God's law. Following a human leader is right only while that leader follows Christ, and when the leader turns away from Christ continued following leads others astray.
Ministers are to be followed only insofar as they follow Christ, and this limit on their authority guards against the harm that comes from their impulsive actions. Men and women are therefore not to copy ministers when they act from impulse, haste, or unguarded feeling, even though ministers are to be examples to the flock by living under the molding of the Holy Spirit and reproducing in a consistent life the truth they preach. This conditional following prevents the great evils that result when the impulsive movements of those who minister in word and doctrine are imitated. Every claim must still be tested against Scripture, while believers remain open to receiving further truth revealed from God through any instrument rather than stopping at what earlier reformers understood.
Reflecting Christ in Example
Genuine conversion brings the soul into living connection with Christ and makes the person a channel of light to the world, so that a minister through the grace given him of God can tell his flock to follow him as he follows Christ. Christ is the pattern for a believer's words and example, and people are to be invited to follow another person only as that person follows Christ. That pattern applies to sharing present truth and pointing people to Jesus.
Paul is an example to follow because his life was in accordance with Christ's, joining firmness in defending truth and severe rebuke of sin with affection, gentleness, and sympathy toward others. Christian leaders should follow Christ so that those who follow them see Christlike character in their lives. Ministers' example shapes the people around them, for harsh, critical, and demanding conduct can reproduce those traits in others, while Christ's purity, moral dignity, unselfish love, and gentleness make Him the pattern His representatives should imitate.
God's people must live so others can safely copy their example because they are copying Christ, with works and deportment corresponding with the work for this time. Professed Christians are examples for the young only to the extent that they follow Christ, which means imitating His life, bearing a daily cross, and coming out from the world to live in a way pleasing to God through watchfulness, prayer, self-denial, and sacrifice. Christians are to be examples others can follow only insofar as they follow Christ, representing Him in words, spirit, actions, and dealings with both fellow believers and strangers, copying His example and displaying heaven's principles above worldly ones. Works and conduct must match the message and the work of the time, so that their example points people to Christ.
Ministers bearing the last message of mercy must be ensamples to the flock by following Christ themselves, and they cannot act out their own natural traits of character and still fulfill this call. They need daily conversion to God as vessels to be filled with the Holy Spirit, cherishing meekness, walking in the great light given them as Enoch walked, and bringing even the thoughts into subjection to Jesus Christ so the truth sanctifies the soul. They must work in Christ's lines, adopting Christ's maxims and being imbued with the Spirit of Christ, because without His Spirit their words, spirit, and daily manifestation of character will lead souls astray. This requires putting away the sin of pride, overcoming superfluities of dress, repenting toward God for withholding money that should flow into the treasury to sustain mission fields, urging reformation and true conversion, and humbling the soul before God by humiliation, fasting and prayer, repentance of sin and putting it away.
To copy Christ is to possess the character of Christ, cultivating His attributes in thought, in spirit, in words, in acts, in prayer. The influence at home and abroad must be Christlike, with all that is valuable retained and strengthened and all that is unchristlike closely criticized and changed. The tender influence of His Spirit is a constant, abiding principle, not fitful gusts, and acting in a cheap, childish manner is fatal to reverence. Every soul is surrounded by an atmosphere constantly inhaled by others, every action must be pure and elevated and noble, each person is individually responsible for the influence that proceeds from him, and the atmosphere must be for good alone with no evil mingled with the good.
To follow a human leader is to follow him only so far as he follows Christ, for Christ alone is the leader, head and standard of the church rather than any human authority or reputation. When a ruler commands what is contrary to God's law it becomes sin to obey, as when Joab obeyed David in putting Uriah where he would be killed, and when a leader turns aside or acts impulsively, hastily or unguardedly he is no longer to be copied lest others be led astray. Every claim is to be tested against Scripture while the heart stays open to receive further truth God may reveal through any instrument beyond what earlier reformers understood. A truly converted minister lives in connection with Christ as a channel of light and can call others to follow him as he follows Christ, after Paul's pattern of joining firm defense of truth and rebuke of sin with affection, gentleness and sympathy, since harsh and critical ways reproduce themselves in others. Being a safe example requires that works and deportment correspond with the message in words, spirit, actions and dealings, through daily conversion, meekness, self-denial, prayer and putting away sin and self, until Christ's character is cultivated in thought, words, acts and prayer and the atmosphere surrounding the soul is for good alone.
Following Human Leaders Conditionally
Paul's call to follow him is conditional, limited to the degree that he himself follows Christ, for he does not present himself as supreme leader while Christ alone stands as leader and head of the church. No human leader, teacher, or minister is to be followed beyond that same measure, and Christ remains the standard by which all following is judged rather than any human authority or reputation. People are to be invited to follow another only as that one follows Christ, which makes Christ the pattern for words and example in sharing present truth and pointing others to Jesus.
Power is entrusted by God to be exercised only in harmony with God's law, so that when a ruler commands what is contrary to that law obedience becomes sin. Joab sinned by obeying David's order to place Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle and then withdraw from him so that he would be killed, since loyalty to the king does not excuse breaking God's law. Following a human leader is right only while that leader follows Christ, and when the leader turns away from Christ continued following leads others astray.
Ministers are to be followed only insofar as they follow Christ, and this limit on their authority guards against the harm that comes from their impulsive actions. Men and women are therefore not to copy ministers when they act from impulse, haste, or unguarded feeling, even though ministers are to be examples to the flock by living under the molding of the Holy Spirit and reproducing in a consistent life the truth they preach. This conditional following prevents the great evils that result when the impulsive movements of those who minister in word and doctrine are imitated. Every claim must still be tested against Scripture, while believers remain open to receiving further truth revealed from God through any instrument rather than stopping at what earlier reformers understood.
Reflecting Christ in Example
Genuine conversion brings the soul into living connection with Christ and makes the person a channel of light to the world, so that a minister through the grace given him of God can tell his flock to follow him as he follows Christ. Christ is the pattern for a believer's words and example, and people are to be invited to follow another person only as that person follows Christ. That pattern applies to sharing present truth and pointing people to Jesus.
Paul is an example to follow because his life was in accordance with Christ's, joining firmness in defending truth and severe rebuke of sin with affection, gentleness, and sympathy toward others. Christian leaders should follow Christ so that those who follow them see Christlike character in their lives. Ministers' example shapes the people around them, for harsh, critical, and demanding conduct can reproduce those traits in others, while Christ's purity, moral dignity, unselfish love, and gentleness make Him the pattern His representatives should imitate.
God's people must live so others can safely copy their example because they are copying Christ, with works and deportment corresponding with the work for this time. Professed Christians are examples for the young only to the extent that they follow Christ, which means imitating His life, bearing a daily cross, and coming out from the world to live in a way pleasing to God through watchfulness, prayer, self-denial, and sacrifice. Christians are to be examples others can follow only insofar as they follow Christ, representing Him in words, spirit, actions, and dealings with both fellow believers and strangers, copying His example and displaying heaven's principles above worldly ones. Works and conduct must match the message and the work of the time, so that their example points people to Christ.
Ministers bearing the last message of mercy must be ensamples to the flock by following Christ themselves, and they cannot act out their own natural traits of character and still fulfill this call. They need daily conversion to God as vessels to be filled with the Holy Spirit, cherishing meekness, walking in the great light given them as Enoch walked, and bringing even the thoughts into subjection to Jesus Christ so the truth sanctifies the soul. They must work in Christ's lines, adopting Christ's maxims and being imbued with the Spirit of Christ, because without His Spirit their words, spirit, and daily manifestation of character will lead souls astray. This requires putting away the sin of pride, overcoming superfluities of dress, repenting toward God for withholding money that should flow into the treasury to sustain mission fields, urging reformation and true conversion, and humbling the soul before God by humiliation, fasting and prayer, repentance of sin and putting it away.
To copy Christ is to possess the character of Christ, cultivating His attributes in thought, in spirit, in words, in acts, in prayer. The influence at home and abroad must be Christlike, with all that is valuable retained and strengthened and all that is unchristlike closely criticized and changed. The tender influence of His Spirit is a constant, abiding principle, not fitful gusts, and acting in a cheap, childish manner is fatal to reverence. Every soul is surrounded by an atmosphere constantly inhaled by others, every action must be pure and elevated and noble, each person is individually responsible for the influence that proceeds from him, and the atmosphere must be for good alone with no evil mingled with the good.