Copying
“Daddy! I drink my copy too!” Yes, that is his word for ‘coffee’. And the jury is out as to whether or not I am drinking too much coffee if my 2.5 year old knows what is in my cup every single morning. But, he walks in from the kitchen and holds up his coffee with his daddy each morning, proud that he has his ‘copy’ too. Oh, and his cup has milk in it. No, I am not giving my preschool son coffee.
It didn’t hit me till recently, though, that his word for coffee is the same thing that he’s doing each morning as he watches me—copy. There’s a lot of copying going on today. In fact, as I look at social media and the kids around the schools as I parent two daughters in elementary and middle school, I’d say there’s very little originality anywhere.
I know where your mind is going right now, and you’re right. There really isn’t anything new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1.9-10). But if there isn’t anything new under the sun, and there’s nothing but copying to do, then what or even who should we copy? Ha! Now we’re getting somewhere.
My son having his ‘copy’ with me in the morning.
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” —1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)
We need someone to look to. Jesus is our ultimate example (absolutely), but He has also raised us up to imitate Him and then be examples for others. Paul tells the Corinthian church to follow his example, as he follows the example of Christ. He’s telling them, “Copy me! Watch me!” That’s encouraging because it means we have faithful people who show us how to be faithful. But it did make me stop and wonder, “Am I someone others can see Christ in? Am I comfortable having people copy my faith and my life?” Pretty vulnerable and deep, right?
I have thought about that a lot with my kids as of late. As I deal with the pressures of adulthood, with the decisions that my wife and I make for our family, and with the current rhetoric and narratives around culture, economy, and government. Goodness! Let’s be honest enough to say, “Am I comfortable copying my church and the message it sends?” Sadly, some people don’t ask that question. Churches are to be THE PLACE—per God’s design and desire—where what is to be copied and replicated over and over again is of primary importance. If the CHURCH doesn’t get that right then it doesn’t deserve to be the church.
Let’s look at the Scriptures really quick. There’s several that talk about imitating or copying:
“Therefore I urge you to imitate me.” —1 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)
“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” —Philippians 3:17 (NIV)
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children…” —Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” —Hebrews 6:12 (NIV)
“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” —1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NIV)
“For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews…” —1 Thessalonians 2:14 (NIV)
Paul makes it abundantly clear that imitation of the example of Christ is paramount to successfully living out the Christian life and ideal. May we look today at our own lives, examining whether or not they are copy-worthy. Most importantly, who is it that you are copying that lives like Christ so that you can be faithful?
Oh, and don’t forget to drink your ‘copy’…
—Pastor Whit
Read more inspirational messages about the example of Christ and copying by checking out our past sermons.