I am sure you’ve heard it said "imitation is the highest form of flattery." I wonder about that though. As an artist, it does me some amount of good to hear that I’ve inspired someone or that something I’ve done or said has been meaningful, but I find some forms of imitation just plain creepy. You probably know the kind I am talking about. You meet someone and not all is right. Their inspiration has taken the road of imitation to the point of cloning. They’ve lost their individuality. They seem fake.I’m the first one to admit that Rich Mullins has had an influence on my life and music. However, I am also the first one to admit that I am nothing like him. Maybe you noticed the photo of me in front of the church doors that was taken as a parody of Rich’s. Maybe you’ll notice that I am wearing a dress. So that’s the first big difference. I also like hot bubble baths and urban legend suggests that Rich didn’t bathe much. (Oh the wonderful myths that sparkle in the public eye.)
But is imitation all that bad? Paul tells us to… “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.” (Ephesians 5:1 NIV) This type of imitation has been translated a number of ways… “be followers...” KJV, “Do as God does...” CEV, or “Follow God's example…” NLT. Let’s be clear here. We are NOT God. Yes, we are to follow Christ’s example and Christ’s Spirit is said to even live in us - but as God’s children. What would we really think of someone who grew a beard, donned some sandals and headed to the Mt. of Olives to repeat the words of Jesus? Gives a whole new visual to the term ‘Jesus Freak’, doesn’t it?
There’s one word in the old cliché I started with that reveals everything wrong with it. Flattery. Flattery is defined as extreme or insincere praise. I think that is why imitation to the extreme is so tough to see, so sad to witness. It’s false and robs the person doing the imitating of their true identity. The world has had a Rich Mullins, the world doesn’t need another. There already is a Jesus Christ and can be no other. That’s why it’s so important to recognize how crucial His sacrifice is. If He wanted a bunch of people parading around in long beards and robes in the desert, He would have stuck around and put up a compound.
Instead, he gave up His life so that we would find ours. He rose again so that we would be shaped and influenced by Him and made into a new and significant creation, something real; something to be believed in and not cheap imitations. The world doesn’t need more reproductions… the world needs YOU. Isn’t that inspiring! Do you see that you were made for more?
Thank God! I’d look awful with a beard.
