If we are not following the example of the very first Christians as documented in the New Testament then we are not following the example of the Lord Jesus.

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“FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST”

The preceding quote is a standardized version of a statement made by the apostle Paul in 1Corinthians 11:1. It is often referred to when discussing the appropriateness of following the example of a mature Christian in a leadership role. Since young, new, or immature Christians are ubiquitous and are frequently seeking answers from those who have attained an accepted and recognized position of respect, such as “official” Christian ministers, they are often told in lieu of the actual answers they seek to instead follow the example of one who has gone before.

This is all well and good, of course, as many mature Christian ministers have proven their established place in Christian ministry by their growth, maturity, and achievements, as well as in overcoming all the challenges and difficulties toward reaching such a place. As Christians, we honor such people. We especially honor them if they have achieved their position in one’s respective denomination or in accordance with particular beliefs or practices that one holds dear.

However, it is regularly the case that one accepts a current generational Christian leader without seeking forth his or her bona fides regarding the previous generation or what might have transpired in the past to produce such a leader. For example, it is usually the case that such a leader followed in the ministerial footsteps of his or her parents, denomination, or another central leader who acted as a mentor. This means the makeup of a minister is commonly derived through the influence of others or established Christian bodies rather than through the purity of Scripture.

In fact, there are two particular major Christian denominations in the world, truly international in scope with effectively and comparatively ancient origins going back multiple centuries, that refuse to honor an exclusive foundational belief in the New Testament writings first and foremost because such a belief cuts into their desire and necessity for supreme authority. This belief which places Scripture first is referred to theologically as Sola Scriptura in that the Bible in general and the New Testament in particular is honored as the only infallible source of authority for Christian practices and faith. In was the Protestant Reformation which began five centuries ago that brought this truth into the light and established the belief in Scripture as primary which overrode the authority of customary ecclesiastical leaders and “Christian” potentates.

The reason this issue is so important is because a belief in “Christian” authority over Scripture removes the mandatory overall authority of the Lord Jesus. This means His authority is reduced to a secondary position at best which is a blatant violation of His own teachings and the beliefs of those who followed and honored Him in the very beginning who contributed their inspired writings showcasing His teachings. In other words, casting doubt on the veracity of the New Testament Scriptures and refusing to honor them as our sole foundation for Christian belief and practice also casts doubt on the Lord’s supreme authority as the only legitimate Leader of the Church—His Community of Called-Out Ones.

One wonders then at the asinine attitude of those who believe their Christian authority overrides the authority of the Lord Jesus. This is actually pure heresy on their part. However, they counter that the actual heresy is placing the authority of Scripture above their own. How did they arrive at such a place? What prompted them to entertain such a ridiculous notion? By way of answer I will say this: If one were to cut through all the fog and go to the very source one will arrive at the following:

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony…” [Revelation 12:7-11a]

Therefore, regarding the statement of the apostle Paul at the beginning of this article, Christians should only honor the authority of those mature Christians, such as Paul, if they follow the Lord Jesus. Such a condition is paramount. The apostle Paul would never in a million years attempt to supersede the authority of the Lord Jesus as so many traditional Christian leaders have done. Though it is obvious that some of these embrace Pharisaical pomp to the nth degree parading around as religious potentates and glorying in the honor and prestige associated thereof, many other Christian leaders downplay such an attitude somewhat while others are very subtle about it. These people don’t want you to know what they actually think of themselves and the position they’ve taken though it is otherwise obvious to those with eyes to see in that everyone knows who is actually in charge. And it’s not the Lord.

So Paul made it clear that one should only look to his example and accept his teachings if he indeed follows the Messiah, having recognized, honored, and submitted fully to the authority of the Lord Jesus:

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. [1Corinthians 11:1 NASB95]

Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah). [1Corinthians 11:1 Amplified Classic]

The English word “imitate” is from the Greek μιμητής mimētḗs (mim-ay-tace’). It is defined by Strong’s as: “an imitator:—follower.”

We know, of course, by what the Lord teaches as written in the Gospels, that to “follow” Him ultimately means that one must imitate Him, which means one must follow the Lord’s example, one must honor and obey His teachings, and one must do one’s best to represent Him correctly and properly. Now this is obviously a very tall order and the mind reels at the prospect of getting such an otherwise impossible thing right. But He said to do it which means it is not only possible and doable but mandatory. Or else one is not a real Christian.

This being said, and regarding the particulars of this teaching series, one must consider the following statements of the apostle Paul which appear in our subject Scriptural passage, 1Corinthins Chapter 14:

(1) Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. [14:1]

(2) Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; [14:5a]

(3) So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church. [14:12]

(4) Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. [14:13]

(5) I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; [14:18]

(6) So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. [14:22]

(7) If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. [14:27-29]

(8) Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. [14:39-40][1]

© 2025 by RJ Dawson. All Rights Reserved. [To Be Continued…]

[1] Unless otherwise noted all Scriptures are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © 1960, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.