Imitation as Discipleship
The Simplest Way to Make Disciples
In the last 20 years, hundreds of books have been published on discipleship and how to make disciples. I believe we have overcomplicated the matter. What if the best and simplest way to make disciples is right in front of us? If we want to make disciples, we simply need to be one ourselves, surround ourselves with other disciples, and encourage others to imitate us as we imitate Christ. Imitation is the simplest form of discipleship.
Paul's Commands of Imitation
Paul’s instruction to believers is clear in 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV): "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." He emphasizes this again in Philippians 3:17 (ESV): "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us." In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul praises them for imitating both him and the Judean church. He details how they followed his example and concludes the letter with commands they had already seen him live out before them.
Ransom’s Dog Call
Imitation is hardwired into our brains. God designed us to imitate those we are around the most. As a parent of a toddler, this is both comforting and concerning. We recently got a dog for our family, and my 18-month-old has become obsessed with her. "Dog?" is the first word he says when he wakes up and the last before he goes to sleep. We’ve been trying to teach him how to handle the dog with gentleness because she’s 13 years old and can’t handle rough treatment from an aggressive toddler.
One day, I was trying to get Zoe, our dog, to come outside. Since she’s hard of hearing, I rely on tricks—calling her name, whistling, and clicking my tongue. That day, I was whistling and calling 'Zoe!' To my amusement, Ransom joined in. As I whistled, I heard him make a sound like 'WOOOOOOO,' trying his best to imitate me. His attempt wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to get the dog up and outside. Now, when Ransom looks for Zoe, he uses his version of a whistle, showing how his imitation is helping him learn to act.
Judah’s Muffin Man
My oldest son, Judah, has severe autism, and one of the key characteristics of this disorder is that he learns through gestalt language processing. Instead of learning individual words, he memorizes whole phrases. For instance, rather than directly asking for muffins, he comes to me singing 'Muffin Man.' Initially, I thought he wanted me to sing the song or put it on TV, but to his frustration, I misunderstood. He took my hand, led me to the cabinet, pointed at the muffins, and repeated 'Muffin Man.' By imitating the song, he had found a way to communicate.
Discipleship Through Imitation Lived Out
In our daily lives, we must speak the truth of the Christian faith, offering words of encouragement. But we must also live in community with both believers and unbelievers, letting our walk match our talk. If you want to help a new believer grow closer to the Lord, invite them into your daily life and show them how you live. Don’t be afraid to expose the messy parts. It is not your imperfections that will drive people away from faith, but hypocrisy and the pretense of perfection. When you sin or fail, we should acknowledge it and set an example in how you repent.
An often overlooked tool in discipleship is the songs we sing. Songs about grace, mercy, salvation, and God's character are powerful ways to encourage one another. God designed music to give voice to the soul—beautiful, memorable, and capable of teaching. Through music, we learn how to rejoice, grieve, and navigate life’s trials—all through imitation. Each Sunday, as we sing to God, we engage in discipleship. Everyone around us hears and joins in, learning how to follow Christ through song.