Copycat Christian

One of the things that I hate about tragedy that is aired on the news is the copycat crimes that seem to happen afterwards. We see it over and over again and it happened today, just a few days following the horrific shooting and deaths of those first graders in CT.

I got a text from my teen daughter today, saying that there were police all over her campus at her high school. She was told that there was going to be a shooting at her high school. I immediately called the school office and was told that they heightened their security because of a "text message" some of the kids were forwarding saying that guns would be brought to the school.

Nothing resulted from the threat. Except for scaring people unnecessarily. It was nothing but copycats. Someone getting a kick out of imitating someone elses bad behavior. It saddens my heart to know that someone would make light of such a very sad, traumatic situation.

All of this news media has alot of people asking one question..."What has this world come to?"

Are we nothing but a society of copycats? This question has me wondering, what, if anything, am I copying? Is it something of worth and value or is it something destructive? Whom am I copying and imitating?

You might remember a few years ago, everyone was throwing around the WWJD question..."What would Jesus do?" Such a question thrust us in the thinking that in all that we speak or do, we should be following the behaviour of Christ.

When we consider "imitation", "copying" or "emulating", we are clearly not talking about having the same hairdo or eating in the same restaurants. We are not even talking about saying the exact same things as others. However, we are talking about modeling our behavior after a role model. After all, don't children learn behaviour by observing those around them? If they are surrounded with positive influence, they will learn positive things. Negative behavior will be learned just as quickly.

The same is true for a Christian. When we are babes in Christ, it is imperative that we surround ourselves with positive influences. Finding a strong Christian to follow, or look up to, or even copy will encourage our walk with the Lord. Learning to be a good Christian can be learned by spending time with good Christians.

If this is true, and you are looking for someone to copy, I would suggest we need to be a copycat of Jesus Christ. His ways are higher than our ways, therefore He is worthy to be looked up to. As much as it is important to be someone worthy for others to follow, it is just as important, if not more, to follow someone who is worthy. Jesus Christ is such a person. To be more like Him, we MUST get to know Him, spend time with Him and follow His ways.

"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children." Ephesians 5:1

Too many people are copying the wrong people. What we need more of in this world is some copycat Christians....the kind that follow, emulate and copy Christ. Imagine if the news media got a hold of this concept, what change would happen in our world! What kind of copycats would we see?

Take note of who you are copying...make sure you are following the right people, with the right attitudes. Make sure who and what you follow will lead you to Christ.