To Be

Conversation on a popular television sitcom:
       Man: Thank you, you are a good friend.
       Friend:  I'm glad you think so, that is what I try very hard to emulate.

What about us? What are we trying very hard to emulate? If you are like me, more often than we care to admit you find yourself trying to emulate certain characteristics, qualities, even relationships, rather than just be the person necessary. The idea seems a little crazy considering the fact that a majority of the time being takes even less energy than emulating. However, as we all know, emulating does not require commitment.  Nowhere is this exhausting dance more visible than in the church.

I believe that most Christians desire an intimate relationship with Jesus and want to see God work daily in their lives. We hear testimonies of God's intervention and provision and we long for that closeness with the living God. We attend church, read books, and travel to seminars accumulating information from people who seem to walk beside the footsteps of Christ as we would like. We formulate a model of a "true follower of Christ" and we begin to emulate. We follow them on twitter and Facebook, like the same music and books he/she likes, maybe even change the way we dress, eat, or live, but until the intimacy is our own, our hearts fail.

Isaiah 29:13-14 says, "Then the Lord said, 'Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote; Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.'" Emulating may seem to work for a while, but will never last. God has invited those whom He has redeemed to draw up under His arm and really be with Him, not to emulate relationship with him based on the experience of others.

Our traditions and Sunday morning customs alone are not what please the Lord. The real difference in being verses emulating is a willingness (and follow through) to sacrifice whatever necessary. We must give all of our heart even to the detriment of "else"...someone else, something else, somewhere else, whatever else.