Jesus told people to follow Him. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ won’t do that:
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world:
he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
I can remember (when I was a ‘mid-Acts-er’) .... scolding a brother for wearing a T-shirt with this verse:
Matt 4:19 And he saith unto them,
Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ make a big deal out of following Paul. They use it as a primary issue, based on a verse that does indeed give the instruction to follow Paul:
1 Cor 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. (also Phil 3:17)
But where ‘mid-Acts-ers’ lose focus .... is that we are to follow behind Paul .... because he was following Christ. Logically, we could not go in front of Paul, since he came to faith before we did. Don't ignore the last half of the verse:
1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
In my nearly 30 years of being a ‘mid-Acts-er’ .... I heard plenty of messages about following PAUL, but none about following GOD. Yet, it was Paul who wrote to the saints at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1) .... to follow GOD:
Eph 5:1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
We are to walk in love .... like Christ walked in love, as our example:
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ say to follow no one else but Paul .... they even EXCLUDE Jesus. Yet even Paul himself listed other men to follow, as Silvanus, and Timotheus (1 Thess 1:1) .... as well as following the Lord:
1 Thess 1:6-7 And ye became followers of us,
and of the Lord,
having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
The church of God in Thessalonica was ensamples to believers in other locations:
1 Thess 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
Next is yet another verse FROM PAUL .... where he acknowledges the church in Thessalonica as followers of the churches of God in Judaea .... WHICH ARE IN CHRIST. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ really dislike that, because it encouraged believers to follow ‘Jewish’ churches .... which ‘mid-Acts-ers’ think was ‘a different program’ than the grace one they’re under:
1 Thess 2:13-14 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
The scripture assures believers that their efforts for the Lord do not go unnoticed. They are exhorted to follow in the steps of faithful men, like Abraham:
Heb 6:10-15 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Paul also pointed to Abraham as a model:
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Peter stated that Christ is the pattern to follow:
1 Peter 2:19-23 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Follow just Paul like the ‘mid-Acts-ers teach? Not me anymore!
But I will follow Paul .... AS HE FOLLOWED CHRIST.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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