Whenever people copy what other people or leaders have done, they fall into a trap when it comes to responding to God's awakening call on one's life, international youth ministry Jesus Culture said.
Zack Curry wrote on their website that the trap is actually hard to identify and describe, since the "copy" he is discussing is not simply plagiarism or stealing other people's ideas and taking credit for it. He says the "copy" he is tackling is "something much more subtle and dangerous."
"Copying can mean going along with the status quo, choosing to emulate others. It's about trying to be or do that which has brought success to others, as opposed to allowing God to birth what He has placed deep inside of you," he explained. "It actually goes beyond what we do into who we really are and the why we do certain things, revealing our values and motives."
He cited the life of David from the Bible as an example. When he was young, he bravely confronted the mighty giant Goliath, and before he went into battle, Saul tries to give him his armor for protection. But when David put the armor on, he decided: "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." Then he took the armor off.
"It was a great honor to be given the king's armor, but David knew it wouldn't work to take on another's identity. He would be putting on something that he himself had no experience with," said Curry. "The key to David's greatness was being David, whether others thought he belonged in that battle or not."
The author said that the story would have gone a different way if David insisted on wearing armor that wasn't his, and this is what today's leaders need to be reminded of. There are so many leaders today that simply copy what they see in other leaders, Curry said, and because of it, they neglect God's call on their lives.
"God is raising up authentic followers who are willing to display an authentic faith —not one in need of copying what others are doing. If we are created in the image of God, we have to believe that we carry the solution to some of the greatest needs, voids, and hopeless situations around us," he stressed.
Curry added that a lot of precious time has been wasted on copying what others have done, instead of creating new answers. He believes that if leaders are genuinely concerned about changing society and transforming cultures, then there needs to be a wide range of godly anointed leaders who "don't all look the same."
When people no longer copy others and start to invest in creating what God has destined them to create, then great things will happen, said Curry.
"It's hard to do both and to do them as acts of authentic worship to our King. I say let's awaken to the call to be a part of creating something that takes time, expresses our unique identity, and shows us to be image bearers of our creator God," he urged.
