This verse brings up a topic of conversation that arises from time to time, usually in the form of an accusation from an outsider/detractor.  The accusation is that one or more of the members of the church are “just following a man.”  Yet here is a verse from a letter of Paul encouraging members of the Corinthian church to follow him.

Clearly there are at least two ways a firstfruit could follow a man.  One is righteous and one is not.  If a member is blindly following a man, this is not righteous.  We are only righteous in following a man IF he is following Christ.  We cannot know he is following Christ unless we know Christ and the mind of Christ, which is the Word of God.  Therefore only those immersed in the Word of God within the Salvation Process are able to follow a man as he follows Christ.  If one is following a man “blindly”, it is a given he or she is not immersed in the Word of God and is not moving forward in the Salvation Process.  Notice the commentary:

1 Cor 11:1

Verse 1. [Be ye followers of me] Imitate my example in the matter now under discussion. As I deny myself; as I seek to give no offence to anyone; as I endeavor not to alarm the prejudices of others, but in all things to seek their salvation, so do you. This verse belongs to the previous chapter, and should not have been separated from it. It is the close of the discussion there.

[Even as I also am of Christ] I make Christ my example. He is my model in all things; and if you follow him, and follow me as far as I follow him, you will not err. This is the only safe example; and if we follow this, we can never go astray. ~Barnes'

Note:  God is the Supreme Being who is in absolute control of everything and rules over the church by Jesus Christ.  God calls each and every member and places all ministers, leaders and teachers in their positions.  If these humans are active in each of their Salvation Processes, then it is a given they are repentant and moving forward in righteousness.  In addition to this, God gives us the tools to identify true from false ministers and truth from apostasy.  We follow those individuals who are in a process of conforming to the image of Christ and who follow Christ.

We have a form letter in the Church’s Letter-Answering Department that will serve the balance of this lesson in righteousness:

QUESTION:  Should we follow a man?  Should we trust in church leaders?  If so, just how and by what standard should be follow and trust them?

ANSWER:

Many would be surprised to know that the Bible shows clearly that we are to follow certain church leaders under specific conditions and by a single standard.  Notice some verses:

Phil 3:17

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

1 Thess 1:6-7

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

Heb 6:12

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

James 5:10-11

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

1 Cor 4:16

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

2 Thess 3:7-9

7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

1 Cor 11:1

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

At the same time, the Bible states directly that we are to follow God:

Eph 5:1-2

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

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.

Phil 2:4-5

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Lev 11:45

For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Matt 5:45

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matt 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Eph 4:32

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

1 Peter 1:15-16

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1 John 4:11

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

The message is clear; we are to follow church leaders as they follow God according to the word of God.  We can know if a minister is following God by understanding the scriptures on this subject.  They are found in Matthew 7:

Matt 7:15-20

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

An in-depth study of what is being said here can be found at the EA site: click here.  The word “fruit” here is defined as one in close adherence to scripture.  That is, a true minister is following Christ when his teaching and preaching is based in and proven by the scriptures. 

Following is a key excerpt from that study:

“Those who enter upon the narrow way must beware of false prophets, who claim to guide believers but really practice deception. Sheep's clothing is not to be regarded as prophets' grab, but is an evident contrast to vicious wolves. God's people in al ages have needed to beware of deceptive leaders (Deut 13:1; Acts 20:29; 1 John 4:1; Rev 13:11-14). By their fruits. The doctrines produced by these false prophets, rather than the works they perform, since outward appearances may not cause suspicion. The test of the prophet [or minister or leader] is his conformity to Scripture (1 Cor 14:37; Deut 13:1-5).

~ Wycliffe Bible Commentary
 

Obeying Them Who Have Rule Over You
Notice the scriptures and commentary on this admonition from the book of Hebrews:

Heb 13:7

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Heb 13:7 -Commentary

[Remember them which have the rule over you] Margin, "are the guides." The word used here means properly "leaders, guides, directors." It is often applied to military commanders. Here it means teachers-appointed to lead or guide them to eternal life. It does not refer to them so much as rulers or governors, as teachers, or guides. In Heb 13:17, however, it is used in the former sense. The duty here enjoined is that of remembering them; that is, remembering their counsel; their instructions; their example.

[Who have spoken to you the word of God] Preachers; either apostles or others. Respect is to be shown to the ministerial office, by whomsoever it is borne.

[Whose faith follow] That is, imitate;  ~Barnes

Heb 13:17

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Heb 13:17 - Commentary

[Obey them that have the rule over you] Margin, guide; see notes on Heb 13:7. The reference here is to their religious teachers, and not to civil rulers. They were to show them proper respect, and to submit to their authority in the church, so far as it was administered in accordance with the precepts of the Saviour. The obligation to obedience does not, of course, extend to anything which is wrong in itself, or which would be a violation of conscience. The doctrine is, that subordination is necessary to the welfare of the church, and that there ought to be a disposition to yield all proper obedience to those who are set over us in the Lord.

~Barnes

True ministers and leaders are in close adherence to scripture.  This is their fruit.  It is black and white scripture truth.  There are no gray areas.  We know this by verse 18.  Ministers are either righteous and true or unrighteous and untrue.  Corrupt trees cannot bring forth good fruit.  The Word of God is total.  We live by every word of God, not just some.  True ministers follow Christ as we members do.

Lesson 19: Instructions – Be a follower of Christ.  Be a follower of God's leaders as they follow Christ.
 
 1] Above all, be a follower of God and Jesus Christ.
 2] Yield constantly to your Godly Calling.
 3] Obey them who have rule over you according to Hebrews 13.
 4] Review the study on Matthew 7:15-20 frequently.
 5] Stay immersed in the Word of God lest you not be able to carry out instructions 1-4 above.

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