If indeed, Jesus is our example to follow then why do so many passively sit in churches across the world week after week calling themselves "Christians" (literally "little Christs")? Jesus did not sit in a Synagogue (church), submitted to a Rabbi (pastor) for his three years of public ministry,  rather, he traveled.  He went wherever the Holy Spirit led him - he would have never met his twelve apostles otherwise.  He would have never fulfilled his Father's will either, performing so many amazing miracles,  and bringing truth to so many, if he had sat in a church the whole time under a pastor.

He also did not tell his disciples to "stay here, in this Synagogue,  submitted to this Rabbi. I'm moving on, but you stay here". No! He said "come, follow me". In other words, i'm moving on, follow me wherever i go. Some of those who heard him speak and saw him minister in those synagogues,  chose to leave their church and follow him - others simply marveled at him, and said to each other "what an amazing minister! He teaches as one having authority!" They were astonished at him because up till then, the Pharisees and Rabbis had maintained an iron grip on authority  - and no one not approved by them was allowed to have any. To see and hear someone so obviously anointed and sent by God who was unfamiliar to them - and more importantly for this discussion  - not a part of them (not a member of their church or denomination,  not a Sadducee or a Pharisee) astonished them! Who is this guy? Surely God is with him or he couldn't do all these miracles,  signs and wonders! 

No, on the contrary,  Jesus rescued his disciples from all of that religious bondage so many were (and are) stuck in. He firmly said - Come. Follow.  Me. Why? Why should anyone follow Jesus? Because he had just been baptized in the Holy Spirit.  He never told anyone to follow him until he was following the Holy Spirit (indeed, he was "full of the Spirit without measure") for the Spirit is always perfectly expressing the Father's will! So Paul makes it clear - follow me (as long) as i follow Christ  - for Christ (therefore I too) is following the Holy Spirit  - who leads us and guides us and equips us to perfectly obey the Father's will.  This it what it means to "be perfect as i am perfect" - obey my Father as i do - in all things remain submitted to His will. Jesus went into synagogues (churches) but was not a card-carrying member of one - no, he went into them for this reason alone -

           "TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR, TO HEAL THE BROKEN HEARTED, TO PREACH DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERING OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THEM THAT ARE BRUISED"  (captive, blinded, and bruised by religion)

Why did he desire to do these things? Because "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me", because he has anointed me to do all these things. He has has instructed me to do them  - compelled me to, sent me to do them. And today, anyone who has "the Spirit upon them, (and in them), is also anointed and called to do these things. He went into churches for the people's sake, for in them, in the churches, was found the poor, the broken hearted,  the captives and the blind - all made that way by the religious leadership they were forced to submit to - basically  - then and now - you could not be considered to be one of God's own people if you didn't submit to and join your local synagogue (church). It was inconceivable that anyone could be personally called by God and be told by God to follow HIM and not their local rabbi (pastor). No, anyone who felt the call of God on their life had to jump through the same hoops, go through the same process, the rabbis had gone through.  They had to learn all doctrine from them - speak and believe only what they spoke and believed and any new thought or revelation was frowned upon.  And only if and when THEY APPROVED OF YOU - could you be recognized and accepted as a man of God. 

Part two coming soon

Apostle Chris