In a genuine, healthy relationship between master and apprentice, there is a third element, the object of the imitation (the painting, in Don Quixote’s own example), with a reality of its own, independent from both master and apprentice. The latter imitates the former only in reference to that particular object, the reality of which sets limits to the imitation itself.
-Cesareo Bandera, My Encounter with Rene Girard (From the For Rene Girard collection)
I have always heard a ton in Christian circles about “discipleship” and mentoring.
That’s all good except you HAVE to be on the lookout for the big pitfall of discipleship: imitating the master himself and not the craft to be mastered. This is how teacher/student relationships can get flipped around and turn into rivalries. The closer (and more effective!) they are, the more this is a risk. This is why in many, perhaps even most church splits, the devisive faction is led by an assistant pastor who was originally mentored by the senior pastor. If they were to both keep their eye on the ball (the external objective) then they could work together in peace and mutual benefit. But if the apprentice imitates the master himself, he will always, if he follows the road long enough, end up in opposition to the master.
The psychology behind all this can be discussed at length, but it doesn’t need to be to grasp the principal. This dynamic is really easy to prove. It also naturally hides itself from the actual people involved.
Jesus is the only one we can safely imitate in the long run without creating this trouble. A mentor (in any subject!) is best when both the student and teacher always keep the higher cause in mind.