Does God ask us to be something we’re not? No. God asks us to follow Him, to be disciples and to love others like He does. This isn’t an “imitation” of Christ though, it’s the manifestation of the work God does within us when we’re saved and as we grow closer to Him.
The idea of imitating other Christians is conforming to someone else’s walk with Christ. And it simply isn’t helpful. If a leader or religion tells you that you have to look this way or that, they are trying to get you to conform to something that is not in the Bible.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 ESV