WWJD? Not necessarily what we should do
Everyone has heard the popular phrase, “What would Jesus do?” (WWJD?). It gained popularity in the Evangelical world in the 1990′s as a way to encourage Christians to consider what Jesus would do before making moral decisions. In many ways this is a great idea, and Catholic tradition has always called on disciples of Christ to live in a Christ-like manner. In fact, St. Paul goes so far as to say that it is no longer he who lives, but Christ who lives in him (Galatians 2:20).
However, there is a danger in WWJD? in that it can blur the distinction between Christ and us. Namely, that he is God and we are not. Just looking at the Gospel of Matthew, here are a few instances in which what Jesus did is NOT what we should do:
“You have heard it said…but I say to you” (Matthew 5:20-48)
In Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, he often stated an Old Testament command, but then followed it by stating, “But I say to you”, thus making himself above the Law. In fact, in some cases – such as with marriage – he even changes the Law as it was originally received by Moses! None of us ever have the ability to change the law as it has been received by God.
“Your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:1-8)
Christ startled those around him by forgiving the sins of people who came to him. As the scribes correctly noted, this is blasphemy if you are not God. We can – and should – forgive the sins that are committed against us, but we have no ability to forgive sins committed against others. (Of course, priests have been given the ability to forgive sins, but most of us are not priests, and they are only able to do it through the ministry of the Church).
“Follow me” (Matthew 9:9, 9:37-39, 19:21)
Christ often calls people to unconditionally follow him – and he makes grand promises (and dire predictions) to those who take up his call. He made it clear that he should be the center of each person’s life if they want true joy and happiness – and he predicts persecution to those who take him up on his offer. We, on the other hand, should always point people to Christ and never to ourselves. If anyone is following you, you better give them a new map.
“On the third day [I] will be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21, 17:22, 20:19)
If anyone you knew predicted that three days after his death he would be walking the earth again, you would rightly think he was crazy. Jesus, however, did just that – and backed it up by defeating death. None of us, however, should go around predicting our bodily resurrection (at least not until the Last Day).
“You have the poor with you always, but you will not always have me” (Matthew 26:11)
Christianity has always been clear that we have a duty to care for the poor. In fact, we recognize that when we serve the poor, we serve Christ (cf. Matthew 25:31-46). However, when the disciples were indignant that a woman “wasted” an expensive bottle of ointment on Jesus instead of selling it to help the poor, Jesus made the startling statement that the woman’s action was superior to helping the poor. If any of us were to think that service to us was more important than serving the poor, we would be deluding ourselves.
These are just a few examples (and if I had picked John’s Gospel, I could multiply them even more; after all, who of us can say “I am the way, the truth and the life”?), but they should serve to remind us that although we are to be molded into the image of Christ, we must always remember that Jesus Christ is the unique and divine Son of God, and none of us should ever act exactly as he did on this earth. We sometimes become so familiar with the words and actions of Christ found in the Gospels that we forget how inappropriate – and even blasphemous – they would be coming from ordinary men and women like us.
So instead of asking “What would Jesus do?” we should ask ourselves, “What would Jesus have me do?”
Agreed. I still like WWJD though as a simple expression. Have you read the book it comes from, Sheldon’s “In His Steps”? Obviously, as a Catholic I have some misgivings but I do think that overall it’s a good read. We need be challenged more often–i.e., would Jesus (have me) watch this t.v. show, say what is right now coming out of my mouth, sit in this movie theater, buy this product, etc. It’s a great question to help re-orient our lives around Christ.
Great point.
[...] Eric Sammons offers his take on the phrase, along with five examples of things Jesus did that we absolutely should not do. Among them: “You have the poor with you always, but you will not always have me” (Matthew 26:11) Christianity has always been clear that we have a duty to care for the poor. In fact, we recognize that when we serve the poor, we serve Christ (cf. Matthew 25:31-46). However, when the disciples were indignant that a woman “wasted” an expensive bottle of ointment on Jesus instead of selling it to help the poor, Jesus made the startling statement that the woman’s action was superior to helping the poor. If any of us were to think that service to us was more important than serving the poor, we would be deluding ourselves. [...]
Pingback by The Anchoress | A First Things Blog — September 9, 2010 @ 2:12 pmMichael,
When I was in high school, my Methodist youth pastor actually used Sheldon’s book as the basis for an effort to get us all to think WWJD? (this was years before it became such a huge fad). I don’t remember many of the details now, but I did think the overall thrust of the effort was positive, and was helpful to me on my own Christian walk at the time.
But of course, as with most things when they get hugely popular (and highly marketed), the WWJD? movement attracted a lot of people who didn’t have a solid grounding in theology and thus don’t see clearly the radical difference between us and Jesus.
I would have to think that only Jesus can say certain sayings too, being God, and having complete and perfect knowledge of all whom He comes in contact with. This one, for example, is way above my paygrade:
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.(Matthew 7:6)
WWJD is a “The Message”-like paraphrase of 1 John 2:6, “He who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” That verse does not mean “do what Jesus did,” but “live as Jesus lived.” Specifically, that “new” commandment to love.
Eric:
Ha! I had to read it as an undergraduate theology major at Azusa Pacific University. The WWJD movement was still not really on the scene there–it picked up later.
Obviously, I agree–it can be easily misapplied and misunderstood. Nonetheless, I do appreciate the way it attempts to challenges people who claim to be disciples of Christ.
I meant: “. . . the way it attempts to challenge people who claim to be disciples of Christ.”
I remember someone I corresponded with said it might be better to ask “What would Mary do?”
@jp, and so Mary gives the answer. It’s not “What would Jesus do?”, it’s “What would Jesus tell me to do?” (cf. John 2:5)
I am an actor and have been doing a one-man show of the book In His Steps for over 25 years…also before it became a fad. It is a wonderful example and good guideline to help us with every day decisions if taken at face value. The theme verse from 1 Peter 2:21 to “follow in his steps”specifically relates to Christ example of suffering. Obviously we are not Christ and your point is well taken. But to apply “what would Jesus do?” to daily decisions, choices and opportunities… it is hard to see how one could go wrong! Thanks for a great discussion!
I recomment reading “The Immitation of Christ” by Thomas A. Kempis. Absolutely brilliant, and if he hadn’t been burried alive he’d probably be a saint… I know loads of saints and contemplatives love his book (that’s why I got a hold of it!).
As author of the book WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? the update of my Greatgrandfather’s IN HIS STEPS, I am certainly gratified by this interest in the WWJD theme. My only comment is that our Faith teaches that believers have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us; it is yielding to His Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God, that we can do what our Lord did. Then, it is not “us” , but Him , who does the good, and we must give HIm all the glory. I might add, that though I am now a Southern Baptist pastor, I was raised Anglo-Catholic and retain much appreciation for the tradition and intellectual quality (as well as liturgy, ritual, etc.) of the Mother Church.
While I’m grateful for anything that promotes Jesus and brings him into people’s minds, the problem I’ve always had with “What Would Jesus Do?” is this: It implies that He isn’t here, that He’s not with us. It’s an unfinished question: What would Jesus do if He were here, in my situation or circumstance? Praise God, Jesus is with us always.
We need not ourselves “What would Jesus do?” – Instead, we can ask, “Lord, what do you want to do in this situation?”
Pastor Sheldon,
It’s great to have you on my blog and may God bless the work of your greatgrandfather’s and your books.
It is a mystery that Paul talks about: it is not we who live, but Christ who lives in us, by virtue of our baptisms in which we die and rise with Him (Romans 6). Yet we still must live as unique people with unique roles in the Body of Christ. As long as we remember the eminently unique and divine mission of our Redeemer in this world, we can get much benefit in modeling our lives on His.
Eric,
Amen. I think the WWJD theme has caught on so well because it triggers our thoughts of being in Christ, living every aspect of our lives for Him. It is not a magic formula, but hopefully opens us to the Spirit of Christ, our devotion to the Lord, active life in His Church, seeking God’s will for our lives. For me, over the years, it has been a very humbling experience, as I realize “how far I have to go” to be Christlike (and how grateful I am for His mercy and grace!).
Garrett
Another post said:
WWJD is a “The Message”-like paraphrase of 1 John 2:6, “He who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” That verse does not mean “do what Jesus did,” but “live as Jesus lived.” Specifically, that “new” commandment to love.
1 John 2:3 tells us that it is “his commands” (plural) that we are called to obey in order to walk as Jesus walked.
1 John 2:6′s encouragement to “walk as Jesus walked” is to do what he has commanded his disciples throughout his ministry, the commands He in turn told his disciples to teach all new believers to obey: to love, forgive, preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out evil spirits and raise the dead.
Hi Eric,
With all due respect you have sort of canceled out the whole thrust of your message with your opening statement. Case in point,
“However, there is a danger in WWJD? in that it can blur the distinction between Christ and us. Namely, that he is God and we are not. ”
Danger? While you are correct in saying Jesus is God you didn’t explain or illustrate that He did not walk as God in His earthly ministry.
The fact that Jesus became man in every respect was not only true–it was absolutely necessary.
Jesus came in the power of the Father not his own power of a God but in the powerless state of a man with God working through Him. He was a man with the Christ on Him obtained not by birth but in the desert after His baptism.
“And returning from the desert He was endued with power from on high.” (Luke 4:14)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, b e c a u s e He hath anointed me.” (Luke 4:18)
Many would read – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because I am God. Jesus was contrary to that idea by His own words.
(red) I can of mine own self do nothing (John 5:30)
(red) The son can do nothing of himself (John 5:19)
(red) Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10)
(red) For I have not spoken of myself (John 12:49)
(red) Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. (Mark 10:17-18)
God hath raised him from the dead, (Rom 10:9)
Who, being in the form [G3444 - adjusting to shape,size - from the root G3313 to recieve a division, share or portion] of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But “made himself” of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness [G3667 - to look like in shape or similitude] of men:
(Phillipians 2:6-7)
So in my opinion nothing could be more clear than Jesus was not God on earth by His own words. He was a man like us. And He did things as our exemplar not as the exception. Failing to be as the Master does not negate the mandate to function like Him. The Bible says we can’t be better than or bigger than the Master. The the whole and only object of being a disciple is to walk like your master. Otherwise there is no point in discipleship. If you are correct then the following does not apply and most likely never did apply.
And these signs shall follow them that believe;
In my name shall they cast out devils;
speak with new tongues;
they shall lay hands on the sick,
and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18)
Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers,
raise the dead,
cast out devils:(Matt 10:8)
Also you would need to make this scripture go away.
Mark 9:39 (red)
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. [So a man shall do miracles in the name of Jesus]
It would be sad to assume Jesus died for us to be, as you say, “ordinary men and women” Why would the world want an ordinary God since that is all we can represent. We can look around us today and see that this is indeed the fact of the matter.
As a man thinks so is he and out of the abundance of the heart flow the [boundaries] of life.
Shalom