What Would Jesus Do?

By Greg Quinn

June 14th, 2010

There has been a popular saying from a few years back, “What Would Jesus Do?”.  There are wristbands, bumper stickers, T-shirts, and the like, all carrying WWJD on them.  I think these are great ideas, but only if you get beyond the “talk” and get into the “walk”.

First, it is not “What Would Jesus Wear?”, but “What Would Jesus DO?”.  I know many of us have seen the fish on backs of cars, the T-shirts, bumper stickers, wrist bands, rings, cross necklaces, etc.  And, we’ve evidenced the character of some wearing these brands as not being the character of Christ.  So, I think we need to take a moment to reflect upon the depth of the question, “What Would Jesus Do?”.

First, we don’t have to guess what Jesus would do. We only have to open our Bibles.  The Bible tells us what Jesus would do because of what He did and who He was.  Many ask the question, “what would Jesus do?” because they don’t know, and they don’t know because they haven’t bothered to look it up.  More Bible study would help all of us recognize what Jesus would do in any given situation.

But, we can look at some common situations, or those facing us in today’s society, and make a determination as to what Jesus would do.  Perhaps a few examples will help.

For one, Jesus would not endorse the murder of babies.  And, Jesus would not condone voting for a political candidate that did so.  The Bible clearly says that murder is a sin.  Jesus himself rebuked his own disciples to allow the children to come to Him,  “as such is the Kingdom of God”.  Jesus loves children.  I still remember the Bible School song that said so:

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. 

Red or yellow, black or white, they are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Jesus would not support robbing from one who worked to give to one who would not.  The Bible says that if the person will not work, the person will not eat.  Jesus was all about compassion, but God had a plan to take care of the poor, the widows, and the orphans, and it wasn’t a socialist plan by a government to take money from one group to give to another.  If we who call ourselves Christians and who support the local Church would do what the Church is commanded to do, the Church would support the widows and orphans, and families would support those who needed help.  The government is not established to take the place of the local church, nor is government supposed to grow fat on the backs of those who work in order to support those who will not.

Jesus’ life was a life given to others.  Jesus is one-third of the Holy Trinity who makes up God; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is God.  Jesus came to earth, leaving His home in Heaven with the Father, to live as common a life as anyone in his time.  He didn’t come as a King.  Jesus came as a servant.  If Jesus, being God, could walk the earth serving others, then why cannot we?  What would Jesus do?  He would serve others.

Jesus would be kind instead of grouchy.  Jesus would be compassionate instead of uncaring.  Jesus would go about helping others instead of hurting others.  Jesus would put the need of others before His own, and did that on the cross for the sins of mankind.  Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice to establish for us a better life on earth, and an eternal life with God in the future.

Jesus would smile instead of frown.  Jesus would reach out to help a fellow man instead of putting him down.  Jesus would teach us to not talk badly about another but instead lift up our brother.

The Bible tells us that if we are ashamed of Jesus here on earth, He will be ashamed of us in Heaven.  The society of 2010 is as it is largely because Christians are ashamed to live as Christ taught.  We care more about what the world says that what God says.  We put more confidence in the thoughts of our corrupt fellow man or corrupt government than we do what God thinks about us in our daily behavior and conversations.  Where are Christians with backbones?  Where are those who trust God enough to stand up for Godly principles, Christian convictions, and Biblical teachings?  We have no prayer in schools because Christians lied down.  The Ten Commandments are removed from our Government buildings because Christians lied down.  Our public education system is very poor, teaching our kids secular humanism and anti-God instructions because Christians refused to take a stand.  Our government is being led by socialist leaders taking us down a fast road to Armageddon and the church doesn’t say anything (they would lose their tax exemptions).  People put more emphasis on money than other people.  Our society could change if Christians within our society would change, but we refuse to do so.  Our being ashamed to confess Jesus through our lives on earth is certainly causing Jesus sorrow.  The “J” of WWJD on our wristbands doesn’t come out in our daily lives, and our society is the worse because of that.  The “remnant” of godliness in the world is very hard to find.

Jesus wouldn’t condone adultery.  Jesus wouldn’t take advantage of a young girl to rob her of her virginity.  Jesus wouldn’t watch what we watch on TV, movies, or on the Internet.  Jesus would stand up against the evils of society.  Jesus would love each person He saw each day with a love so deep that it was sacrificial.

How can we make a change?  How can we live out the meaning behind the WWJD we wear?  If we start each day looking in the mirror, and honestly asking ourselves the question, “What would Jesus do today?”, then I believe that would be a great way to start ones day.  If when faced with situations and challenges we would ask ourselves the question, “What would Jesus do in this situation or with this challenge?” then the actions in response to the situation or challenge would be much better.  When we see others, if we saw others the way Jesus sees others, then we would love our fellow man.  We would be less selfish.  We would not commit adultery or fornication.  We certainly would not rob a fellow man.  We would not kill another.  We would not abort babies.  We would not misuse our responsibilities.  We would stand against evil, and stand for good.  We would smile more.  We would laugh more.  We would be happier.  We would lead more successful, vibrant lives.

If you have WWJD items, wear them proudly.  But if you do, truly reflect upon the meaning behind the question.  If all of us asked ourselves this question each day, many times each day, in each given situation, then I believe our lives would be much better.

WWJD?

Greg Quinn