Monday

Psalm 17
1 Chronicles 21:1-17
1 John 2:1-6
1 John 2: 1-6
Cultural fads wax and wane as society moves forward in time. Some imbed themselves in a communal lexicon, some fade into oblivion, and others cycle through periods of increased or decreased popularity. This periodic popularity describes the expression “What Would Jesus Do?” or “WWJD” and its many derivatives. Initially popularized in the 1890’s by Charles Sheldon’s book In His Steps, What Would Jesus Do, the expression returned to wide spread usage in the 1990’s. It has since faded though many bumper stickers, t-shirts and wristbands remain, perhaps lying in wait for a return to glory in 2090.
I, however, would not mind if this particular expression of piety faded away for good. Asking “what would Jesus do?” assumes the existence of an innate understanding of Christ’s mind
and the ability to predict Christ’s reaction in the present moment situation at hand. The disciples, including Peter, Jesus’ closest apostle, lived and worked side by side with Jesus and still couldn’t predict “what would Jesus do?” How then could a human mind, childlike in comparison to the mind of Christ, ever assume to know what Christ, God’s living word made manifest in flesh and blood, would do? Answering “WWJD” assumes an intimate and immediate knowledge of Jesus’ mind. It easily leads down a slippery slope toward saying “I have come to know him” without keeping his commandments.
Perhaps asking different questions would help an effort to abide in Christ. Asking “what has Jesus done” prevents the assumption of insight in to the current state of Christ mind. Knowing what Jesus has done requires dutiful reading from the best record of Christ’s actions and teachings, the Gospels. Applying that knowledge to daily life roots decisions and interactions in grounded comprehension of the example set by Jesus Christ.
Consider also the question “What has Jesus promised?” Christ has promised that through baptism we join to him not only in his death but also in his resurrection and eternal life. In response to this magnificent gift of grace abide in Christ, walk as Christ walked and live in the knowledge of all Christ has done for us.