WWJD?
What Would Jesus Do?
If you’ve grown up in the church, chances are this is a familiar acronym.
You’ve probably seen it on bracelets at Youth Group or even had one wrapped around your own wrist. For many people in youth programs across America this was the question to ask ourselves. And for many more, it still is.
It’s the question we are taught to ask ourselves in all situations, “What would Jesus do?”
It’s engineered to create a momentary reflection before action. To leverage our imaginations to place Jesus Christ in our shoes.
What would he do?
In the face of this rude conduct.
This demeaning boss or frustrating coworker?
How would he approach these upset clients or tantrum-prone children?
For many, WWJD is the question for ethical reflection in our daily lives.
I believe it’s the wrong one to ask.
A better acronym
If you’re looking for an acronym to help you live out the kingdom in your life, you don’t need one that imagines Jesus in the complex situations of your life—you need one that actually invites Jesus into them.
We aren’t saved to be robots.
In salvation, we’re not reprogramed to copy the behavior of God and the actions of God in the world. The truth is so much better.
We’re invited to participate with him in it!
So the question sins’t one of imitation but of invitation.
Don’t ask, “What would Jesus do?”
Ask, “What should we do?”
A question of relationship
The first question is about us.
We reflect on how we think Jesus would handle a situation and we take the course of action based off of that. We complete the action.
But the second question is about relationship.
We’re inviting Jesus to enter into the complex situations of life with us. We’re asking him to join us and to complete the action alongside us.
This question takes our communion with God seriously and it takes Jesus at his word when he said, “I will be with you always, even until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
The next time you’re in a frustrating or complicated situation, give this question a try.
“Jesus, what should we do?”