Since Charles Sheldon’s book, In His Steps, came out in 1896, many Christians have dedicated themselves to seeking the proper course of action by answering a simple question: “What would Jesus do?” I say simple because on the surface it appears to be so. Sheldon challenged his readers to ask the question and think about the answer. Once sure of the course of action Jesus would take, they were to respond in that way no matter the difficulty or price.

Since the 1990’s this question has been popularized with bracelets and various other Christian merchandise with the letters WWJD. These are meant as a reminder to expose the decisions of life to this question, and to model one’s life on the life of Christ.

While it is commendable to ask this question and even more commendable to follow the answer wherever it leads there are some assumptions that must be made in asking it. Whether these assumptions are met or not, determines whether this question is a good formula for guiding life or a way to spiritualize bad decisions.

It is assumed the person asking knows enough about Jesus’ ways, personality and values to make a proper decision. Since Jesus lived 2000 years ago this assumption can be problematic—not impossible though. Too often people ask the question and assume what Jesus would do based, not on facts of his life, ministry and teaching, but based on modern values and personal criteria. It depends on how one sees Jesus.

When we ask the question we are assuming the following premise to be true:

If Jesus would take said action, then I will take said action.

If we take time to learn what Jesus would do then act accordingly we have treated this premise properly. However if we do not take the time to learn about Jesus but define as we prefer to see him then we misuse and falsify the practice. If I look at the modern world’s standards and what I should do here, then claim Jesus would take the same action I have committed a fallacy known in formal logic as affirming the consequent.

Unless you are going to learn about Jesus, this question, “What Would Jesus Do?” is useless as a guide. Let me use an example from my earlier life. A hunter must learn about the behavior of his prey. If he hunts deer he must learn about scrapes, scat and tracks, but also about how a buck will act during the respective hunting season (rut or not in rut, hot weather, cold weather), etc. Until he learns these, he may be hunting, but he is not a hunter. The details of behavior help him catch his prey. This knowledge allows him to foresee what the prey will do. I used to know a place in Montana where I could always find a buck napping under a certain tree, so long as the day was warm and the wind blew from the North. There was a certain track across the wind that could get a slow careful hunter within range. This was possible because I did not make assumptions about the deer. Instead I learned their true behavior.

I have in my office a sign that says: Never confuse the will of the majority for the will of God. This is perfect advice for those who would use WWJD to model their life—never confuse the values of today’s world for the values of Jesus.

So how can we prevent this and get to know Jesus well enough to truly and accurately answer this question? If I wanted to get to know you I would spend time with you. Spend time with Jesus in prayer. Now as you and I interact I would watch the things you do and then be able to differentiate you from others through these observations. How many of your friends do you know from the sound of their walk? With Jesus this is a bit hard to do because he has ascended to heaven. However, we can watch him though scripture. By reading the gospels and studying the picture they give of Jesus we can get to know him and begin to recognize him at work and recognize circumstances similar to those he faced. Another part of getting to know Jesus is learning from those who already know him and being around those who manifest him in their lives. In other words, we learn about Jesus by praying, reading scripture and being part of a body known as a church. Through the growth these produce we can actually see what Jesus would truly do.

If you are not going to take the time and put forth the effort to learn about Jesus you will not know what he would do in a given situation and cannot model your life on his. At best you are in danger of reducing Jesus to a proof text to support the life you already chose to live. He deserves far better.

While studying for this Sunday I am reading Matthew 7:7-12. As I was reading about asking, seeking and knocking, a thought came to mind about the imperative mood used in commands. The imperative, of course, is the mood of command. The difference between “I go” and “Go!” is found in the imperative. Sometimes, in these studies I will look for quotes on Greek grammar to use in the message and this week a great thought came to me while looking at what Dana and Mantey had to say about the imperative mood.

“Where one will makes a direct, positive appeal to another the imperative finds its most characteristic use” (Dana and Mantey, p175).

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The scene spreading out before us is one of palpable emotion; hatred, fear, anger and disappointment hold sway. When these take control, especially in a crowd, the first victim is often justice. The scene is Jesus before Pontius Pilate as the religious leaders inspire the mob to demand the crucifixion of him, who had healed, delivered and even raised the dead. The crowd, the same one placing palm fronds in his path and praising him as the deliverer, was now clamoring for his blood. What could turn a crowd from ecstatic worship to blood lust? How could one who had helped so many be the object of such rage? Read the rest of this entry »