Honestly, WWJD always felt corny to me. But the older I get, the more I pastor, the more I see people on social media, and the more I watch how we talk to and about each other, the more I wish we would reconsider WWJD.
Not as slogan faith, of course, but as a way to slow down and think about the world we are creating. What if you're more responsible for this world being the way it is than you admit?
WWJP? What would Jesus post? We are so sure our reactions are so righteous. Would Jesus post to win a pointless online debate, or to share the kingdom of God?
WWJSAOP? Would would Jesus say about other people? Or, more striking, what would he say about what we say about other people? How many times did Jesus try to humiliate other people? Oh, he exposed hypocrisy, but it was usually aimed at those who protected power at others' expense. And there was always an invitation tucked in there.
WWJJA? What would Jesus joke about? Jesus is not humorless. But he never laughed at vulnerable people. He poked at ego, at status, and our need to be first and right. Oh, I think he'd make some jokes today!
All that makes me wonder. If I ran my words (what I post, what I talk about, and even what I'm angry about) through that question, how much would change within me? How much might change around me?
WWJD isn’t as simplistic as I may have once thought. In a way, it makes us acknowledge our instincts and priorities because what we're doing doesn't always look like what Jesus would do.
Maybe WWJD isn't corny. Maybe it's just the courageous thing we need again. WWJD might shut us up just enough to let people keep their dignity and let the goodness of God speak louder than our reactions.
Stay blessed...john
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