Following the Example of Jesus

            A number of years ago, a movement swept through the Christian community via a very effective marketing strategy using wristbands, keychains, pencils, pens, and such, all imprinted with four simple capital letters, WWJD. Of course, those familiar with the movement remember that the acronym stood for “What would Jesus do?”, the challenge to ask ourselves what Jesus’ response would be in every given situation before taking action. It seemed at the time to be an effective method of keeping us on the right track as based on the classic work by Charles M. Sheldon, entitled In His Steps.

            However, as of late, I have been personally pushed to go further than WWJD. In a book I received from the author, Dr. Richard Spillman, which I am reading at present, I have been asked to “Do What Jesus Did” (DWJD). Spillman’s point is well-taken. For most Christians today, we may “talk a good talk”, as the saying goes, and even have the best of motivations in what we would like to do or see done. Yet, when it comes to actually doing the work of Christ, that is, making disciples, ministering to the sick and needy, spending time with the outcasts, feeding the poor, binding up the broken-hearted, we spend little time actually doing those things because we focus our time and energies on programs and tangible items that benefit ourselves. This is highly convicting, especially for those of us who are theologically conservatives. We place God’s Word as extremely high in value in our lives and, yet, when it comes to what today is called “social justice”, helping the poor, downtrodden, and hurting in society, the Christian conservatives can often be seen as more interested in constructing churches and “saving souls” than in restoring lives. We rightly criticize the theological liberals for capitulating to “political correctness” when, in fact, we can easily find ourselves putting more stock in being theologically correct than in being Biblically obedient.

            Some conservative hard-liners might say that it is better to sacrifice compassion for theological purity. When Jesus told His disciples to “follow Me” (Mt. 4:19; Mk. 1:17; 10:21), I do not believe that this forfeit is what He had in mind. In fact, I know Jesus wanted all of His disciples to be doctrinally sound and socially just in all of their dealings with the people, showing His great love and compassion for everyone at every turn. After all, the love of Christ was central to everything that Jesus did. He even charged Peter to do the same with the flock under his care after Jesus had departed (Jn. 21:15-17).

            The “follow Me” principle was not time-bound. It has applied to every generation of Christians since Jesus’ Ascension. The key is our willingness to accept the challenge and fulfill our role as His disciples. How we complete our task and the faithfulness with which we execute it will be the measuring stick He uses to judge how well we have served Him when we at last stand before Him (Mt. 24:45-46).

            I hope you will find this as your call of encouragement to “Do What Jesus Did”, to review once again what it means to be a servant and disciple of Jesus. If you are like me, this challenge will revolutionize your thoughts about how to live life as a believer in Him, no longer as a concept of just facts to know, but a journey to experience as we seek to do, think, act, and speak as our Lord and Savior would in a world that has no desire whatsoever to hear from or know Him again…but one which desperately needs to, regardless.

The book that I referenced is entitled DWJD: WWJD is of no value unless we are willing to Do What Jesus Did by Richard Stillman (2013). Sisters, OR: Deep River Books.