Articles
WWJD or DWJD
Barbara L. Klika, MSW, Undershepherd, Life Coach
November 2013
Written for Wisconsin Christian Newspaper
Ever wonder about the origin of the WWJD acronym? Wikipedia says this:
The phrase "What would Jesus do?" (often abbreviated to WWJD) became popular in the United States in the 1990s and as a personal motto for adherents of Evangelical Christianity who used the phrase as a reminder of their belief in a moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through the actions of the adherents.
Charles Sheldon's 1896 book, “In His Steps” was subtitled "What Would Jesus Do?" Sheldon's novel grew out of a series of sermons he delivered in his Congregationalist church in Topeka, Kansas.
Though less popular, it remains a visible reminder displayed on bracelets and such. It has challenged many to good works. There may also be some misguided responses. As an Undershepherd and a Personal Life Coach may I challenge His people to examine these things so that they can cling to Him as closely as possible in these challenging times?
I see a subtle difference between the two: WWJD or DWJD—What Would Jesus Do or Do What Jesus Did. WWJD seems more focused on our discernment and “figuring out” what we think He would do. A “moral imperative” as described above is a generic term that will mean different things to different people. To Do What Jesus Did seems more focused on what is actually recorded that He said and did. One might say that doing what He did was walking after Him...the discipleship model of teaching. This is a Biblical model. You will find many confirmations of this by searching for the phrase “walk after” both in the good sense of walking after Messiah and in the bad sense of walking after other gods.
It is as though WWJD puts the filter of our understanding of Messiah in front of Messiah Himself. It has been apparent to me that we have overlaid much of what is true about Him with our own perceptions. Oswald Chambers observed that the real Jesus as He is presented in the Word had little to do with the notions Christians of his day had about Him. For many churches, this has only accelerated as their focus becomes being “seeker friendly” or “purpose driven” or “emergent.” In persuasive and pervasive ways, these directions lead more and more to a focus on what we perceive or prefer, and less on that personal relationship and walk after Him that our Father intended to be central to our faith expression.
I can do good things for God (man centered) or I can yield to Him and allow Him to work in and through me. (God centered) A man centered approach is called “philanthropy.” Philanthropists do much “good” yet their motivation is key; seeking a name for themselves, rather than pointing to our Maker as the source of every good thing. Good, but not “of Him,” so it will not last in the judgment to come.
DWJD: where do we go now to learn what He did? We search the Scriptures for the eye witness accounts. How did He walk? He affirmed repeatedly that He did only what His Father, our God, the God of Israel directed Him to do. He affirmed repeatedly that His doctrine/teaching was not His own but from His Father.
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
John 7:16
He observed the appointed times or Feasts in the cycles that the Father had established as His preferred way of worship in the words of the Scriptures; indeed, He Himself IS the focal point of every one of these Feasts! And, why not? He is the Living Word!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. John 1:1-3
WWJD or DWJD....He never told us to sit down and ponder what He might do in any situation, but called us to walk after Him, to do what He did. Much of what is plainly written has been re-interpreted over the centuries. Why would we be any less susceptible to “missing the mark” in these past centuries than the Jewish leaders were in the centuries prior to His days in the flesh? Jesus spoke to them of the misinterpretations often, and grieved for where they missed the mark, as He corrected and repositioned those who had ears to hear. Now, as our own perceptions have become the filter through which we view Him, the simple straightforward message found in the Word is often explained away as no longer relevant for today. Spiritual truths are indeed present but these deeper insights cannot replace or change the plain meaning without losing their validity. Centuries of spiritualizing have left us blinded to the plain and simple words of Truth that are in the Word.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalms 119:105
When we walk after Him, we are following in His path, the path of righteousness that David wrote of in the beloved 23rd Psalm. That word “path” is from a Hebrew word that is more clearly understood as “cycles” since Hebraic thought is not linear as we westerner’s view it, but repeating cycles. If we do what He did, we walk after Him in the expression of our worship. We walk on that cyclical path of the annual celebrations about Him! It is not just an intellectual exercise of pondering what He would do, but also a physical act of obedience that opens our spiritual eyes, as we walk, to more full understanding of Who He is, which draws us to be more like Him...if indeed, we ARE for Him, and allow His Truth to prick our hearts (Acts 2: 37; 41) and not like those who didn’t like their conscience being pricked with the truth that they had rejected the prophets before Him and He Himself. (Acts 5:32-33; 7:51-59)
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psalm 23: 3
Will we walk after Him as He called us to do, or will we sit and ponder what He might do? Is it so simple for us that we miss it?
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19