Our Thursday morning Zoom Bible study group was recently talking about the 1990's Christian pop culture cloth bracelets emblazoned with "WWJD" for "What Would Jesus Do?" They were as numerous as slap bracelets but don't seem to have quite made the same comeback 30 years later like the other 90s trends a la crop tops and Birkenstocks. There's a great meme poking fun at these bracelets that says maybe we should have bracelets emblazoned with "JWNHGHITSTSW" or "Jesus would not have gotten himself into this situation to start with." I am pretty sure either bracelet would not be a hot item at Trunk or Treat! (But man, the Play-Doh and Rubix Cubes went FAST yesterday!) But as I consider this question of "What Would Jesus Do?" as the author Charles Sheldon posed in his early 1900's fiction book that reads as predictably as a modern day Hallmark movie, I must admit that there's no simple answer.
1990’s WWJD Bracelets
Just as Church Council chairwoman Cheryl Griffin shared in her Laity Sunday sermon yesterday, the answer to "why?" for so many questions of our faith or life is not so clear, either. WWJD when my kid wakes up complaining of a sore throat but otherwise seems fine and the at-home covid test is negative. Do I make my child tough it out and risk spreading germs? Everyday choices can be so hard and it really is a mind game to use our heads and hearts to make the best decisions for ourselves and children entrusted to our care.
On a broader scope, WWJD when there are so many charities and causes I believe in and doing good work in the community and around the world -- do I give small gifts to lots of organizations or give a larger gift to just one organization? Or voting?! Sheesh. Jesus take the wheel to use another decades old trite pop culture Christian reference! And well, "be the like the Good Samaritan" doesn't even help this discernment of WWJD, as besides the famous story of the Good Samaritan helping the injured man on the side of the road, we also read in the Gospel of Luke how a group of Samaritans did not welcome Jesus himself.
I wonder if the guy we call "good" was in the unwelcoming crowd that day, as I certainly know I have both good days and bad days. What Jesus did do when that group of folks were having a bad day and the disciples wanted to "call fire down from heaven to destroy them," was to basically say, "naw, bruh" and walk away. I hope I can channel Jesus' level of chill when needed and his level of righteous anger when called for...and the wisdom to know the difference.
And I hope that by continuing to read and study the Scriptures, share in worship together through music and prayers and preaching and offering our gifts (whether ushering to pass the offering plate or placing our gifts in the plate!), we can together figure out the answer each and every day each in our own ways and in our own lives the answers to the question, WWJD? Because goodness knows the kids around us are watching and learning and growing in their own faith each and every day. (Even the days they are home sick and you're not really convinced they are sick, but probably had too much candy at Trunk or Treat! Off to the pediatrician we go...)
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Susan