WWJD- WDJS

WWJD?

It’s interesting to hear how subjective folks get when they answer that question, you know, the little acronym on bracelets or backpacks. I’ve heard people speculate what Jesus would do in a given situation, and often times their speculation is based on their interpretation of how Jesus should act, not based on any historical record. I was amazed once when a young lady in a College & Career Sunday School class related that she didn’t believe the biblical record of Jesus’ actions in the temple after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem because she felt it was inconsistent with her own fictional Jesus (a kinder, more gentle Caucasian who would never get angry). So how do you answer the question “What Would Jesus Do?” Maybe, WWJD should be followed by the acronym WDJS: What Did Jesus Say?

This morning, I reread the choice words Jesus had for the seven churches in Revelation (chapters 2 & 3). In those messages he relays to the individual overseers of the churches, he clearly outlines commendations and condemnations for each. Taken together, here are a few summary thoughts:

1.      Jesus condemns the abandonment of initial Christian passion (forsaking your first love- Rev. 2:4). He wants us to remain true to His name (2:13; 3:8). PASSION or ABANDON

2.       He doesn’t want you to accept teachings that lead you to idolatry or sexual immorality (2:2). He calls for intolerance when it comes to religions that lead to sexual impurity (2:20). He would rather us not tolerate evil (2:14-15). TOLERANCE or DISCRIMINATION

3.       He doesn’t like incomplete deeds (3:2). He likes hard work, perseverance, and endurance (2:19). ENDURANCE or INCOMPLETION

4.       He doesn’t want us to just act alive when we’re spiritually dead (3:1). ALIVE or DEAD

5.       He can’t stand indifference (3:15-16). He likes us to evaluate what preachers preach to see if its true (2:2). EVALUATION or INDIFFERENCE

Jesus gives opportunity for folks to repent and change, but in the end, he promises punishment to Christians who choose to continue abandoning their commitments to Christ, tolerating growing evil, leaving Christian duty unfinished, spiritually dying, and indifferent to eternal issues. May we all strive to end 2013 with the things that Jesus said he likes: Passionate followers who can discriminate what is not of God, people who endure to get the job done as long as they have the breath of life within them, men and women who evaluate what is being said or done around them with the moral compass of God’s word and are bold enough to take action accordingly.

What Would Jesus Do? He will do what He said.