WWJD as Rorschach

[Bravus]

(this post will also appear on my blog, but it was written here first!)

You know what the Rorschach test is, right? It's used in psychoanalysis, and involves showing symmetrical ink-blot pictures to the client. The pictures are randomly generated and don't actually portray anything... what is interesting to the analyst is what the client 'sees' in the picture. (And this is analysed in fairly sophisticated, not simplistic, ways.)

I've been wondering for a while if the phrase 'What Would Jesus Do?' - immortalised in WWJD bracelets and other 'Christian jewellery' - tends to act as a bit of a Rorschach test. Now I'm not saying Jesus' life and ministry are content-free, please don't get me wrong on that point. But I see a massive range of responses to the question... so massive that it seems to me 'What Would Jesus Do?' ends up not being about Jesus at all, but about ourselves and our values.

There's a cure for that - coming to understand Jesus better. And we'd better recognise that, whoever we are, that's going to challenge some of our cherished values and beliefs, and make us uncomfortable. But until we do that work and study, WWJD tends to just reduce to WWID.

[Gail]

I hear ya

[cricket]

Isn't the whole of Christianity to figure out what Jesus would do...and then do it??

I don't have a problem with the WWJD "fad". Not at all, if it makes people give even one moment's thought to living their lives as Jesus would.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

it seems to me 'What Would Jesus Do?' ends up not being about Jesus at all, but about ourselves and our values.

This is true of those that neglect Bible study and simply don't meditate on the Word of God. It is Satan's goal to fill our days with so much stuff that we don't have time for God's Word.

[LynnDel]

Quote:

Isn't the whole of Christianity to figure out what Jesus would do...and then do it??

That is true - in part - but the whole of Christianity primarily consists of our salvation through Christ, His saving grace, our acceptance of that, and letting Him work through us as we learn of Him, and in Him do what He would do. Maybe that's saying the same thing, just using more words.

LD

[cricket]

Agreed. I wrote in haste.

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Bravus,

I have always had a problem accepting the WWJD way of living. I have also not accepted the "Christian attitude" frame of mind that we are supposed to choose. I believe that those are human attributes that may keep us from doing what we shouldn't but really have no power to "Witness" to a changed life.

My experience has been that when I choose to love God, (revealed by my desire to and actually being obedient to Him), I don't think about what I should and should not do but rather I spontaneously live out that which in me says, (To simplify it)"Do this" or "Don't do it." Beyond that I find myself speaking words that get right to the heart of matters at hand in a way that is not natural to me.

What it boils down to, is to receive (by choice) the ability to be guided by the Holy Spirit and doing what is instilled within unconscientiously. That is the "life" that Jesus came to reveal and give. It is called the abundant (Spirit led) life, not mimicking what Jesus would do. EGW calls it disinterested service and I can relate to that more than WWJD. But if others want to live that way, all the best to ya.

Just know that when strong temptation comes you will not have time to think or question, you will react. The way we will react is determined by how we now make our choices. I see this boiling down to either managing your temptation when it comes by asking WWJD or you prepare yourself daily by letting God's Spirit be your guide.

Norman

[Amelia]

Personally I enjoy all the things that you see out in the world ie auto decals, lapel pins, t-shirts, coffee mugs etc. I have a money clip that I found with the fish symbol on it and cliped it to the visor in my car. Any little thing thats causes my mind to refocus on God in a world that scatters your focus all over, is a blessing.

[Ellen]

Your post about "dumbing down" of the christian faith reminded me of the Christmas season.

I love December because even non-Christians seem to feel they have to act like Christians. I don't know if any of them analyze it that way, but almost everybody wants to give someone something special and they smile and speak and have a cordial attitude.

So even if nobody thinks Jesus was born on December 25 or if they do, the whole month means more than the day to me, and I love it.