what would jesus do

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The Orthodox Christian News Service

Published by The Hellenic Voice, December 10, 2003

what would jesus do?

By Fr. Christopher H. Stamas

Many Christians today wear a bracelet on their wrist with four letters: WWJD – What Would Jesus Do? This saying has become a guiding principle for many. For me, it serves as a moral compass, helping me apply abstract elements of my Christian faith to the practical questions I face each day. As simple as it seems though, sometimes the question – What would Jesus do? – still leaves me wondering.

Perhaps what we need to do is answer another equally important, yet less obvious, question: What did Jesus do? If we don’t know what Jesus did in his life, how can we expect to guess what he would do in ours? I looked at the four gospels with these questions in mind and discovered seven priorities that guided Jesus.

1. He sought the Father: Jesus demonstrated intimacy with God by seeking him continually in prayer.

2. He embraced the outcasts: Jesus demonstrated the love of God by accepting the castaways of society.

3. He restored broken lives: By the power of God’s Spirit, Jesus provided for people’s physical and financial needs.

4. He confronted hypocrisy: Jesus demonstrated the heart of God by standing against lifeless religion. He openly confronted religious hypocrisy (Matthew 23:13-39), inciting great opposition that ultimately led to his execution.

5. He taught God’s word: Whether addressing curious crowds or the committed core, Jesus took advantage of every teachable moment.

6. He served: Service marked Jesus’ life from start to finish. He served through sacrifice, putting the needs of others above his own.

7. He equipped leaders: Finally, Jesus demonstrated God’s character by equipping leaders who continued his mission and changed the world after his departure. He refused to let the ministry pressures of today stop him from identifying and investing in the leaders of tomorrow.

So what would Jesus do? He would seek the Father for the strength and wisdom to embrace, restore, confront, teach, serve and equip the people around him. These seven priorities should drive us back to the gospels to take a fresh look at how Jesus lived.

The fad phase of WWJD may be over, but we need to hold on to those bracelets and keep asking ourselves – What would Jesus do? It’s a great question. But remember, if you’re not sure what Jesus actually did in his life, then you’re just guessing at what he might do in yours.

(Fr. Christopher H. Stamas is parish priest of St. George Cathedral, Springfield, MA.)