Perhaps it is exactly the simplicity of a catchy phrase such as “what would Jesus do?” that enables us to explore the nuances and complexities of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Maybe the folks in the Westboro Baptist church couldn’t really fathom just how simple and compelling WWJD can be. Maybe they framed their view of Jesus in an overly complex way that shielded them from applying WWJD in a way that could very simply shine the powerful light of love on their prejudices and awaken within them a simple sense of their falling short of the Saviour’s example.
I think we should be using WWJD more frequently in our teachings. There is no need to overinterpret WWJD. Of course, when I ask myself just WWJD in difficult situations, I have no sense of knowing exactly what he would do; I just have a sense that this is a frame of reference that can help me along my path. WWJD compels us to humbly examine how we can exercise just a little bit of charity. And it compels us to examine the complexities so skillfully portrayed in this peace. Because there never is just one simple answer.
Profound and insightful. Bringing in the math element was brilliant and made my heart sing with how it brings one’s awareness to the complexity, beauty, and glorious wisdom space Yeshua’s actions must spring forth from—and that is only from the record we have! I was about to type, “If only we could replay the live feed!” but then I thought of how each of our lives and the complexity and beauty of its unfolding is a living witness to that surprising and sacred order of operations, isn’t it? Thank you for the soul nourishment this afternoon!
Perhaps it is exactly the simplicity of a catchy phrase such as “what would Jesus do?” that enables us to explore the nuances and complexities of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Maybe the folks in the Westboro Baptist church couldn’t really fathom just how simple and compelling WWJD can be. Maybe they framed their view of Jesus in an overly complex way that shielded them from applying WWJD in a way that could very simply shine the powerful light of love on their prejudices and awaken within them a simple sense of their falling short of the Saviour’s example.
I think we should be using WWJD more frequently in our teachings. There is no need to overinterpret WWJD. Of course, when I ask myself just WWJD in difficult situations, I have no sense of knowing exactly what he would do; I just have a sense that this is a frame of reference that can help me along my path. WWJD compels us to humbly examine how we can exercise just a little bit of charity. And it compels us to examine the complexities so skillfully portrayed in this peace. Because there never is just one simple answer.
Profound and insightful. Bringing in the math element was brilliant and made my heart sing with how it brings one’s awareness to the complexity, beauty, and glorious wisdom space Yeshua’s actions must spring forth from—and that is only from the record we have! I was about to type, “If only we could replay the live feed!” but then I thought of how each of our lives and the complexity and beauty of its unfolding is a living witness to that surprising and sacred order of operations, isn’t it? Thank you for the soul nourishment this afternoon!
I’m well into simplicity beyond complexity ( just turned 79!) but I’m going to study this further, because I like where this article is leading me.