Remember those WWJD bracelets, key chains and T-shirts that flooded the market a few years ago? That fad was fanned into flame by Charles Sheldon's book, "In his Steps." The book asks a seminal question, "What would Jesus do?" Published in 1896, the book has sold more than 30,000,000 copies and continues to be one of the best-selling books of all time.
I was involved in a church plant when the WWJD fad was at it's peak. A lot of us wore our WWJD bracelets with pride. We imagined that we were a notch above other average, every day Christians. But we were put back on the straight and narrow by what one new believer said about WWJD merchandise.
When he became a Christian and ventured into a Christian bookstore for the first time, he was amazed by all of the WWJD paraphernalia in the store.
WWJS: What Would Jesus Say? In the last weeks of his ministry when Jesus was preparing to turn his work over to his followers, he left them with a challenging story:
Going to church can be boring, but being the church among those who are hungry and thirsty, homeless and naked, sick and imprisoned puts us in touch with the Joy of the Lord!
So... go to the junk drawer and look for your old WWJD bracelet if you must. But only wear it as a reminder to continue the work of Jesus among those who are overlooked and ignored.
I was involved in a church plant when the WWJD fad was at it's peak. A lot of us wore our WWJD bracelets with pride. We imagined that we were a notch above other average, every day Christians. But we were put back on the straight and narrow by what one new believer said about WWJD merchandise.
When he became a Christian and ventured into a Christian bookstore for the first time, he was amazed by all of the WWJD paraphernalia in the store.
"Well what did you buy?" someone asked. "I didn't buy anything," he replied.
"Why not?" another wondered. "Because I didn't think Jesus would," he concluded.Christian merchandise is big business! Years ago Wal-Mart decided to cash in on the enormous profit potential of Christian merchandise. Forbes magazine took notice and published an article that begins:
Does the sale of Christian merchandise help, or hinder the work of Jesus?Wal-Mart Stores has seen the light. The world’s biggest retailer has discovered Christian-themed merchandise is one of the fastest-growing categories around. With offerings ranging from best-selling books and videos including The Purpose-Driven Life and Veggie Tales, Wal-Mart’s annual sales from Christian-themed merchandise, which is estimated to already exceed $1 billion annually, is growing at a rapid pace. (9-15-2003 Forbes Magazine, written by Carrie Coolidge)
WWJS: What Would Jesus Say? In the last weeks of his ministry when Jesus was preparing to turn his work over to his followers, he left them with a challenging story:
Even if we could take the profits from the sale of Christian merchandise and use the money to feed the hungry, care for the homeless, and cloth the naked, we would still fall short of what Jesus asks us to do. And! We would miss the pure joy of doing it.31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:31-40)
Going to church can be boring, but being the church among those who are hungry and thirsty, homeless and naked, sick and imprisoned puts us in touch with the Joy of the Lord!
So... go to the junk drawer and look for your old WWJD bracelet if you must. But only wear it as a reminder to continue the work of Jesus among those who are overlooked and ignored.
