LRC, Houston - the weekends-free church in Houston, Texas

It all started in 1989 at the Calvary Reformed Church in Michigan. The youth leader was inspired by the book, In His Steps, by Charles Sheldon. What is the “IT” that I am talking about? I’m talking about Americas fascination with pop religion, instant spirituality, and slogan-driven lifestyles.

I am talking about WWJD?

How easily we can trivialize God! WWJD became a cottage industry overnight: bracelets, books, audiotapes, T-shirts, billboards, bumper stickers, commercials, and of course seminars to make the speakers money talking about what they themselves don’t do. Is America a good place to live and make money or what? Of course the answer is YES; however, is America a place of maturing spirituality? Doubtful at best.

What’s not addressed or probably even thought about in the WWJD craze is the question, WHICH JESUS? Are we talking about the historical pre-resurrection Jesus? Are we talking about the post-resurrection theological Jesus? Are we talking about the spiritual Jesus, the Messanic Jewish Jesus, or the “made in America” cultural Jesus?

More American pop culture, miscrowave living!

And then I have to ask myself this question. I am convinced that Jesus saw Himself as the coming Messiah, which is greatly different than being the second person of the trinity. Did He know that? I doubt that, but I’m not sure. Can anyone really know that? But this I feel fairly certain of, so let’s roll with this statement.

I believe Jesus would have done many things different after the resurrection than He would have attempted before it!

So, where are we in all of this WWJD? We must come back to the point that while it’s a cute phrase, while it made a lot of people richer, while it allowed people to “show-off” their religion (especially for those that didn’t own cars and could not have a bumper sticker), it’s an empty statement. It’s empty because to ask the question is to require and demand of one that you study and get to KNOW JESUS! And that takes a more than a few years, to say the least.

The better question is- what are YOU doing about and with Jesus?