Christ-likeness ... WWJD, Really?

Spirituality Column #156
November 3, 2009
Current in Carmel - Current in Westfield - Current in Noblesville
(Indianapolis north suburban home newspapers)

Christ-likeness … WWJD, Really?
By Bob Walters

What Would Jesus Do?

For starters, Jesus would glorify and obey God. Jesus would love others as an expression of his humanity, resist Satan as an expression of his divinity, and resist temptation as an expression of his humility.

Of course, Jesus Christ did not act in the subjunctive realm of woulda’, shoulda’, coulda’ or maybe. Christ’s example was one of assured actions and definite faith. His words were wise, kind, insightful, harsh, shrewd, mystical … but always God-honoring, always memorable, always true.

Christ performed miracles most of us, really, don’t expect to perform. In fact, if we ever think we have performed a miracle … I mean seriously think we, me, I personally have performed a miracle … think again. It’s Christ, not us.

We are fallen souls in a fallen world, yet it is miracle enough for me that in Christ, our souls can soar even in circumstances of despair. Experiencing real love, real beauty and real grace are eternal gifts we can’t earn. Jesus gives them freely.

Trying to earn forgiveness? Christ on the Cross already erased our sins.

You’re not a believer but you see love, beauty and grace? Of course you do.

Just because a person doesn’t believe in Christ, that has no bearing on Christ’s love for that person. Christ came for everybody, with truth for everybody. Christ didn’t exclude anybody. That’s what Jesus does.

We can only exclude ourselves.

Perhaps most importantly, impossibly, dangerously and miraculously, God pursues a personal relationship with each of us. We are divinely given freedom to choose and an intellect to discern whether we accept that relationship through Christ. Many people do; many people don’t. Again, God doesn’t separate us; we separate ourselves.

So, can we be like Christ? Is Christ-likeness something we should seriously shoot for? Is “WWJD” the same as “WWID”, What Would I Do?

Yes … and no. Of course we should love and serve others, rebuke Satan, resist temptation, praise God, be humble, thankful, and give God the glory for our successes. Christians, like Christ, will endure the world’s scorn. We must strive to preach, teach, and share God’s word as best we can, study and reflect Christ’s teaching, and be an example of grace for others. But there is a limit.

In the Gospels, there are 20 times when Jesus says, “Follow me.”

For heaven’s sake, don’t follow me, or anyone else. Follow Jesus.

Walters (www.believerbob.blogspot.com, email rlwcom@aol.com) quotes the Notre Dame football movie Rudy, “There is a God, and I am not Him.”